WOODFORD GREEN with Essex Ladies Athletics Club came within a whisker of retaining the Jo Smith Trophy they won last year but were eventually edged out by Shaftsbury Barnet at their Copthall Stadium.

Woodford missed out on the title by just 2.5 points, as four of their athletes finished atop the podium on the day.

Dan Davis was perhaps the standout performer, blazing a trail to the 110m hurdles title in a personal best time of 13.97sec.

The club’s other winners also came from the men’s section, with discus thrower Emeka Udechuku warming up for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi with victory, registering a distance of 58.04m.

Another athlete set to fly out to India is Nick Leavey, and he enjoyed ideal preparation for his 4x400m duties with England by winning the 200m in a time of 21.60sec.

Simon Bennett was the other winner at Barnet, his throw of 63.55m enough to take the title, despite being involved in a car crash on his way to the venue.

Paul Scanlan impressed to finish third in the 400m, while Alex Cornwall was second in the 1500m. Dan Agustus and Bertie Powell combined for Woodford to finish third in the 3000m team race, while Francis Smith was second in the 400mH. Angus Holford was second in a personal best time in the 3000m steeplechase.

Sayo Ojo came third in the triple jump and Carl Fletcher was runner-up in the shot putt, while the 4x4000m squad placed third.

In the women’s category, Elaine O’Neil, Claire Leckie and Katherine Foy all came third in their respective events.

Diana Kennedy would have gone on to win the 2000m steeplechase had she not clattered a barrier, although she did recover to place second. In the 400mH Tracey Duncan was runner-up.

Kitty Elayae was second in the long jump, while Ayamba Akim was third in the high jump. Anna Silva impressed with second in the javelin, Jo Duncan scooped third in the shot, while the 4x100m team came second, with the 4x400m relay squad finishing in third.