Premier Division victory for City of Sheffield and Dearne as Cutts leads the way

City of Sheffield and Dearne gave a superb all round performance to win the second round match of the British League (Premier Division) at Manchester on Saturday.
Luke Cutts won the pole vault in the British League matchLuke Cutts won the pole vault in the British League match
Luke Cutts won the pole vault in the British League match

After a disappointing opening match they have lifted themselves to third in the league standings at the halfway stage and are hot on the heels of defending champions Birchfield and Woodford Green/Essex Ladies.

The highest scoring event for Sheffield was the pole vault, as it often is. Luke Cutts was a clear winner, a modest 5.10 being sufficient. Nic Cole, standing in for Adam Hague, who was competing in Poland, won the B event with 5.00, just five centimetres below his best.

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The consistent David Dempsey won the 800 in 1:50.19 with Dominic Walton adding to Sheffield’s total with third in the B race whilst a gritty run by Carl Hardman, finishing strongly, gave him the 5000 metres in 14:37.13.

In a high class 400 metres, Sheffield’s Grant Plenderleith found 47.03 only good enough for fourth place but Rick Yates made it a good event for the Sheffield team winning the B race in 47.77. The 100 metres gave Sheffield useful points, Elliott Hurley placing third in 10.69 and Andrew Wright runner up in the B race (10.85). There was a good run from Sheffield’s Jack Houghton in the 400 metres where he finished runner up in 50.86

In the shot Sheffield scored well through Gareth Winter (16.90) and Jamie Williamson (15:10) runners up in the A and B events whilst Alan Teward (54.30) and Winter (46.10) gave a repeat performance in the discus.

The Sheffield win was sealed by the relays. The four by 100 metres squad of Hurley, Liam Ramsay, Jerome McIntosh and Wright were comfortable winners in 41.00 whilst the 4 by 400 team of Houghton, Dempsey, Yates and Plenderleith brought the baton home in 3:09.74. Both were club records.

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And there is more to come as Sheffield were missing three or four key members. Commitment was strong, exemplified by Liam Ramsay who contributed points in four events as well as the relay.

Match Score: 1 City of Sheffield and Dearne 321.5; 2 Birchfield 317; 3 Woodford Green/Essex Ladies 304; 4 Newham and Essex 299.5; 5 Liverpool 263; 6 Shaftsbury Barnet; 7 Sale 261; 6 Windsor SHE

League Standings: 1 Birchfield 15; 2 Woodford Green 13; 3 City of Sheffield 12; 4 Newham and Essex 11; 5 Shaftsbury Barnet 8; 6 Liverpool 7; 7 Sale 3; 8 Windsor SHE 3