Homeless Winchester clinch promotion

WINCHESTER & District AC's men's team duly won their way through to the British League elite last weekend by winning the play-off meeting at Abingdon.

They dominated at every sprint event, including the hurdles and were one of two of the eight competing clubs to make the step up to the top flight.

They were unable to field their strongest team because of holidays and other commitments.

But the sprint trio of Ben Ellis, Dean Showler-Davis and Louis Sellers (pictured right) showed a clean pair of heels to the opposition in the100, 200 and 400 metre events respectively.

Ben won both the A string 100 and 200 metres in 10.8 and 22.1. He was backed up by Dean in the B string 100 (11.0) and by 16 year old Louis in the B string 200m (22.6).

Marimba Odundo-Mendez, who qualified for this year's Olympic trials, was among the absentees at the meeting.

Louis also found time to win the A string 400m in 49.6.

Dean also took the B string hurdles (57.9) and ran 15.9 for the 110m hurdles, where he came a close second to Adrian Hemery, son of 1968 Olympic gold medal hurdler, David Hemery.

In all, Dean competed in seven events and has been the highest-scoring member of the team this season.

He was ably backed up by his brother, Grant, and Leo Beckford, both in the under 20 age group, who competed in the maximum of five events.

The gallant middle distance runners Adam Omar, Mike Gregory, Phil Killingly and Andy Greenleaf bore the brunt of the absences, having to contest up to three of the longest track events in one afternoon.

Although not successful on this occasion, the predominantly young team will give everything in the higher grade next summer.

Their success has been aided in no small measure by the efforts ot team manager Debbie David.

Without any training or track facilities in Winchester, they face a tough task in staying there. But club officials are hoping for progress soon in finding a permanent home for the club within the city.

Several Winchester AC members were in the Hampshire team which won the English Schools Combined Events Championships at Exeter last weekend.

They included high jump champion Anna Newton, who combined with Portsmouth's Clare Walden-Davis to take the tile for the county in the junior ladies section.