Records fall and qualifiers gained at the Pickering Memorial International

24 athletes, including five debutants, represented England at the fourth edition of this competition, held in Loughborough. The competition aims to support young athletes, giving them valuable international experience and the opportunity to compete at a high standard while achieving qualification marks for upcoming championships.

The team included 10 athletes who already held qualification marks for European U18s and World U20 Championships this coming summer. Two standout athletes included Moyo Stumpenhusen and Ned Scott, both ranked second in the European under 18 rankings for discus and javelin respectively. Other high-achieving athletes included Jabez Berry, who was fourth, and Harriet Court, who was sixth at last year's European U20 champs in the hammer and javelin respectively.

On the day we had six personal bests; Elkie Baker threw 44.45m in the U18 discus, reaching the U18 European qualifying mark for the first time, and Beth Pendlebury continued her run of three consecutive PBs, throwing 43.92m, also in the U18 discus. Elkie enthused:

"My competition went amazingly well! There's some really nice wind over here today, I felt like I didn't manage to catch it on too many of my throws, but I did come out with a massive PB which is a European qualifying standard and I'm so ecstatically happy with that."

In the javelin, Owen Boon performed well wearing his first England vest to get a PB of 60.47m. In the hammer, also on debut, Tegan Brown added over a metre to her PB, throwing 58.88m to win a very high standard U18 competition. She said:

"It went really well. I got a PB in the first round which felt amazing and then carried it on. I caged one, but I think I've proved to myself that I can do more - I just need to get it out there."

The shot saw two PBs with Lawson Capes throwing 17.45m in the U20 shot, and Ellis Thomas adding 40cm to her PB to throw 16.45m, earning another European U18 qualifying mark and claiming the overall Pickering Memorial trophy. Ellis told us:

"I think it went really well. I obviously got a massive new PB and I got the European U18 standard for the third time now, which is great for showing my consistency. Winning the award is showing that the hard work that I'm putting in is obviously working and for that to be recognised is really nice."

The team finished with 10 winners, nine 2nd place finishes and two 3rd place finishes. Four athletes gained qualifying marks for the European U18 Championships in and Alani Dumbuya threw a U20 World Championship standard in the shot put.

The competition also raises money for the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund and the Personal Best Foundation. This year was also record-breaking for the charities, with over £1000 raised from ticket sales and the popular raffle.

Results:

U18 discus

• 1st: Moyo Stumpenhusen (Rugby & Northampton AC, Gary Herrington): 63.90 - championship record and Euro qualifier
• 2nd: Harry Beard (Maidstone & Medway AC, Greg Beard): 53.96
• 3rd: Chu Ononogbu (Shaftsbury Barnet Harriers, Clyde Gordon): 53.16
• 1st: Elkie Baker (London Heathside, Neville Thompson): 44.45 - PB and Euro qualifier
• 2nd: Bethany Pendlebury (Trafford AC, Mike Martin) - PB

U18 javelin

• 1st: Lucy Bull (Cheltenham Harriers, Carolyn Franks): 50.25 - Euro qualifier
• 2nd: Scarlette Slater Rowley (Retford AC, Marjolein Templeton): 47.07
• Charlotte Pabari (Portsmouth AC, Bron Carter): 46.66
• 1st: Ben Clarke (Bury AC, John Conroy): 62.93
• Ned Scott (Winchester AC, Bron Carter): 61.56
• Owen Boon (Yate AC, Ann Dale): 60.47 - PB

U20 javelin

• 1st: Harriet Court (ThamesValley Harriers, Mark Roberson): 46.45
• 2nd: Dulcie Yelling (Brighton & Hove AC, Bob Willows and Scott Knighton): 41.32
• 1st: Tom Rutter (Harrow AC, Tom Dobbing): 66.73
• 2nd: Charlie Mason (Cheltenham Harriers, Carolyn Franks): 66.06

U18 hammer

• 1st: Tegan Brown (Tavistock AC, Elaine Fileman): 58.88 - PB
• 2nd: Tilly Ryan (Maidstone & Medway, Tom Head): 57.37
• 3rd: Jess Wilkins (Trafford AC, Lee Doyle): 56.43

U23 hammer

• 1st: Jabez Berry (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, Steve Pearson and John Pearson): 65.25 - championship record

U18 shot

• Harry Beard (Maidstone & Medway, Greg Beard): 17.40
• 1st: Ellis Thomas (Basildon AC, Mark Chapman): 16.45 - PB, championship record, and Euro qualifier
• 2nd: Jasmine Nkoso (Herne Hill Harriers, Anthony Soalla Bell): 15.46

U20 shot

• 1st: Lawson Capes (PANVAC, Lewis Capes): 17.45 - PB
• 1st: Alani Dumbuya (Leigh Harriers,  Mark Edwards and Sy Forster): 15.06 - Worlds qualifier, and championship record

Action photos by Chris Kirby - photos soon available online.