For the second year in succession the Air Cadets of 2160 (Sleaford) Squadron were crowned overall champions at the Trent Wing Air Training Corps Athletics competition. With a haul of thirteen Gold, eight Silver and eight Bronze medals the young team also won first place trophies in three of the five classes as well as carrying off the overall champion’s trophy against competition from the thirty other Squadrons in Trent Wing.
Double gold medallist Cadet Erin Atkinson, having won the junior girls 800 metres, showed real pace in pulling off a stunning victory in the 1500 metres. To cap these triumphs she also managed to secure Silver in the Long jump. Not surprisingly Erin has now been selected to join the Trent Wing team to compete in the Regional championships at Bedford.
Not to be out done by the girls, Sgt Michael Reed, already with the 200mts and 1500mts titles under his belt ran a stunning anchor leg to secure the four by one hundred metres relay title for the team. With Sgt Matt Meikle taking the Gold at the 800mts and Sgt Liam Davies winning the Javelin and a number of bronze medals also being won it was no surprise the Sleaford Team carried off the Junior Men’s trophy for the second year in a row. All three athletes have been selected to represent their Wing.
Further success in both track and field events saw the medal and points tally rise steadily throughout the day.
As the time approached for the presentation of the trophies the twenty five strong Sleaford team were on the edge of their seats. Points were announced for each of the classes and when the third of five class trophies was presented to Sleaford Sqn the overall championship trophy was in no doubt. The whole Sleaford contingent was jubilant when team captain Cadet Flight Sergeant Alex Sellers accepted the Trophy from Wing Commander Tony Wright and hoisted it aloft.
Flight Lieutenant Paul Blackman OC 2160 said of the team: “I really could not have asked more of the team, they ran, jumped and threw like heroes. I am very pleased for those who won medals in their events but am equally proud of those who gave their all for no other reward than supporting the team effort”