Sheffield Sharks at last get the better of Newcastle Eagles

In a thrilling "game of two halves" at the EIS, Sheffield on Friday night, Sheffield Sharks overcame one of the longest standing losing streaks to finally beat Newcastle Eagles.

It was 12 games ago in February 2014 when the Sharks last came away with the points against Newcastle, so when the Eagles took an early lead and were 31-43 up in the middle of the second quarter, it could have been same-old-same-old.  But the Sharks hit back to leave it 41-47 at half-time.

Coming out with renewed vigour in the second half, Sharks kept up with Newcastle to take it to 61-64 near the end of the third.  They then went on an amazing run - 21 unanswered points - to eventually run out 95-84 winners.

 Max Guercy, in for the injured Jordan Davies, run in

Max Guercy guards Deondre Parks

 Ramon Fletcher runs in

Coach Atiba Lyons

 Rashawn Rembert breaks away for a layup

Zach Gachette floats one in

Eddy Brownell on the ball

Malcolm Riley goes for a three

Birthday boy Mike Tuck shoots from the sides

George Brownell runs in, screened by Marko Backovic

Colin Sing runs in

Max Guercy finishes off a fine run in

Fab Fournoy tries to energise the Newcastle bench

With 29 points and 5 rebounds, MVP goes to Malcolm Riley

When you think Monday morning is pretty bad for you......

I know it's not sports related, but it did make me smile - waking up on a Monday morning and realising that no matter how much I screw things up, my working day will never be as troubled as that of Martha Ruiz and Brian Cullinan of PriceWaterhouseCooper (PWC) - one of whom handed the wrong envelope to Warren Beatty last night.

So many articles leading up to the Oscars about how stringent the procedures are - counting and re-counting, secrecy, separate journeys, double copies, security. Yet it all comes down to good old-fashioned human error.

Just like storm Doris last week - it'll all blow over after a couple of days. Reminder to self - must get my CV up to date, just in case - you never know!

Muller Indoor Athletics Grand Prix

After a break in Glasgow last year, the Barclaycard Arena (formerly the National Indoor Arena) in Birmingham again hosted the British Athletics Indoor Grand Prix, sponsored by Muller.

Even without Katarina Johnson-Thompson, absent due to a minor hamstring strain, there were many top athletes in attendance.  It was an exciting afternoon of competition, capped off with the farewell indoor performance of Mo Farah.

 Sally Pearson (Australia) on the comeback trail in the Women's 60m Hurdles - winning her heat but eventually coming third.

 Adele Tracey (Great Britain), Women's 800m

 Kim Collins (St Kitts & Nevis) making his 50th appearance in Britain, winning his heat of the Men's 60m

 Elaine Thompson (Jamaica) winning her heat of the Women's 60m

 Eilidh Doyle (Great Britain) lining up for the start of the Women's 400m

 Andrew Pozzi (Great Britain) takes another World Lead and PB of 7.43 in the Men's 60m Hurdles

 Jenny Meadows (GB) paced Laura Muir (GB) for the first three laps of her attempt at the Women's 1000m

 Laura Muir then took over, chasing 2:32.96 set by Dame Kelly Holmes at this meeting back in 2004

She set a European record of 2:31.93

 And first to congratulate her was Jenny Meadows

In the final event of a memorable day, Sir Mo Farah at his last indoor track event, broke the British record in the Men’s 5000m, in a time of 13:09.16.

 

 More photos available at: http://www.peverilphoto.com/section665568_713390.html

Action from Day 2 of the British Indoor Team Trials 2017

There were more good performances at the EIS, Sheffield on Day 2 of the British Indoor Team Trials - with selection for the European Championships in Belgrade on many minds.

Scott Lincoln took gold in the first final - winning the Men’s shot put with 18.76m

The Women’s 3000m race walk saw Gemma Bridge add to her win at the EIS in the first weekend of January with her first British title in a personal best of 13.23.59

Tom Bosworth won the 5,000m walk in a new British record of 18:39.47 minutes, cheered on by the crowd as he stormed around the last few laps.

Sheffield Pole Vaulter Luke Cutts posted a season's best 5.43m for his fifth British indoor pole vault title to beat Max Eaves on countback.

In the men's High Jump, Robbie Grabarz cleared 2.25m for silver behind Allan Smith.

Guy Learmonth ran with the red bib to indicate that he was the fastest man on paper, and justified it - winning the Men’s 800m in 1.48.19

Elliot Giles left it late to over-take Tom Lancashire to win the Men's 1500m title with a personal best of 3:45.59

Lorraine Ugen produced the fourth longest jump in the world this year of 6.72m to win the Women's Long Jump ahead of Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jazmin Sawyers.

Sheffield's Lee Emmanuel won his third 3,000m title in succession - pulling away with 600m to go.

More photos can be seen at: http://www.peverilphoto.com/section665568_713388.html

Action from Day 1 of the British Indoor Team Trials 2017

Andrew Pozzi won the Men's 60m hurdles on the first day of the 2017 British Indoor Team Trials at the EIS, Sheffield - equalling the World Lead of 7.44 earlier in the day to also break the Stadium Record.

In the Men’s 60m final Dwain Chambers saved his best run of the season to run 6.62 and claim the bronze medal.

Asha Philip took her fourth British Indoor Women's title in the Women’s 60m in 7.19.

 

The Women’s high jump ended with Morgan Lake and Bethan Partridge as joint gold medallists.

In the Women’s pole vault, Jade Ive beat favourite Sally Peake with a personal best of 4.35m to go sixth on the UK all-time list.

The last final of the day was the women’s shot put, a penultimate round 17.43m saw Rachel Wallader take the title ahead of Sophie McKinna who threw a personal best of 16.74m for silver.

In the 400m semi-finals Eilidh Doyle was the quickest qualifier for the final on Day 2.

In other events, Anthony Whiteman ran a World Record time for a veteran of 1:52.96 in the Men's 800m heats.  And spare a thought for Ronnie Wells of Yeovil who, having been disqaulified for a false start in his heat of the Men's 60m appealed and won the chance of a re-race on his own for a time to get into the semi-finals. 

Out on the start line on his own, the starter gave the orders.....and he false started again.  Definitely one for "What happened next...?"

More photos form the event will soon be available at: http://www.peverilphoto.com/section665568_713388.html