Sheffield Sharks make it 9 wins on the bounce with a 74-68 win over Plymouth Raiders

Sheffield Sharks continued their fine run of form to come from behind to beat Plymouth Raiders 74-68 in a 'game of two halves' where Plymouth had been 13 up early on.

Next game for the teams is on Sunday where Plymouth host Sharks in the Trophy Quarter-Finals.

 Mike Tuck contests the tip-off

 Jerrold Brooks in fine form again

 Colin Sing was big in defence tonight but also contributed some points

 John Barber steals the ball from Plymouth

 New signing Brandon Hogg brings the ball out

 Tonight's MVP, with 24 points, 2 assists and 14 rebounds - TJ Robinson jumps for two

and again

 One request tonight was for a bit of logo action for the sponsors - hoping this shot makes it in!

 Jerrold Brooks out on his own again

 Kyle Odister fakes the shot to clear the block

 Jerrold Brooks testing the Plymouth defence again

 and again

Brandon Hogg gets onto the scoresheet and keeps the pressure on the score

Luke Cutts' 2016 Olympic Campaign

Luke Cutts is one of our top pole vaulters and is looking for funds to help him train in advance of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Luke Cutts, Northern Athletics Championships 2016, EIS Sheffield

The following is text that his coach, Trevor Fox, has posted. Please visit the link at the bottom of this page.

My name is Trevor Fox. I have been coaching Athletics for 30 years.
I wish to raise a fund for a 27 year old Pole Vaulter, Luke Cutts, to enable him to compete in the 2016 Olympics.  I have coached him up to World Class standard from the age of 10 years. Luke is now the UK indoor record holder. He is the only UK pole Vaulter to achieve a height of 5.83 Metres. The money I Wish To Raise is to enable Luke to get back on to the Top of his Game, to super charge his training effort from now until July 2016. At the moment his inspiration to success is hampered by a limitation on his training time through work commitments.  He is a Family man with four young children, two step boys, plus being a father to two girls. The amount of fund we require will permit him to suspend his employment for six months so he can be paid as a professional without having to do anything else during run up to the Rio Olympics. Due to time limitation the funding is required and would be greatfully received at the earliest possibility.
This support would be an invaluable culmination of my voluntary 18000 hours of coaching, all be it willingly, but given freely. Both of us will be greatful to realise the opportunity of contending for a podium place at the Rio Olympics,the value of such success,which is definitely  attainable, will be immeasurable, and make us absolutely indebted to all friends who are willing to support and probably have never heard of us till now!


https://www.gofundme.com/25hbmrtc

In this week's edition of Athletics Weekly

A nice photo of Abby Ward who won the U20 Women's High Jump at the Northern Athletics meeting last weekend:

Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Barry Hawkins to win sixth Masters title

Ronnie O'Sullivan completed and emphatic 10-1 victory over Barry Hawkins to clinch his sixth Masters title - tied with Stephen Hendry.

World #8 Hawkins won the first frame, but thereafter it was all one-way traffic as O'Sullivan took control of the final in a spell-bounding style which cheered the crowd.

The five-time world champion showed his class with a superb break of 136 in frame three and wrapped up victory with a break of 82 in the 11th frame.

   

Ronnie O'Sullivan - World Snooker Championships, Crucible Theatre Sheffield, 2014

Following medical treatment on his shoulder, O'Sullivan was highly critical of his own performance saying he "had no touch or feel".   But he was in excellent form in the final as Hawkins - who had lost nine times in 10 previous meetings with O'Sullivan - appeared to wilt under the pressure of his first Masters final.

It all bodes well for a fantastic return to the Crucible in April for the World Championship for the man the fans love.

Some fine performances at the Northern Athletics Senior, U20, U17 Indoor Championships

The EIS Sheffield again hosted the Northern Athletics Senior, U20, U17 Indoor Championships.

Day two produced some good results, particularly in the U20 Women's and a strong field in the senior Men's pole vaults.

 Joe Hobson (City of Sheffield and Dearne) on his way to 1.85m in the U20 Men's High Jump

Xander May (City of Sheffield and Dearne) on her way to winning the Under 17 Women's High Jump with a clearance of 1.60m

 

The Pole vault areas has a new, unloved, backdrop - hideous

 Oluwaseun Okome (Sale Harriers Manchester) competing in the Senior Men's High Jump

Joshua Lindley Harris (City of Sheffield and Dearne) clearing 4.40m to win the U17 Men's pole vault

 Abby Ward (Wakefield Harriers) in action in the U20 Women's High Jump

 Craig Jones (Liverpool Harriers) who won the Senior Men's Long Jump in 7.27m

 Lucy Robinson (Wakefield Harriers) winning the Under 20 Women's 800m in 2:17.83

 Alexandra Russell (Wigan & District) won the Senior Women's triple jump with 12.83m but missed her medal presentation having injured herself in one of her final jumps (not this one!)

