For those of you who have spoken about trying Pentathlon, Heptathlon, Octathlon or Decathlon, now’s your chance! The Eastern Athletics Association Championships.
Combined Event Championships
Taking place in Peterborough on 29th September.
Come on, you multi-talented lot! Give it a go!
End of season open meeting at Havering AC, including Hurdles, HJ, LJ and Hammer, plus a full range of track events. Catering for age groups U12-Senior.
This is a chance to register one final time before picking-up next-year’s age group and spec.
Timetable – Havering AC Open
Most people in Braintree & District AC will know Denise Larkins, one of our excellent throws coaches, responsible for making BDAC an increasingly strong throws club. Not everyone knows her son Wyatt, or that Wyatt recently won a Bronze medal in the World Junior Championships, throwing a PB of 75.34m.
We asked Denise what it’s like to be the parent of a world-class athlete, and what happened between him arriving for his first training session and standing on that podium in Oregon.
Denise – how did you first get involved in athletics?
My journey into athletics started through my two eldest children. When they first became involved, they were doing javelin but were keen to try the heavy throws, particularly hammer and discus. At the time, Braintree AC didn’t have a heavy throws coach, so there wasn’t really an opportunity for them to explore those events.
I spent around nine months watching them train and gradually became more involved. I was then encouraged to complete the Coaching Assistant course, which would allow me to be there to supervise the throws sessions and support the athletes. I completed the Coaching Assistant qualification in October 2014, initially thinking I was simply doing it so I could help my children.
What I didn’t realise at the time was that this would be the beginning of a completely new journey for me. I quickly found that I really enjoyed coaching and, more importantly, enjoyed seeing athletes develop, gain confidence and achieve things they perhaps didn’t think were possible.
That encouraged me to continue learning and developing my own coaching skills. I progressed from Coaching Assistant onto the Athletics Coach qualification and then went on to complete Athletics Coach Throws Plus (2016), specialising in hammer and discus.
What started as a way of supporting my children has grown into a real passion for coaching and helping other athletes develop. Looking back, completing that first qualification in 2014 was a small step that led to something I never expected, but I’m incredibly grateful that I took it.
What were your personal achievements as an athlete, and when did you become a coach?
At school, I did athletics and my event was javelin. I enjoyed throwing but was never really interested in the track events, so athletics for me was always about throwing. At the time, I didn’t even realise that hammer and discus were events, so it’s quite funny to look back now and see how much a part of my life they have become. I certainly never imagined that years later I would end up specialising in hammer and discus and coaching other athletes in the events.
What can you remember about Wyatt’s first training session?
Wyatt’s first proper athletics session was when he was nine years old. At that age, he was only allowed to take part in running, long jump and shot put. He had spent years watching his older siblings train at Braintree AC, all of whom were throwers, so athletics was already a big part of his life.
For years, Wyatt would come along to the track with us and, while his siblings were training, he would run around the perimeter of the track waiting for us to finish. He was always around athletics, watching what everyone else was doing and naturally becoming familiar with the throwing events.
When he turned nine, he was finally able to start training himself. He began with long jump with Steve, some javelin with Neil, and a little discus and shot put with me. It was the beginning of his own athletics journey, although at that point none of us knew where it would eventually lead.
Did you coach him, and do you still work with him? Who coaches him now?
I started off coaching Wyatt in discus, and it quickly became obvious that he was a natural. He took to the event really well and, at just 11 years old, was selected to represent Essex at the Inter-Counties competition. That experience seemed to give him the competition bug — he absolutely loved it and really thrived on competing.
Not long after that, Wyatt started hammer, following in the footsteps of his older siblings who were all throwing hammer. He took to it incredibly well and still holds the Braintree AC U13 hammer club record today.
Wyatt Larkins – 3rd – U/20 World Championships, Oregon.
When Wyatt turned 13, we were training at Colchester with Rob Earle, who took an interest in Wyatt and began coaching him. Rob became Wyatt’s coach for several years and played an important part in his development as a thrower.
In 2021, Rob decided to retire from coaching, which meant Wyatt needed to find a new coach. He approached Jamie Bath, who coaches at London Hammer School as well as being the Braintree throws coach. Jamie took him on and has continued to coach Wyatt ever since.
How many miles do you think you drive each year to support his training and competition?
Honestly, more than I can even begin to think about!
