AVSL Round 8 Yarra Ranges - 24 Jan 2026
Shield was on at Yarra Ranges and Keilor on Saturday, and most of our team were at Yarra Ranges. We had 21 athletes competing in 49 events, a big improvement on R7 (only 14 athletes). A big welcome to Jack Beasley who debuted for AVSL, and starred in the hurdles and 400m.
We finished with 12,280 points, which was a big improvement on R7 8,759 points. So thanks to the team for lifting and all who competed so well. Sadly we fell just 441 points short of Corio, who beat us by 1 place (that's just 1 or 2 events), and cruelly we had 2 false starts in the 400m. So now we have a huge challenge to beat them in all of the last 3 rounds to avoid relegation.
Some of our highlights:
- Christine Bridle was our highest point scorer with 1,069. She was also our highest scorer in R7, and has moved to a convincing lead in our best season poits ladder. She produced season PB's in the 100m, discus and long jump.
- Ryan Bentley scored 1,016 points with season pb's in the 1500m and discus.
- Linda Buttigieg scored 1,000 points exactly with another big pole vault equal season PB of 2.45 for 406 points.
Only a whisker separating those 3, and they were well clear of the rest of us.
- James McEniry scored 884 points from 2 events including a massive 465 points for his 1500m in a fast M50+ 2:12. Watch out Craig (2:11).
- Clyde Riddoch scored 792 points from his lazy 6 events (3 at each venue) with a season PB in the 1500m walk.
- Jack Beasley U16 debuted with am impressive 741 points from 2 events. He ran a sizzling 15.24 for 100 hurdles and 56 for 400m.
- Other season PB's by Simone in the discus and javelin, Arun in the 100m, Daniel in the 400m and long jump, Shane in the javelin (a big one 40.53m), Gerard in the 5K, Greg in the discus, Ernie and Harvs in the 1500m, Clyde and Harvs in the walks.
- Special mention to U14 Tessa Davison who ran an amazing 800 in 2:27.8
- Our fastest runners (in events with 2 or more) were:
Male: 100m Anthony Huynh 12.69, 400m Ryan Bentley 55.07, 800m James McEniry 2:12.3, 1500m Ryan Bentley 4:36.3, 1500m Walk Andrew Duncan 8:08
Female: 100m Christine Bridle 16.95
- Our best field events:
Male: Discus: Shane Carstairs 39.38, Javelin Shane Carstairs 40.53m, Long Jump Arun Ashok 4.18m, Shot Put Clyde Riddoch 7.41m
Female: Javelin Linda Buttigieg 17.58m, Discus Linda Buttigieg 19.92m
Next week we have the Reserve Round to cover the washed out Round 3. Only athlete who entered R3 are eligible, and only in those events. So hopefully those of us who entered back in November are still good to go at Frankston and/or Keilor on Sunday. Only Slim and Clyde are entered at Keilor. Good luck everyone.
