Athletics
Young high jumpers hit new heights

THREE of the top young high jumpers in the UK from Stratford AC have spent the autumn and winter working hard on their fitness and conditioning to prepare for the new year.

It included attending the Solihull indoor high jump centre under the expert eye of coach Mike Dolby.

And, at the recent pre-Solhull High Jump Group indoor competition, under 13 Isabelle Cain-Daley and under 15s Anna Gamble and Rory Dwyer, the latter both recently crowned as club athletes of the year, demolished their respective indoor club age group records.

After not competing since September, it was not surprising both Anna and Isabelle started tentatively but they gradually got into their rhythm and as the bar rose so did their confidence.

Isabelle reached 1.50m and cleared it with relative ease but as the bar moved onto 1.55m it just proved too much with three near misses.

However, this was an impressive start to competitive jumping again and her class shone through as she moved into 5th in the 2011 UK rankings.

Anna started with an outdoor PB of 1.53m and by the end of the competition had shot up the UK rankings to 9th with an outstanding jump of 1.65m.

Retiring at that height, and with the small crowd’s hearty applause ringing in her ears, a bemused and beaming Anna said: "I don't really know where that (jump) came from but I'm really pleased and surprised."

Rory Dwyer started his competition where he left off in September and moved through the heights to reach a superb 1.80m before just clipping the bar at 1.85m.

It consolidated 7th place in the UK rankings and he still has another year in this age group.

Watching in the crowd was their coach Paul Bearman who was equally "stunned" by their performances.

Paul said: "We would have been happy for the three of them to get near their outdoor PBs at this stage of the year but their performances were outstanding.

"We are able to do our conditioning and fitness work at the High School track but can't really do quality high jump training because of the weather, so we're grateful for the work Mike Dolby can do with them at Solihull.

"This was a really terrific performance from all three of them and is very encouraging just before the start to the indoor season.”

Meanwhile, the Warwickshire Sportshall league held in Coventry and made up of teams from North Warwickshire, Coventry, Leamington and Rugby has been a happy hunting ground for Stratford AC juniors in recent years.

The various age group teams have started the season where they left off earlier in the year in rip-roaring form.

The opposing teams have stepped up a gear this season and the competition has been noticeably tougher.

To counter this, the club, which prides itself in trying to give as many of the athletes as possible a taste of the action, has had to step up. Every point gained by the 80 athletes who have competed for the club this year has made a contribution and this approach has been the difference at the end of the matches.

The strength in depth of Stratford and the inspired coaching and training the youngsters get and the astute team managing has brought home some superb results.

So much so that after the three matches all six age group, boys and girls teams are sitting in top spot in their respective age groups.

With the remaining league and county representative matches on the horizon, the Stratford teams are in good shape and will be doing their best to bring the championship home and individual athletes will be hoping for selection for the Warwickshire county teams.

High-jumpers Isabelle Cain-Daley and Anna Gamble have been at their best. (s)