Birchfield Harriers women on brink of UKWAL title

Jul 31 2010 by Brian Dick, Birmingham Mail

BIRCHFIELD Harriers travel to Eton tomorrow to complete their UK Women’s Athletics League campaign, refusing to even contemplate taking the Division One title.

Lyn Orbell’s squad have finished first and second in the first two matches of the season and go into this weekend’s finale top of the table and on the brink of a maiden UKWAL championship.

They are tied on league points with the City of Manchester and know they must finish ahead of the big-spending Mancunians if they are to take the crown. Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow and Trafford all have an outside chance of success.

And Orbell’s squad, which will also look to close out the Midlands League title tomorrow, has been hit by withdrawals ahead of one of the biggest days in the club’s history.

“The club historian came and asked me about the team the other day and within a few minutes someone phoned to pull out. I really don’t want to tempt fate,” Orbell said.

“It would be great for the club if we could win and the girls who are involved will achieve something special and be part of something that no-one else has ever achieved before for Birchfield.”

And the team manager is cautiously optimistic about their chances.

“What we have got is very good but I am not sure we have got enough depth, we need a couple of people just to come and pick up a point for us, it could come down to such a small margin.”

Orbell is at least able to call on leading British hammer thrower Zoe Derham, national No.3 pole vaulter Henrietta Paxton and rising throwing star Eden Francis. The men’s team also lead the BAL table going into their penultimate match.