Grantham Athletics Club have rejoined the Northern Track and Field League

Grantham Athletics Club have made a strong impression on the Northern Track and Field League after rejoining it for the summer campaign.

They have been competing against other similar sized athletics clubs from across Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

And, in the final match of the summer, the small but competitive squad of 15 men and women achieved their best result of the season with a third-place finish.

The league is based on four matches over the summer with 38 events across track, field and relays with A and B performances per event for both men and women.

In total, at least 72 performances per match so a large squad of multi-event athletes and a team of officials are essential to do well.

Grantham AC has a dedicated team of officials and volunteers, but a small squad of athletes, with a number of temporary 'transfers' into the team (from Retford AC) meant that, with a potential of 19 athletes, securing promotion from even the lowest tier division in the league would be a tall order.

In the first three matches, the club gained two fourth places and a sixth standing, with as few as nine athletes at one match.

But by the fourth and final match most of the squad were available and fit enough to multi-task and compete in 50 percent of the events on offer.

They secured 23 first places and maximum points in a number of events, including a clean sweep of wins in all the throws that day, despite a number of veteran athletes with only two on track being under 30 years of age.

Club chairman Philip Garner commented: "I didn't dare to calculate the average age of the track athletes on the day.

"This is supposed to be a young person's sport and it is no wonder gaining the track points available is hard when the club has been unable to declare a full track or relay team this summer.

"We didn't have four fit athletes at the end of the day able to make up male or female relay teams.

"Our best attempt for a relay team was in match three with four male track athletes fit until a calf/Achilles tear sustained by a soon-to-be-married Sam Bainbridge scuppered that idea. Thankfully, the 'boot' was off in time for the wedding photos."

Despite the small numbers competing overall, the teams secured 60 first place results across the four league matches.

Notable winning performances came from Chris Bainbridge (17 first places), Helen Gilbert (nine), Mark Atkin (eight) and Sage Garner (seven).

The welcome incorporation of athletes from Retford AC into the team brought the club some valuable and unexpected points from the hurdles, steeplechase and throws by sisters Elizabeth and Penelope Thornton.

Chairman Philip added: "My heartfelt thanks go out to all the athletes, officials and parent helpers who have made the club's efforts worthwhile and such fun.

"With more competitive athletes (sprinters and middle distance) we could aim for higher next summer."

The club trains on Wednesday evenings at the South Kesteven Stadium, Trent Road, Grantham.

Grantham AC results

Match four (Newark YMCA Sports Village): Women - 100m A: 3, Sofia Daniele 13.4s, B: 4, Natalie Drinkwater 15.4s; 400m A: 5, Caroline Davis 106.0s, B: 4, Natalie Drinkwater 83.9s; 800m A: 4, Caroline Davis 3:43.0; 1500m A: 5, Janice Davidson 6:37.4, B: 3, Caroline Davis 7:20.7; 3000m A: Janice Davidson 14:12.4; 400m H A: 1, Elizabeth Thornton 79.0s; LJ A: 1, Sofia Danielle 5.01m, B: 1, Natalie Drinkwater 3.37m; HJ A: 1, Penelope Thornton 1.35m, B: 1, Natalie Drinkwater 1.20m; TJ A: 1, Sofie Daniele 9.59m, B: 1, Natalie Drinkwater 7.69m; SP A: 1, Helen Gilbert 8.49m, B: 1, Grace Marshall 7.48m; DT A: 1, Grace Marshall 27.25m, B: 1, Sage Garner 18.95m; HT A: 1, Helen Gilbert 36.15m, B: 1, Penelope Thornton 33.40m; JT A: 1, Penelope Thornton 29.54m, B: 1, Natalie Thornton 24.58m.

Men - 400m A: 7, Paul Davis 92.9s; 800m A: 7, Paul Davis 3:26.2; 1500m A: 7, Paul Davis 6:33.9; 5000m A: 5, Paul Davidson 22:55.1, B: 4, David Eldridge 28:42.0; LJ A: 6, Christopher Bainbridge 4.07m, B: 5, Paul Davis 3.45m; HJ A: 2= Christopher Bainbridge 1.40m, TJ A: 4, Christopher Bainbridge 8.14m, SP A: 1, Christopher Bainbridge 12.47m, B: 1, Mark Atkin 9.89m; DT A: 1, Christopher Bainbridge 42.05m, B: 1, Philip Garner 22.24m; HT A: 1, Christopher Bainbridge 42.88m, B: 1, Philip Garner 28.53m; JT A: 1, Christopher Bainbridge 40.45m, B: 1, Mark Atkin 35.54m.

Overall points: 1 Hallamshire Harriers Sheffield 435.0, 2 Barnsley 405.0, 3 Grantham 378.5, 4 Newark 368.5, 5 Rushcliffe 259, 6 Pontefract 245, 7 Bradford Airedale 113, 8 Worksop Harriers 89.