Enfield & Haringey AC sailed into the UKA Young Athletes League national final with second place in the last match of the Premier Division season, holding home club Blackheath & Bromley AC (runner-up in the 2008 final) to a 9.5 points lead. Having also held national champions Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow AC to a similar lead at Eton in match 4, Enfield & Haringey returned home on Sunday evening with the absolute confidence that in September EHAC can take the national title it last won in 2006.

The under-13 section of the match saw EHAC grab 13 first places with new member Rueben Arthur proving particularly impressive as he won the A string 100m (12.40) and long jump (5.21m) and then ran a storming second leg for the victorious 4 x 100m team. Lee McKinson-English earned maximum points in the A string 200m (25.70) and Shot Putt (9.85m), was first in the B Long Jump (4.82m) and entrusted with the anchor leg in the sprint relay. David Anthony won both B string sprints with 12.80 and 26.50m.

Kenisha Allen was another double sprint winner, gathering valuable points in the 75m (10.0) and the 150 (19.9) with Angel Fred-Horsfall winning the B 75m. Angel and Kenisha teamed up with Savannah Harriott and Toni Adegbayibi in the 4x100m and swept to victory in 54.40.

Rueben and Angel were declared the EHAC athletes of the match for the U13 age group.

Enfield & Haringey took 17 first places in the U15 competition, including four A and B string doubles. Making a comeback from injury, Regan Sembatya shrugged off the handicap off lane 8 and a head wind to win the 200m in 24.20 with Iuri Figueiredo taking the B string honours with 24.40. Gavin Suddell was the early leader in the B15 1500m and held on for third place and first in the B race (4:38.1) while Andre Coggins judged his final effort to perfection for his second League win (4:30.4).

Desiree Henry displayed her amazing ability to constantly perform at or near her highest level, often against no real opposition, with a win in the 100m (12.1) and the 200m 24.5). The EHAC G15 athlete of the match was Charlotte Kerr after her fighting win in the 800m for which she was rewarded with a PB of 2:18.4 Andrew Stark (11.50) and Myles Agyei (12.60) supplied their usual 80m hurdles double while Andrew was part of another winning double act in the Pole Vault, clearing 3.00m while Rowan Mahon improved to 2.30m to win the B event. Stephen Arthurworrey forged a potential winning lead in the 800m but slowed to come home second only to be taken to hospital when it was realised he was suffering from possible concussion following a clash of heads in a football match during the previous week. Fortunately Stephen was given the all clear but told to rest for two weeks. In the meantime Stephen’s brother James won the B string discus (29.88m) and took second place in the Shot with an effort measured at 11.49m. EHAC throws hero Dominic Palmer-Leandre gained two personal bests with second in the A Hammer (39.89m), second in the A Discus (35.89m) backed up by second in the B Shot and was declared EHAC’s B15 athlete of the match.

The Enfield & Haringey AC under-17 squad was missing Jordan Arthur - on England duty at the SIAB Schools International where he won the 200m in 22.40 - but did not lose out on points as Reece Noonan (11.20) and Chijinu Ujah (11.80) swept up the maximum score in the 100s and Noonan (22.90) and Philip Whittaker (23.60) did the same in the 200m. More doubles in the EHAC total of 19 wins included the pairings of Godwin Gyeabour (13.70) and Anthony Ekundayo (14.10) in the 100m hurdles, Jamie Smyth (1.81m) and Ola Amosu (1.75m) in the High Jump, Kike Solanke (10.46m) and Aislinn Rance (9.46m) in the W17 triple jump and the Romane Walcott (6.48m), Phillip Whittaker (6.01m) combination in the Long Jump.

Dean Scott who tackled the 3000m, 1500m and 4 x 400m was the EHAC M17 athlete of the match and for her encouragement and commitment, the W17 award went to Chanice Oliver.