Birchfield Harriers barnstormed their way through the first stage of the defence of their UK Golden Jubilee Cup trophy with a massive 96-point margin of victory in their semi-final match at Northwood Stadium, Stoke, on Saturday, writes Tom McCook.
As well as winning her speciality discipline, the hammer, with an effort of 61.95 metres, England Commonwealth Games representative Zoe Derham accomplished a double by throwing the discus 37.29m.
Seventeen- year- old Laura Gomery won the shot with an 11.06m put while Ellie Darby won the women's long jump with a 5.40m leap.
Matthew Bell won the hammer with a 59.94m performance and Mark Edwards won the shot with a 15.90m put. AAA's junior discus champion Sam Herrington was runner-up with a distance of 47.12m.
On the track, Dan Cossins won the 200m in a wind- assisted time of 21.5secs and Zmbabwean Lloyd Zvasiya took the honours in the 400m in 47.4sec.
Rugby and Northampton caused a huge upset at Derby by defeating Belgrave Harriers, the league champions for the last eight seasons.
A 22-point advantage was reduced to two important points and saw the Surrey club, who got to within one point of Birchfield Harriers in last year's Cup final, unexpectedly depart the competition.
As will be evident from their names, several of the clubs who have qualified to challenge Birchfield Harriers for the Jo Smith trophy in the cup final at Bedford on August 27 have benefited from amalgamations.
The finalists are: Birchfield Harriers, Blackheath and Bromley, Sale Harriers Manchester, Shaftesbury Barnet, Rugby and Northampton, Woodford Green and Essex Ladies, Trafford, Windsor Slough, Eton and Hounslow.
