25th May 2019

REID, YOUNG AND GREAVES AMONG A STACKED LINE-UP IN BEDFORD THIS WEEKEND

It is a big weekend in Bedford for British para athletics, as many kick start their outdoor season at the England Athletics Disability Open meeting and BIGish.

Over the 25-26 May, the event is incorporated into the England Senior and U20 Combined Events championship and will host over 50 para athletes in the sprints and in the field.

Double European champion Thomas Young (coach: Joe McDonnell; club: Charnwood) goes in the 100m and 200m. He has started the season excellently, running a personal best over 100m at the Loughborough International last weekend, stopping the clock at 11.37.

T35 100m world silver medallist Jordan Howe (Christian Malcolm; DSW Para Academy) recorded a season best of 13.07 last weekend, goes over the 100m here.

European silver medallist Ali Smith (Guildford & Goldalming) has clocked 13.66 twice so far this season over 100m, so will be looking to continue her strong start to the season.

Sally Brown (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood) (T47), Zac Shaw (Leon Baptiste; Cleethorpes) (T12) and Rhys Jones (Christian Malcolm; DSW Para Academy) (T37) are among a whole host of athletes competing in the sprints.

In the field, following a PB of 6.59m in Grangemouth recently, Falkirk’s Steve Stone (T20) will go once more in the long jump, as will Karim Chan (Femi Akinsanya; Charnwood) (T20) who has already jumped a lifetime bets of 6.21m indoors this year.

See the full entry lists here.

And see the timetable, here.

 

On Bank Holiday Monday, the BIGish competition takes place, with the country’s best field eventers descending on Bedford.

World champion Stef Reid (Aston Moore; Charnwood) takes her place in the long jump (T64), making her first appearance since last year’s European championships. World and European medallist Polly Maton (Colin Baross; Team Devizes) (T47) and Martina Barber (Paddy O’Shea; Stevenage & Herts) (T20) also join the long jump field.

European champion Sabrina Fortune (Ian Robinson; Deeside) opened with 13.57m at the North Wales Championships last week, just 13cm shy of her personal best set last year. Also in the shot put is Lydia Church (Nene Valley) who threw over 12m for the first time with the 4kg shot, 12.18m her best at the Cambridgeshire County Championships.

Multi-medalled Dan Greaves (self-coached; Charnwood) and Taz Nicholls (Alison O’Riordan; Shaftesbury Barnet) will compete in the F44 discus.

See the full entry lists and the timetable, here.