BEDFORD played host to the latest round of World Athletics’ Challenge Tour series. The event also served as the British Heptathlon Championships. A good field of twenty-six athletes started the weekend and twenty-one completed the two days. In attendance were world top fifty ranked athletes Laura Voẞ from Germany, Anne van de Wiel of the Netherlands, and Sweden’s Klara Radbo.

There were also athletes from France, Spain and Ireland and a good home field. Jade O’Dowda, the highest ranked athlete in attendance, led the home challenge. Harlow’s Beth Harryman was part of the field, and she ended the weekend in thirteenth place.

Day One began with hurdles and Harryman put in a solid performance, at 15.56s, to get her competition off to a decent start. With her High Jump PB standing at 1.70m, achieved in a high jump competition, she was pleased by a jump of 1.68m in a multi event competition and the 830 points it accrued. The event moved on to Shot Put and 10.35m was her best effort in the competition. The day ended with the 200m. As is often the case at Bedford, the wind picked up and conditions became tricky for fast times. Nevertheless, 27.7s was not far off her best of 26.93s.

Day Two got underway with Long Jump and Harryman jumped a solid enough 5.33m. Harryman’s personal highlight came in the Javelin where she topped thirty metres for the first time. Her new PB now stands at 30.77m. The final event was 800m. On this occasion she managed 2.31.62 mins. All seven performances combined to score 4656 points, just 35 points behind her best.

The competition itself went by ranking with Jade O’Dowda (GB) winning, 6044 points. Anne van de Wiel (NL) was second and Laura Voẞ (Ger) third.

In the British Championship standings, Jade O’Dowda, Newham and Essex Beagles, was first with Natasha Smith, Birchfield Harriers, second, and Lauren Evans, City of Cardiff AC, third. Harryman’s performance was good enough for seventh place.