Last years 3000m (U15) event saw a very special race with 5 of the top 6 runners getting PB’s and the results aligning exactly with the Power of 10’s rankings, mostly because the times set became the runners ranks. Robbie came 6th last year, as bottom age group he wasn’t expecting such a high finish this time round, but also wasn’t expecting quite such a disappointing run. The race started very fast, Robbie trying hard to settle down at his own pace still clocked up a fast 67 seconds first 400m whilst sitting at the back. As other runners started to slow Robbie stepped up and start picking off the runners in front of him until he found that the next runner was too far away to have a chance of catching. So, much like the Hampshire Grand Prix, Robbie found himself alone and with nobody to help drag him round, ultimately finishing in a disappointing 20th place in a time 11 seconds slower than his PB. We had hoped that this very competitive race would enable Robbie to improve his PB for the 3000m but it simply wasn’t to be. So the track season target of sub 9 minutes for 3000m never happened, and nor did the sub 4’05” 1500m.

Track season is now over for Robbie, Road Relays around the corner followed by Cross Country. We hope that the 2015/16 season treats him better than last year.

The only in-club event of the track season targets the junior sections, from Quad kids through u13, U15 and up to U17. Many of the events for the older age groups were a little light on entries this year, partially caused by the date clash with the U15/U17 National Championships. The 1500m was run as a single event for U15/U17 and both sexes. With Robbie running the 3000m at the National on Sunday, this was supposed to be a gentle run out to warm up the legs, only nobody told the other runners that. New boy Alex took on the charge and pushed out the pace from the start, though not exceptionally fast, it was still faster than initially expected, fortunately by the 600m point the pace settled, and Robbie slipped past and ran his own race finishing first in 4:22:00. A good run out and nice to see some new faces on the track.

John  Hewitt Memorial – 1500m Medal Ceremony

The Hampshire Athletics Grand Prix races can be an excellent event for setting PB’s, this time however it didn’t look like it would help Robbie, with only two paced heats, one too fast and one too slow, there would be no real assistance from the pace makers for him. Race started well, Robbie running his own pace and letting everyone get on with it, often the right choice, but on this occasion it simply didn’t work out, leaving Robbie dead in the middle between two groups of runners, the main and faster group about 50m in front, the slower group about 20m behind. After 4 or 5 laps of running solo, and not really gaining on the leading group, the weather conditions and the solo run started to take their toll. Robbie’s pace slowed significantly, the chasing group split in two and the leading element stepped up, caught Robbie and went past him. AFD co-runner Bryn Smith ran an excellent race sat sweetly at the back of that chasing group and earning him not only a finishing place in front of Robbie but an excellent PB at the same time (U20M – 9:12.40).

U17 Men Results
1st Josh Shuter 9:09.42
2nd Robbie Coupland 9:17.24
3rd Kier Sullivan 9:37.98

Robbie was selected to represent Hampshire in this inter county T&F championships at the last minute when one of the team had to pull out due to injury. A fairly easy trip to Little Marlow in windy but sunny weather conditions, didn’t bode well for  any fast times or any special results.

Hoping for a top 5 finish overall, but was scuppered on the day by the bad conditions, and getting stuck leading the chase to catch the break away group. Hard work pushing in to that wind, but it had to be done. Ultimately finishing 8th out of 18, not bad but was hoping for a little better, the slow time of 9’33” represents the conditions more than anything, the race was won by fellow AFD and Hampshire runner Jake Cvetkovic in 8’58” (PB is 8’39”). Slow results were clocked in the 1500m too, it simply was not a high performance day. Well done though to Robbie, it has been a while since he raced, so not a bad re-entry on to the circuit.

Robbie in the chasing pack at 200m in.

Watford Harriers Open meets can be hit and miss events, get the right heat and you have a good chance to get a PB. Tonight saw a lot of lads get the right heats, the 1500m serving up PB’s to lots of last years U15’s. Robbie raced in the 2nd 3000m heat which very quickly saw 3 distinct groups form with Robbie and fellow AFD athlete Macgregor Cox sitting nicely in the second group running 72/73 second laps. Robbie’s target to knock off a massive 16 seconds from his PB in order to meet the National Championships qualifying time and book a place at Bedford in August, although the time wasn’t forth coming an excellent run was still had with Robbie smashing 13 seconds from his PB to finish in 9’05”. With that time gained so early on in the season, we are certain that 9’02” will happen in time for that place at the National Championships.

Well done to the multitude of runners that got PB’s at Watford tonight, it was a good night to run, and a big thank you to Watford Harriers for hosting such an excellent event.