Since the age of 14, Wyatt has trained three times a week, travelling between Braintree, Colchester and Lee Valley for sessions. Then there are the competitions — Scotland, Germany, Loughborough, Southend… you name it, and we’ve probably been there! Over the years, athletics has taken us to so many places, and there have been a lot of early mornings, long drives and hours spent sitting trackside.
It’s only recently that Wyatt passed his driving test, and he can finally return the favour by driving me to competitions. Although, if I’m honest, I absolutely love going to watch him compete, so I’m not sure I’ll be giving up my passenger seat anytime soon!
Training is only one part of what goes into being an athlete at this level. Alongside his three weekly throwing sessions, Wyatt also has strength and conditioning sessions, chiropractic appointments and massage, all of which have become part of his routine.
He was also selected for the YTP (Youth Talent Programme) in Loughborough, which gave him the opportunity to develop not just as an athlete but as a person. The programme covered areas such as dealing with pressure, nutrition, psychology and gaining a greater understanding of his event and what is required to perform at a high level.
Having completed the YTP, Wyatt has now progressed onto the TDP (Talent Development Programme). He has just completed his first year and starts his second year next month.
When you look at everything involved — the training, traveling, competitions, strength and conditioning, recovery and the work he puts in away from the track — it really shows just how much commitment goes into pursuing his goals. And as a mum, I’m incredibly proud to have been there for the journey, even if it has involved what feels like half a lifetime of driving!
Do you do wash his training kit?
When he’s living at home, yes…..he’s had to have a big adjustment whilst studying in the USA and do his own laundry!
Do you cook for him? What does a typical day of food look like for him?
Wyatt used to eat pretty much anything — and sometimes probably a little too much! Nutrition wasn’t something we really thought about in any great detail. That changed when he went through the YTP programme, where he learned much more about what to eat, when to eat it and how nutrition can affect performance and recovery.
He now has a much better understanding of what works for him. Before competitions, he has certain foods that he knows work well for him, and he takes snacks with him so that he can keep his energy levels up throughout a long competition day. All of this is something he learned through the YTP and has gradually built into his everyday routine.
His diet now consists of plenty of eggs — around six a day — along with chicken, rice or pasta and lots of fruit. He mainly drinks water and has become much more conscious of making sure he is properly fueled and hydrated.
When he is in the USA, he tends to stick to a very similar routine, eating pretty much the same foods day after day. They also provide him with plenty of protein-based snacks, yoghurts and drinks, which makes it easier for him to keep on top of his nutrition while he is training and competing.
What has been the worst thing about bringing up a world-class athlete? And what has been the best?
The worst thing has to be the time, the traveling and the worry. Athletics becomes a huge part of family life. There are countless early mornings, long journeys, training sessions, competitions, appointments and everything else that comes with supporting an athlete at this level. You’re always thinking about the next competition, whether they’re training well, whether they’re getting enough rest, and whether everything is coming together. As a mum, you can’t help but worry when they’re injured, struggling or going through a difficult period.
There are also sacrifices along the way. Family plans sometimes have to fit around training and competitions, and there have been plenty of weekends spent driving rather than relaxing at home! But you do it because you want to give them every opportunity to succeed.
The best thing, without a doubt, is watching him do something he genuinely loves. Seeing how much he enjoys competing and watching all the hard work he has put in come together is incredibly rewarding. I love watching him compete, and I’m still just as excited now as I was when he first started.
I’m also incredibly proud of the person he has become along the way. Being a world-class athlete isn’t just about how far he can throw; it takes discipline, resilience, commitment and the ability to deal with pressure and setbacks. Watching him develop those qualities has been one of the greatest privileges of being his mum.
And then there are the moments you never forget — traveling to different countries, seeing him compete on big stages and knowing that all those years of training, traveling and sacrifice have helped get him there.
So, if you ask me what the worst thing is, I’d probably say the driving! But the best thing is getting to sit there and watch my son do what he loves at the highest level. And honestly, I wouldn’t change the journey for the world.
What advice do you have for the parents of a talented athlete?
My biggest piece of advice would be to let them enjoy it. When you realise your child has talent, it’s very easy to get caught up in the results, rankings, distances and what everyone else is doing. Try not to let the pressure of performance take away from why they started in the first place.
