It took double overtime to separate Sheffield Sharks and Leicester Riders

It was a late-night thriller at the EIS yesterday as Sheffield Sharks and Leicester Riders fought out a 92-98 duel that needed double overtime to separate them.

There were many contenders for MVP: Chris Alexander with his customary 21 points; Mackey McKnight recorded only the second triple-double of the BBL season and the first by a Sharks player since 2009 with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. But it went to captain Mike Tuck with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists.

Sharks need to regroup now to take on Worcester Wolves tomorrow in a winner-take-all semi-final for a BBL Trophy final place with both teams tied on 86-86 after the first leg away at Worcester.

Dirk Williams lights up the EIS in overtime against Surrey Scorchers

High flying Dirk Williams took down Surrey Scorchers in overtime last night with a spectacular dunk that he started by getting the ball on his own baseline.  The end result is shown below:

No wonder he has been slected for the Dunk Contest at the BBL Cup final!

Record total for England Athletics Combined Event

Holly Mills (Andover AC, James Coney) made a record breaking return to combined events when she took the England Athletics U20 Indoor Pentathlon title atthe EIS, Sheffield today. Both Holly and Jade O'Dowda (Oxford City AC, Marcia Marriott) eclipsed the former championship record as the Senior and U20 men also got their championships underway.

By the end of the five events the Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist and England long jump champion Holly had reached 4049 points ahead of Jade’s 4013, with bronze medallist Pippa Earley (Kingston AC & Poly Harriers, John Shepherd / Lloyd Cowan) clocking the fastest 800m of the day to move herself into the bronze medal position on 3840. In itself this wasn't too far behind the Championship record of 3965 point set by Morgan Lake in 2013.

Holly and Jade now stand at seventh and eighth on the British U20 all-time list, just behind the 4089 set by Jessica Ennis-Hill.


In the Senior Men’s Heptathlon, last year’s England Athletics Senior Decathlon champion James Finney (Leeds City AC, Sam Stanislaus, U23) holds a strong position at the end of the first day. In third place after a 7.18 (819) in the 60m he took the lead with a 7.29 (883pt) long jump, the only athlete over 7m. before then consolidating his position with a 12.62 (644pt) shot. The high jump saw him extend his lead, one of three men over 2m he cleared 2.04 (joint highest and 840pts) to head into the second day on 3186 points.

 

In the Under 20 Men’s Heptathlon, Caius Joseph (Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, Rafer Joseph) put in an impressive first day to lead from Joel McFarlane (Arbroath & District AC) by almost 200 points going into day two. He has led throughout with a 7.09 (851pts) 60m, 7.04 (823pts) long jump, and 13.89 (722pts) shot not only seeing him in first place but also highest scoring in each of the first four events. The pole vault is often the event where the leader board sees a shake-up but a 3.88 (584pts) clearance saw him safely navigate this with his lead intact on 2980.

Photos from the event are available to view/buy at: http://www.peverilphoto.com/section665568_731299.html

England Athletics Combined Event Championships 2017 - Day 1

The England Athletics Combined Event Championships | EIS - Sheffield | 7-8 January 2017

The first day of England Athletics championships in 2017 have taken place. Not only was the first title of the year decided in the Under 20 Women’s pentathlon there was also plenty of action in the first day of both the Senior Men's Heptathlon and Under 20 Men’s Heptathlon competitions.

Holly McArthur (Club: Edinburgh AC, Coach: Iain McEwan) claimed the first England Athletics title of 2017 in the Under 20 women’s pentathlon ahead of da'ora Chigbo (Club: North Somerset AC, Coach: Ken Holmes/ Fuzz Caan) and Grace Bower (Club: Sale Harriers Manchester, Coach: Mike Holmes).

Holly McArthur, winner Under 20 Women’s pentathlon

In the Senior men’s competition defending champion Liam Ramsay (Club: City of Sheffield & Dearne AC, Coach: Mike Corden) holds the overnight lead into what looks set to be a thrilling second day. Ramsay sits just six points clear of Commonwealth Games silver medallist Ashley Bryant (Club: Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow/Brunel Uni, Coach: Aston Moore) with 3299 to 3293 points with Commonwealth fourth placer John Lane (Club: City of Sheffield & Dearne AC, Coach: Toni Minichiello) third on 3191 as Under 23 Aiden Davies (Club: Doncaster AC, Coach: Sam Stanislaus) lies fourth just another 91 points back.

 Liam Ramsay, Men's High Jump

The overnight leader in the U20 Men's Heptathlon is Joseph Hobson (Club: Sheffield Running Club, Coach: Mike Corden) who has led from the first event. A 7.08 (854 pts) clocking in the 60m gave him the lead ahead of Daniel Ryan (Club: Herne Hill Harriers, Coach: Garry Power, 7.21, 809 pts) with Caius Joseph (Club: Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, Coach: Rafer Joseph) completing the top three with 7.30 (779 pts).

Joe Hobson, Shot Put

See the results at:  http://www.englandathletics.org/england-athletics-news/2017-championships-action-underway

Photos from the event are available to buy from: www.peverilphoto.com

Pole vaulters Adam Hague and Luke Cutts line up at the EIS

Enjoyed a quick press conference/photo shoot with Adam Hague and Luke Cutts at the EIS, Sheffield today.

