Written by Alex Seftel and Daniel Rees
Eight clubs will compete in a one-match showdown next month to earn the right to compete among the UK’s elite athletics clubs in 2027.
City of Sheffield and Dearne and City of York finished in the top two of the Championship North, while Blackheath and Bromley Harriers and Crawley took the leading spots in the Championship South.
Chelmsford and Shaftesbury Barnet topped the Championship East and Yeovil Olympiads and Cardiff AAC prevailed in the Championship West.
On 12th September, all eight clubs will compete in the Promotion Match in Oxford to see which two teams will be promoted to the NAL Premiership.
NAL Championship North Round 3 – Trafford – 22 August
City of Sheffield and Dearne finished the regular season with a 100% record of winning all three matches in the Championship North to top the regional group.
They had been in a commanding position heading into the final match, but City of York and Notts AC were level on league points behind them. A margin of 49 points was the difference as the former booked their spot in the Promotion Match.
Three-time UK champion Alicia Barrett was nearly a second ahead as she cut the proverbial tape in the 100m hurdles in 13.39s, while other Sheffield regulars included 100m winner Leonie Ashmeade (12.10) and Chuks Osammor, who won the discus (52.96m) and finished second behind team-mate Bill Steel in the shot put with distances of 16.26 and 15.58 respectively.
Just as impressive was Elena Inch, who did the 800m and 1500m double, leading a one-two finish ahead of Tamsin McGraw in the latter event. Joe Dunderdale’s 66.58 in the javelin was more than ten metres further than any opponent. World 4x100m medallist Hayley Mills cleared 3.48 to win the pole vault, before combining with Barrett, Ashmeade and Eniola Ajagbe to win the 4x100m and come second in the 4x400m. Ashmeade was replaced by Callie Coates in the longer relay, but otherwise three women did both team events.
York’s Ben Foulger took 12 points in the long jump with 6.68, while 29.15 was enough for Matilda Wright to win the javelin. Notts AC had some moments to shine despite missing out on their main objective of the day. Amelia Briggs-Goode was on top in the 400m hurdles in 60.54, before joining Nia Myers, Emily Rawson and Fura Mabengi in winning the 4x400m relay. Harry Whyley’s 2.10m clearance took maximum points in the high jump.
Fourth-placed Trafford AC were grateful for the presence of former GB under-20 international Halle Ferguson in the high jump as she cleared a best of 1.78. Behind them, Sale Harriers’ Marcus McLean impressed by beating Sheffield’s European indoor bronze medallist Lee Thompson in the 200m in a time of 21.33, before helping his team win the 4x100m. Thompson later secured a relay triumph of his own in the 4x400m alongside Joshan Vencatasamy, Benjamin Schofield and Bayleigh Lawton. Another notable Sale performance was BUCS medallist Elliot Savage clocking 3:57.60 to cross the line first in the 1500m.
Sprints were the strongest suit for sixth-placed Liverpool Harriers & AC, who finished in that same position in the end-of-season standings. A time of 56.47 won the 400m for Emma Alderson, while Alec Williamson topped the charts with 10.53 in the 100m, and nobody could beat Neave McGhee’s 24.49 in the 200m.
More to follow.