Support them, but don’t become their coach unless that is genuinely your role. There is a big difference between being a parent and being an athlete’s coach. Find good coaches that you trust and allow them to do their job, while you concentrate on being mum or dad.
Be there for the good days, but perhaps more importantly, be there for the bad ones. Every athlete will have setbacks, injuries, disappointments and competitions that don’t go to plan. They need to know that when they come off the track, they are still your child and that your love and support doesn’t depend on how they performed.
I would also say don’t be afraid to invest in their development, but make sure it’s the right investment. Good coaching, strength and conditioning, nutrition, recovery and education can all make a difference, but there is no need to rush everything. Let them develop at their own pace.
Listen to your child. Their goals need to be their goals, not yours. It’s very easy as a parent to get excited and start thinking about what they might achieve, but ultimately they have to want it themselves.
And finally, enjoy the journey. Take the photos, go to the competitions, celebrate the little milestones and enjoy the traveling. There will be a lot of miles, early mornings and sacrifices along the way, but there will also be some incredible memories.
Wyatt Larkins with the mascot at the World U/20 championships in Oregon
For me, the most important thing is that Wyatt knows that I’m proud of him whether he throws a personal best or has a competition that doesn’t go his way. The results are important to him, but they don’t define him — and that’s something I think every young athlete should know.
Note – apologies in advance to the owners of the images used. They arrived without attribution. Braintree & District AC is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to provide a sports club for the local community and therefore no commercial value has been obtained by using these images. Please contact webmaster@braintreeanddistricac.co.uk if you which us to remove any of these images.
There aren’t many track competitions for U10 and U12 athletes, but Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies have included a Quadrathlon (four event competition) for U10s & U12s in the timetable of their open meeting on the 29th August.
There are also individual events for older athletes that you don’t always see elsewhere.
You can find the entry form on Roster Athletics – https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29598
Woodford Green AC with and Essex Ladies open meeting
One of the most powerful tools for a coach to use is photography/videography, especially when working on ‘technical’ events. As much of my coaching experience has been in Hurdles and Triple Jump, I’ve used a range of cameras and techniques, but I am always learning from others.
The theory is that if you show athletes an image of themselves executing a technique they can better visualise the movements they need to make to improve that technique.
But it’s not limited to the ‘technical’ events – sprinters can use vidoegraphy to better understand their leg extension and arm action to help optimise speed and power, and endurance athletes can better understand their foot-strike to improve efficiency.
This article offers some examples of how these techniques can be used – if you have further examples, please pass to the author to update the article.
While video can capture the whole movement, still photos capture a moment, allowing the coach to draw attention to a particular part of the technique.
Natalie Potter – showing excellent technique in the 100mH, but picking up two points to consider for further refinement – height above the barrier and that she is looking down instead of towards the next flight of barriers.
Photo sequences take still photography a stage further. Sequences break the technique into a series of snapshots, that allow the coach to isolate improvement in one part of the movement and show its influence on performance of a later part of the technique.
Photo Sequence of a Sprint Hurdler coached by the author. Good attack into the hurdle, but collapsing on landing so hips are dropped before attacking the next hurdle.
Photo sequence showing Martha’s high jump take off. Good approach, but a hint of a lean into the bar at take-off.
Video allows you to capture the whole movement. And using modern devices such as tablet computers, you can playback to the athlete immediately giving instant feedback.
The examples below were filmed at Braintree Gymnastics Club where two of our high jumpers were learning how to back-flip to help improve the flight phase of their jumps.
It is important that photography and videography is carried out ethically. Coaches should always have the agreement of the athlete to record, and in the case of under-18 athletes, you should also seek parental agreement.
If planning to keep photographs or videos for future reference, make this clear to the athlete and parents as well. Explain why you are keeping the images on file, how they will be used, and for how long they will be kept. And be prepared to delete copies if requested at a later date.
The same applies to images used in Social Media and on the club’s website.
The club records details of athletes who should NOT be photographed, for various reasons, notified on their application form, and coaches should try to be aware of these notifications.
The club ha a ‘Photography and Videography Policy‘ which should be followed at all times to help manage the use of photography and videography so that coaches and athletes can use these techniques safely.
On Saturday 8th August, Team CoBra – the combined team drawing on senior athletes from Braintree & District AC and Colchester Harriers – won the final Southern Athletics League fixture of the 2026 season and gained promotion from Division 3 East to Division 2.