This weekend sees the Sainsbury's UK Indoor Athletiics Championships return to the EIS for two days of top athletic action.  Local boys Adam and Luke

Adam has a PB of 5.55m is the current World Youth Indoor pole vault record holder and Luke who set a PB last year of 5.83m is the British Indoor record holder.

See more details of the event at: http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/sainsburys-indoor-british-champs/

Katarina Johnson-Thompson starts off the 2015 indoor season in fine style

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Liverpool Harriers AC, coach Mike Holmes) came to the Northern Indoor Athletics Senior Indoor Championships at EIS Sheffield this weekend for her first indoor competition of the year.  She overcame a sore throat to post 8.40seconds in the 60m hurdles (to equal her PB), managed 12.32m in the shot put, and a winning 6.63m in the long jump.

As I had chance to set up a static remote today, this picture is a composite of her first jump, merged together to show the flowing action.

Good performances in the England Athletics Combined Event 2015

Some photos from the first athletics meeting of the year.  I'm hoping that 2015 will start off in the same explosive way that 2014 did. 

Joe Hobson (City of Sheffield AC) putting in a good performance of 8.76 seconds in the Men's Junior 60m hurdles.

 Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge AC) won the 3k walk in a time of 11:52:36

Karla  Drew (City of Sheffield AC) on her way to 1.74m in the Senior Women's High Jump and a total of 4,199 points to win the Senior Women's heptathlon.

Jo Rowland (Crawley AC) on her way to 12.48m in the Senior Women's Shot Putt and a total of 4,115 points to third in the Senior Women's heptathlon.

Queen's Baton relay visits Sheffield

The Queen's Baton relay of the XX Commonwealth Games visited Sheffield on Sunday for a host of events around the city.

Tricia Memmott at Concord Park.

England Junior Netball at EIS.

Elizabeth Sorsby and Nick Matthew at High Bradfield.

Olympic swimmer James Kirton at Concord Park.

Joanne Strong at Low Bradfield.

 Paul Hudson, General Manager of EIS Sheffield welcomes and updated Nick Matthew board to the Hall of Champions.

John Lane makes Athletics Weekly

For two weeks on the trot, one of my pictures has made it into the results section of Athletics Weekly - first KJT and now the record-breaking John Lane.

It is always nice to see your work published and it makes me look forward to the UK Indoor Athletic Championships at the EIS Sheffield on 8th/9th February even more!

Jessica Ennis selfies

Nice to see Jess Ennis out at the EIS Sheffield on Sunday watching the young GB team competing at the Combined Event.  She looked very radiant with no sign yet of a bump...and gave everyone plenty of time for chats and snaps.

As soon as she appeared trackside a host of Spanish and then French athletes mobbed her for selfies and then persuaded Toni Minichiello to take group photographs.  It was very flavoursome of the great atmosphere at the event.

More photos from the event are at: Andy Chubb Photography

The match reports can be accessed at: British Athletics

Fantastic results from the International Indoor Match Combined Events 2014

There was a fine weekend of athletics (fine also because it was indoors and not subject to the cold and wet of Sheffield in late January) at the EIS on Sat 25th and Sun 26th January 2014.

The highlight came at the end of Sunday as it was confirmed that John Lane (City of Sheffield) had broken the long-standing GB Men's Heptathlon record by 4 points.

GB Senior Mens Team (Left to Right): Ben Gregory, John Lane, Ashley Bryant,  Richard Reeks



More photos can be seen at: Andy Chubb Photography

Results are available at: http://gb.athletics-uk.org

Sheffield Varsity 2013

Well, it all 'ended' yesterday on a bit of a b*m note as Sheffield Wednesday decided that they didn't want two student games cutting up their pitch ahead of an important clash with Cardiff City their pitch was frozen and so a risk to health and safety.  So, football and a few other clashes still to be decided but it leaves the University of Sheffield in the position of finally being able to wrest the Varsity Trophy away from the cabinet at Hallam Univesity where it has been screwed down for the last 9 years.....

I finished off yesterday with photos of badminton, kaufball and athletics at a very dim and dingy EIS (I did offer them 10 bob for the electric meter).  It really pushed the cameras to get any sort of half-decent speed at 6400 ISO and f/2.8 - thank goodness for the ability to drag details out of the shadows in Photoshop!

Will try to put some photos on my website this weekend after a Saturday morning spent being creative (or trying to be) with two fencers, a black backdrop and some glow-sticks!

Blooming freezing!

Headed out to Damflask Reservoir early yesterday morning to photograph the Varsity 2013 rowing matches.  The 14 races started just after 8am as advertised on a very cold morning with the hills covered in a layer of snow and flurries blowing across the water at various times.

By 9:30am I could take no more - even with gloves on, I couldn't feel my fingers any more and headed back to the car.

Looking forward to the final day on Wednesday - athletics, kaufball and badminton at the EIS and then to Hillsborough for the ladies and mens football matches.

Northern Athletics Indoor Championships 2013

These were held at the EIS on 12th-13th January 2013.  A full range of Indoor Track and Field events for various age ranges were held, and they were a good warm-up for the European Trials and UK Indoor Championships at the same venue in 3 weeks time.

Jacob Sutcliffe, Sale Harriers, clearing 3.80m in the Under 20 Men's Pole Vault.

See more at: http://www.peverilphoto.com