BASINGSTOKE and Mid Hants men’s team put in a solid performance as they finished fifth in their opening match of the season in the British Athletics League at Watford last Saturday.

There were wins for Alex Hanson running 800m in 1min 52.15sec. Owen Richardson opened his outdoor 400m season, both smashed their personal bests by over a second for Richardson and Hanson by two seconds.

Team captain and manager Ben Hazell won the discus (42m) after long jumping 5.93 putting the shot 12.31, throwing the javelin over 52m, pole vaulting 3.60 high jumping 1.80.

Dean Showler Davis made a good return to competition after missing most of last season through injury gaining second in100m in 10.6 and third in 200m with s good time of 21.64. Jamie Kheunel making his debut in the team hurled the hammer in a personal best (pb) of 53.81m. Joe Flitcroft in the B string event threw 43.32 both of them gaining second places in the event.

Ryan Boniface once again was consistent in his jumping cleared 2.05 in the high jump for second. Stalwart Andy Blow sprinted to second in the 110m hurdles after a swift third in 100m B race.

Newcomer Niall Carney produced a pb in the 400m hurdles with a time of 54.66, 2 and then ran his first race over the men’s high hurdles for a creditable fourth in 16.86. Another pb 22.49 was set by a newcomer Cameron Newton in the 200m.

In the penultimate race of the day Basingstoke’s 4x100m team of Richardson, Davis, Blow and Newton stormed to an impressive win to go to the top of the National rankings with a time of 41.46 Other valuable points were gained by Jonty Davidson, Pete Watkeys, Jack Flower, Liam McGarrigle, Brendan O'Connor, Dave Awde, Dave Ragan, Jon Dickenson, Freddie Slemeck.

Basingstoke's next meeting is on June 4 at West London.