Congratulations to all athletes, team managers and volunteers who have represented and helped the team during the year.
Kelly Ayitefio preparing for the 100m
The team finished the competition with 358.5 points, ahead of Thurrock with 318, and Basildon 311.5, all some way ahead of the other four teams.
Top performers from Braintree & District AC include:
After the final round of the Southern Athletics League is at Thurrock on the 8th August – Team CoBra are promoted. After 4 rounds, the final table for Division 3 East looks like this:
Team Manager, April Reid, said: “TEAM CoBra did well again, and we managed to keep Thurrock in 2nd on their home track, and so clinch promotion. I’m looking forward to developing this team next year in Division 2.”
After 4 rounds, the final table for Division 3 East looks like this:
| Position | Team | Match points | League Points |
| 1 | Team CoBra | 1311 | 24.5 |
| 2 | Thurrock | 1186.5 | 24 |
| 3 | Basildon | 943 | 19.5 |
| 4 | City of Southend | 910 | 18 |
| 5 | West Norfolk | 505.5 | 13 |
| 6 | Ryston | 322 | 7 |
| 7 | West Suffolk | 242 | 6 |
Individual results for the full team can be found here: https://www.southernathletics.org.uk/assets/files/results/2026/26sal3e4thurrock.htm
Reminder that the track is shut this evening (4th August) for maintenance. We’ll be training instead at the Discovery Centre, Great Notley Country Park, just off the A131.
Please arrive at your normal training time.
Braintree & District AC partner with Colchester Harriers to run TEAM CoBra in the (seniors age group only) Southern Athletics League. Here are some of the highlight performances of Braintree athletes at the 3rd round on 19th July, Bury St Edmunds.
Team Manager, April Reied, said: “We also had a lot of 1sts, 2nds and 3rds from our Colchester team mates who were fantastic, particularly across all the sprints and longer distance runs.
“A lot of excellent results again, and again, some more PBs coming through!”
Unfortunately, the meeting was cut short due to a medical incident. We send best wishes to the athlete involved and his club. We’ve been informed he is making a good recovery.
The final round of the Southern Athletics League is at Thurrock on the 8th August – Team CoBra go into the event with a good chance of promotion, but will face tough opposition from Thurrock on their home track. After 3 rounds, the table for Division 3 East looks like this:
| Position | Team | Match points | League Points |
| 1 | Team CoBra | 999.5 | 19.5 |
| 2 | Thurrock | 868.5 | 18 |
| 3 | Basildon | 852 | 16.5 |
| 4 | City of Southend | 551.5 | 11 |
| 5 | West Norfolk | 387.5 | 9 |
| 6 | Ryston | 268 | 5 |
| 7 | West Suffolk | 222 | 5 |
Braintree and District AC Athletes had a great day at Cambridge for the Eastern Athletic League on Sunday 12/07/2026.
Here are the Best performance by event and age group.
Hannah Smith – Senior Women Long Jump – 1st – 4.79m
Luke Scilitoe – 1st (B) in Senior Men Javelin with 36.06m
Team manager, April Reid, said; “And lots more fab results including some new PBs – Ben Clarke broke 13 meters in the mens shot put for the first time, Freya Davey in Javelin.
If there were any more please let us know!
April herself broke 7m for the first time in Shot put.
She continued : “Well done to all athletes – and a big thank you to all the parents who helped out at events and gained us extra points!”
The next competition is the Southern Athletics Leage, 19th July, held at Bury St Edmunds. This is for age groups U18, U20 and Seniors (competing as seniors). Team sheets coming soon. Get in touch with any extra entries, .
Note – If you would like to take part in a competition but its your first time, or you want to chat to one of the team about the process of the day, please reach out! Coaches and team managers will help you understand what to expect and what to do on the day.
If, on your way to/from the track, you’ve passed through the changing rooms at Braintree Sports Centre, you’ve probably seen that we’ve updated the club noticeboard. First off, thanks to the sports centre staff for finding the missing key.
Secondly, if you’d like to take a copies of the posters on the board to your school’s PE department, please download your favorites and print them off.
Taking a poster into school not only promotes your club – it gives you a good opportunity to tell your PE staff about your achievements at your club.
Thanks to April who provided most of these photos.
You can get printed copies of the posters on request from Chris Webb.
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