Once again Portsmouth provided excellent weather for the County champs, with Robbie racing in the 3000m on Saturday and the 1500m on Sunday, now running bottom year U17’s and up against fellow AFD runners Jack Boswell and Jake Cvetkovic. Heading to Portsmouth on Saturday for the 3000m, with a list of runners we were hoping that Robbie would actually medal behind Jack and Jake, but via the magic of mobile technology Robbie’s chances of a medal improved when Jake notified him that he was injured and wouldn’t be attending. A great shame for Jake, but as mentioned a boost in possibilities for Robbie. That said, it wasn’t to be.  The race was run as a combined U17/U20 race and two battles were thought from the start, with Jack Boswell battling Thomas MacSwayne for first place (despite them being in different races) and in the same manner Robbie battled Philip Maguire for 3rd, a frustrating time for Robbie as Philip seemed intent on being in front, but not intent at maintaining the pace. A hopscotch process began, with Robbie overtaking and leading for 100m, then Philip overtaking and slowing the pace down, forcing Robbie to drop off and go round to bring the pace back up. This happened at least 5 times, and was ultimately detrimental to both athletes, but mostly to Robbie as Edward Mason and Sam Metcalf took advantage of the tussle to storm past and take 2nd and 3rd place in the U17’s.

Saturday, was disappointing, but ultimately was not the most disappointing day of the weekend. The 1500m on Sunday was practically 2 races, although all U17’s. Sam Maher led from the off, running at a tremendous pace, with Jack Boswell giving chase, only to start suffering and slowing as his knee problems returned, the second race saw Robbie leading a peloton of runners around the track, once again, out front, doing all the work, and just not having the confidence to push the pace. Fellow AFD athlete Sean Pocknee slipstreamed the group for the whole 1500m, kicking in to a flying sprint on the finishing straight to take 5th place in a PB time of 4:19:92.

3000m U17’s (Down to Robbie, there were runners behind him)
1: Jack Boswell (AFD) – 8:56.11
2: Ed Mason (Guernsey) – 9:08.37
3: Sam Metcalf (Isle of Wight) – 9:16.91
4: Robbie Coupland (AFD) – 9:18.32

1500m U17’s (Down to Robbie, there were runners behind him)
1: Samuel Maher (Jersey) – 4:01.3
2: Luke Powell (Southampton) – 4:11.5
3: Toby Roe (City of Portsmouth) – 4:18.2
4: Michael Ilott (Isle of Wight) – 4:19.3
5: Sean Pocknee (AFD) – 4:19.9
6: Jack Boswell (AFD) – 4:20.4
7: William Brown (Jersey) – 4:21.6
8: Robbie Coupland (AFD) – 4:22.6

Robbie Leading the Pack in the 3000m

A very sunny yet windy day left a number of spectators with decidedly pink skin, a full on afternoon of spectating for us, Robbie raced in the 3ooom at 14:05 we arrived at the very new and very nice Wycombe Phoenix track at about 12:30, just missing Jack Boswell winning the U17’s 1500m. This time wee remembered our chairs, so a little comfort in our spectating, and we managed to kick back and simply watch a good chunk of the days activities, waiting around for the 4 x 400 at the end of the day, which in the end we were short of 1 runner in and had to pull out.

The 3000m was run at just after 2pm, and was, due to numbers run as a single combined race including both A and B stream U17’s and A and B stream U20’s the inclusion of the U20’s added some competition, but with a starting grid of 7 runners, not a lot. From the bell there was a determined charge to lead by Toby Clyde from Thames Valley Harriers who went on to win the combined race, as an U20, in 9’12”, Robbie came second overall but won the U17’s race in 9’33”, the second place runner (from Chiltern) in the U17’s finished in 10’17” so a very convincing win. Fellow AFD athlete Dan Rickards came 2nd in the U20’s finishing 3rd overall with a time of 9’49”.

A good, and quite tactical run, Robbie decided not to go with the U20, partially convinced that he would die, and to some extent not worried since he wasn’t in that race. Still slow compared to last season, but with all the problems hopefully behind us it is nice to trim another few seconds off his seasons best.

Robbie starts fast behind Thames Valley Harriers, Toby Clyde before settling down to run the race at a steady 77 second per lap pace.

A trip inside the M25 to the first Alder Valley Boys event of the season, some changeable weather conditions, cloudy one second, sunny the next and once again, fairly strong winds. Robbie racing for AFD in the B stream 1500m hoping to improve on his previous outings so far this season. Improvement wasn’t to be though, with the A & B stream merged in to a single race, and with an exceptional line up, including James Daly, Chey Kemp and Ollie Percival a very fast race was expected, but once again at the first bend Robbie is sat out in front setting the pace, despite not wanting to and with his tactical plan to sit behind the leaders shattered, it wasn’t until way past the half way point that the others started to apply pressure, with Chey Kemp (Reading) going past, followed by Alex Rodrigues (Camberley) and Ollie Percival (AFD)  and finally putting some pressure on the front, a battle of will ensued and saw both Robbie and Ollie trying to push past Alex, only to find themselves drifting wider, with Robbie breaking away on the finishing straight and Alex slowly falling back. The chase was on, the little battle of wills had allowed Chey to pull 10 meters in front and Robbie put a concerted effort in to close the gap and was very successful, kicking hard at the bell, but with 200m to go his steam ran out, Chey was still 5 meters in front and now Ollie and James Daly were closing in on Robbie, and were right on his back as they hit the finishing straight. A finishing straight that with flagging legs, saw Robbie drop back from 2nd to 5th, pipped by the second Reading runner in the last 10 meters to knock him down in to 2nd place for the B stream race, and 5th place overall.

Still a good run, tactics didn’t work out well, but lessons were learnt and there is still more in the tank, faster times to come.

Robbie pushing the race from the front.