Jonathan Hirons (Notts) winning the Senior Men's Midlands 800ms in 1:58.68

 Adam Hague who came second in the Senior Men's  pole vault with 5.30m

  Luke Cutts who came third in the Senior Men's  pole vault with 5.20m

 Kristie Edwards (City of Sheffield and Dearne) who won the U20 Women's 200m in 24.35

 Rebecca Campsall (City Of York) who won Heat 1 of the Senior Women's 200m in 24.51

 Under 17 Men's Pole Vault.  Left to Right: Joseph Duffy (Preston), Joshua Lindley Harris (City of Sheffield and Dearne), Harry Stutely (Kingston upon Hull).

Under 17 Men's High Jump. Left to Right: Adam Berwick (Amber Valley), Kaya Walker (City of Sheffield and Dearne), Shane Connell (Sale Harriers Manchester).

 

  Abby Ward (Wakefield Harriers) who won the in the U20 Women's High Jump in a Championship best performance of 1.86m

 Senior Men's Long Jump.  Left to Right: Jack Roach (Middlesbrough), Craig Jones (Liverpool Harriers), Scott Hall (Gateshead Harriers)  

Women's U20 High Jump.  Left to Right: Holly Smith (Kingston upon Hull), Abby Ward (Wakefield Harriers), Amelia McLaughlin (Trafford Athletic Club)

Full results at: http://www.northernathletics.org.uk/download/na-sen-u20-u17-indoor-championships-day-1-results/

Sheffield Sharks had their revenge over Worcester Wolves tonight

Sheffield Sharks took a sixth straight win when they hosted Worcester Wolves at the EIS Sheffield tonight and ran out 85-75 winners.  They were out to avenge a late home loss (87-90) to Worcester the last time these two sides met in November.

The Sharks have shaken off a sluggish start to the season with a superb run of form to reach the top four in the BBL Championship for the first time this year.  Before the game they were 8-6 behind Wolves in 3rd with stats of 12-6.

 Mike Tuck at the tip

 Jerrold Brooks jumps for two

 Coach Atiba Lyons watches the action

 Colin Sing shooting a three

 Mike Tuck on his way to joint MVP with two more points

 John Barber had his shooting boots on again

 Jerrold Brooks climbs again

 Late on the Sharks drew some fouls....

 ...and again...particularly TJ Robinson

Joint MVPs Jerrold Brooks and Mike Tuck

Northern Athletics Senior/U20/U17 Indoor Track&Field Championships at EIS, Sheffield this weekend

This weekend (Sat 16th/Sun 17th Jan) sees the return of the Northern Athletics Senior/U20/U17 Indoor Track & Field Championships to the EIS, Sheffield.

Always a good event early on in the Indoor calendar, we will miss Katarina Johnson-Thompson who is still recovering from a knee operation at the end of 2015, but will still enjoy the competition which is scheduled to include Louise Bloor, Dannish Walker-Khan, Lauren Howarth and local pole-vaulters supreme - Luke Cutts and Adam Hague.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson competing in the Long Jump, Northern Indoors, Jan 2015

Just be aware that 'Supertram' is anything less than Super this weekend - terminating at Cricket Inn Road =;(

See more details at: http://www.northernathletics.org.uk/events/northern-athletics-snru20u17-indoor-tf-champs/

England Athletics - Senior and U20 Indoor Combined Events Championships - Day 2

The England Athletics Combined Events Championship finished off today with some great performances.

In no particular order:

 Callum Wilkinson (Enfield & Haringey) & Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge) - junior and senior record breakers in the 3km race walk

 Katie Stainton (Birchfield Harriers, Kelly Sotherton) - winner of the Senior Women's event

 Liam Ramsay (Sheffield and Dearne, Mike Corden) in the pole vault

 Sam Talbot (Exeter Harriers, Eldon Lake) winner of the U20 Men's event

 Laura Hanagan (City of Sheffield, Mike Corden) in the Senior Women's 60m hurdles

Joe Hobson (City of Sheffield, Mike Corden) in the U20 Men's 60m hurdles

 Emma Achurch (Leicester Walking Club, Steve Arnold) in the Women's 3km event

 Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge AC, Andi Drake) leading the Men's 3km race walk

 Emma Nwofor (Newham & Essex Beagles, Laura Turner-Alleyne) in the senior Women's shot put

 Elinor Kirk winning the BMC Women's 3km race

 U20 Men's hepathlon winners.  LtoR: Joe Hobson, Sam Talbot, Tom Chandler

Senior Women's Pentathlon. LtoR: Marilyn Nwawulor, Katie Stainton, Jo Rowland

 Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge AC, Andi Drake) celebrates his record-breaking 3km time of 11.15.81

 

Senior Men's Heptathlon. LtoR: Jack Andrew, Liam Ramsay, Aiden Davies

Full event details for Day 2 are at: http://www.englandathletics.org/england-athletics-news/best-of-british-performances-on-day-2-of-england-athletics-indoor-championships