It was certainly not a lazy bank holiday weekend for the athletes from Stevenage and North Herts AC. The men s team travelled to Hemel Hempstead on Saturday for their first league match, finishing second behind the home team in the four-team event. Twelve

It was certainly not a lazy bank holiday weekend for the athletes from Stevenage and North Herts AC.

The men's team travelled to Hemel Hempstead on Saturday for their first league match, finishing second behind the home team in the four-team event.

Twelve first places were posted with Neil McLellan leading the way in the field events.

His three first places were in the shot (12.63m), hammer (38.70m) and his speciality event, the javelin (65.60).

Also, with three wins, was Marcus McKechnie who ran his first 5000m in 17:50.2, won the 1500m (4:41.9) and the B string 3000m steeplechase (11:54.0).

Sam Poulton claimed two personal bests when winning the 800m (2:01.7) and the triple jump (12.21m).

The other winners were Glen Begley (200m B 24.9), Adam Searle (800m B 2.10.0), Callum McKechnie (1500m B 4:49.6, personal best), and Aaron Hull (javelin B 41.63).

The other team members were Paul Ingram-Tedd, Arnold Macauley, Josh Saydraouten, Lee Grint, and Mick Shortland.

The action moved to Ridlins at Stevenage on Monday when Herts County staged the first day of the year's county championships.

Gold medals were won by Sara Bailey (under-20 1500m 5:03.2); under-15 boys and under-13 boys 4x100m relay teams (51.7 and 58.3); under-15 boys 4x400m relay (4:05.7); and under-17 women 4x400m (4:18.5).

Nick Stoppard (56.8) and Joanne Mansell (60.3) had brilliant runs as the anchor legs in their relays.

In the Masters championships, club members collected five gold medals. Middle distance coach Paul Keeble, remembering his successes at the English Schools' sprints in the 1980s, won the 35 plus 100m in 13 seconds.

The club's international women were also successful. Sandra Reed won the 400m hurdles and Joylin Saunders-Mullins picked up three wins in the 800m (2:36.7), shot (8.81m) and javelin (28.35m).

Silver medals in the 1500m events went to Josh Saydraouten (under-17 4:24.3); Matthew Leach (under-13 boys, 5:07.0); Sarah Downes (senior women, 5:23.0); and Joanne Mansell (under-17 women 5:01.8).

More silvers were won by 4x100m relay teams in the under-17 men, under-13 boys, under-20 women and under-17 women age groups.

The 4x400m relays also produced silvers - senior men (Sam Poulton 52.9), under-17 men and under-20 women.

Tim Saunders-Mullins won the silver in his shot event (9.35m).

Bronze medals for 1500m were for Sam Poulton (under-20 4:33.6) and Lewis Keeble (under-15 4:51.2). The under-15 girls' 4x100m relay also won bronze, as did Tim Saunders-Mullins in the javelin (25.66m).

In the non-championship events, many club members had successful competitions. These and other championships performances are recorded on the club's website www.snhac.org.uk