British Athletic League – Liverpool – 18 August 2012

Well what a week-end, Liverpool may have lost at football, but Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Men’s British Athletic League Team went to Liverpool on Saturday and clinched the Premiership Title, winning on the day by an amazing 64 points. Over the 4 league matches SBH were 2nd at the first one and then won the next three. The final league position was 1st SBH 31 league points 1387 match points, 2nd Newham & Essex Beagles 22.5 league points 1177 match points, 3rd Woodford Green with Essex Ladies 20.5 league points 1120 match points. See full results below.

With 36 events on the day, SBH had 10 individual wins, 13 2nd /3rd places and were 2nd in both relays, which shows our strength in depth is second to none. The stand-out performance was SEB RODGER’s win in the 400m Hurdles running a PB 50.50, which ranks him No.2 UK U23 in 2012.

Team Manager GEOFF MORPHITIS and the victorious team were in a great mood on the journey back to London planning a trip to Europe especially after many years when success was defined as avoiding relegation.

Looking back at BAL records, we find that its first season was in 1969 and that SBH were promoted from the Southern League to BAL Division 4 in 1976. SBH gained promotion year on year, winning Division 2 in 1979 and gaining entry to the top division. SBH have been present in the Premiership ever since, making this year our 33rd consecutive season. This is the longest uninterrupted run of any club in the top division.

Full SBH results can be found by using this link – British Athletic League Results

Our thanks to DAVE BRADLEY for these outstanding photographs

Team celebrations with Team Manager GEOFF MORPHITIS and CLYDE GORDON

bal-match-4-18-08-12-geoff-clyde-plus-some-of-the-team-with-the-trophy CONFIDENCE LAWSON 100m A 4th (10.62)