THE modest level of support from Southend AC’s Under-17s at the UK Young Athletes’ League match was overshadowed by the even more modest backing from other clubs.

Even eventual winners and hosts Thurrock were far from presenting a full side.

As a result Southend slipped comfortably into second place. Had the seasiders taken all their leading lights the result (a 13 points differential) would have been different.

The Under-13 boys were the runaway winners of their age group, mopping up nine outright wins between them.

A hat-trick went to Kyle Marshall B100/B200/A shot (13.3pb/28.2/7.66).

And a win apiece was gained by Joe Beard (800 best-ever run of 2.31.6); Robbie Frith (1500 5.08.6) and Oliver Woodhouse (B shot 6.24).

Long jumpers Mitchell Turffrey and Scott Tansley went for an event double, outleaping the opposition with 4.77 and 4.71 respectively. In runners-up spot, Mitchell Turffrey clocked 13.1 (one-tenth off his best) and 26.8 (to equal his best) in the sprints and Oliver Woodhouse finished third in the 75 hurdles with a PB of 14.1. The sprint relay squad’s 56.5 gave them the final win of the day. With only just enough Under 17 Men to form a relay team, they nevertheless covered what they could, resulting in six wins.

Kyle Aldridge claimed two of them – the B shot (6.74) and B steeplechase (5.18.6 his second best ever time).

Others came from Tom Frith in a javelin/steeplechase combination (26.71/4.40.6), Dave Smale in the 800 and latest signing, Tom Jeffs with a 33.93 hammer throw.

Smale, in the A javelin, improved his best-ever throw by over 2.5 metres for a 29.69 second place and he gained a further second in the A 400 (57.9).

Jeffs produced a 9.18 put in the shot and a PB in the 100 (12.7) while Frith completed his day with a 5.05 long jump. The four of them rounded their day off with a 4 x 400 relay in 4.11.0.

The five Under-17 women ended the day all winners. Felicity Clarke took the 300 hurdles in an untroubled 49.4, but spread her wings for some invaluable points in the 100 (13.1) andd discus (14.60).

Similarly Alexa Kyriakides showed her versatility. Apart from winning the B 100 (14.3), she was runner-up in the 800 (2,50.3) and leapt 3.82 in the long jump. Alexandra Dean won her B 200 (28.4) and threw the A discus in 18.55. The 200/300 double went to Amy McDonald (26.6/43.7); and Holly Gillard won the 1500 (5,30.9).

The seven Under-15 boys, while collecting only two first places, collected the second highest score of the day by placing no lower than third in any event – unmatched by any other age-group.

Their performances: Tom Watts – 2nd 100 13.7; 3rd 200 24.9; Harry Grose - 2nd in both 200 26.5 and 400 57.2; Oliver Kyriakides – 1st Javelin 20.70m; 3rd 800 2.22.8; 3rd long jump 4.15m; Ashley Capel – 3rd 1,500 4.45.5; Harris Foster-Carter – 2nd 1500m 4,58.2; and two new members. Ray Parker- 1st Hammer (25.50m) and 2nd Shot (6.83m) and Sam Viravong – 3rd in both A Javelin (27.97m) and A Shot (8.19m) The Under-15 girls were also affected by the absence of key members, brought about partly because of the club championships the previous day. However, successes did go to Jordan Lacey (5.24.3 in the 1,500) with Alexandra Morgan 2nd in the B string (5.57.90).

Meg Kelly won the B long jump in 4.06 – the same as Leanne McCrory in the A – clocked 29.0 in the 200 and threw the discus 14.45.

And Molly Short won the shot by over half a metre with 9.34.

Natalie Woodhouse finished second (7.26) in the B. Jessica Mead and Aimee Garnett collected a double second in the 800 (2.25.1 and 2.33.4), Mead later also threw the discus. Sian McCrory ran the 100 and 200 (28.4) and threw the javelin while twin sister Leanne covered the 100 B and long jump.

Holly Clements, Kerry McCrory and Emma Jarvis were the only Under-13s available, but they worked very hard to add to the points’ collection.

Performances: 75 – Clements 10.8; McCrory 11.8. 800 – Jarvis 3.00.McCrory 3.09.9. Shot: – Clements 5.93 (2nd). Long Jump – Clements 3.72m, Jarvis 3.28 (1st B).