2003 BRITISH SUPERSTARS WOMEN'S FINAL
The women's final became one of the most competitive and exciting competitions in Superstars history. Swimmer Zoë Baker won the 100 meter dash and the tennis competition to open up an early lead. Triathlete Leanda Cave used her endurance to win the 800 meter run. Tennis player Annabel Croft and long jumper Fiona May set a quick early pace, but Croft faded about halfway through and May did not have enough to hold off Cave.
In the archery competition, 400 meter runner Katharine Merry was the first athlete up and in five arrows, she scored 43 points to break the Superstars record of 40 set by Steven Redgrave in the 2002 Sports Relief Superstars. Merry's lead did not hold up as Annabel Croft upped the record to 45 points to win the archery and move into second place. Snowboarder Lesley McKenna, who had only five points after four events, began her run with a win in the swimming over Croft and judoka Kate Howey. The second place finish moved Croft into the lead, and she extended that lead with a kayaking victory over McKenna.
The penultimate event, the gym tests, went to McKenna who recorded a stunning total of 117 squat thrusts, only ever bettered by Brian Jacks with 118 in the 1980 World Superstars. Baker took second place in the gym tests.
Going into the final event, the mountain bike, Croft led with 37 points followed by Baker and McKenna with 32 points. Croft was not entered in the bike race, so if either McKenna or Baker finished first or second, they would win the overall championship. About halfway through the course, McKenna, Baker and Croft had pulled away from the rest of the field, so between McKenna and Baker the first to the finish line would win the overall title. Cave crossed less than a half length ahead of the other two who were to close to separate. Film was reviewed and it was declared that Baker and McKenna finished in a dead heat for second place, leaving them both with 37 1/2 points. The two proved inseparable in tie breakers as well. Each had two firsts, a second, a tie for second, a third and a fifth. In their five head-to-head events, Baker won 2, McKenna won 2 and they tied in one, both scoring 27 1/2 points in head-to-head events. So, Baker and McKenna was crowed co-champions.
BBC site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/superstars/3100434.stm
Salamanga, Spain
Air Date: November 12, 2003
| PLC. NAME, SPORT |
100M |
TEN |
800M |
ARCH |
SWIM |
KAYK |
GYM |
BIKE |
TOTAL |
MONEY |
| 1. Zoë Baker, Swimming |
10 |
10 |
4 |
- |
- |
1 |
7 |
5 1/2 |
37 1/2 |
N/A |
| 1. Lesley McKenna, Snowboarding |
4 |
- |
1 |
- |
10 |
7 |
10 |
5 1/2 |
37 1/2 |
N/A |
| 3. Annabel Croft, Tennis |
7 |
- |
2 |
10 |
7 |
10 |
1 |
- |
37 |
N/A |
| 4. Leanda Cave, Triathlon |
1 |
0 |
10 |
- |
- |
4 |
0 |
10 |
25 |
N/A |
| 5. Kate Howey, Judo |
- |
7 |
- |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
20 |
N/A |
| 6. Katharine Merry, 400 Meters |
- |
2 |
- |
7 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
15 |
N/A |
| 7. Fiona May, Long Jump |
- |
1 |
7 |
4 |
- |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
N/A |
| 8. Liz McColgan, Track |
2 |
4 |
- |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
0 |
8 |
N/A |
INDIVIDUAL EVENT RESULTS
100 METER DASH
| 1. Zoë Baker |
13.56 |
| 2. Annabel Croft |
14.01 |
| 3. Lesley McKenna |
14.51 |
| 4. Liz McColgan |
15.41 |
| 5. Leanda Cave |
17.40 |
TENNIS
| 1. Zoë Baker |
35 |
| 2. Kate Howey |
24 |
| 3. Liz McColgan |
23 |
| 4. Katharine Merry |
22 |
| 5. Fiona May |
17 |
| 6. Leanda Cave |
16 |
800 METER RUN
| 1. Leanda Cave |
2:31.36 |
| 2. Fiona May |
2:33.80 |
| 3. Zoë Baker |
2:40.59 |
| 4. Annabel Croft |
2:44.50 |
| 5. Lesley McKenna |
2:50.83 |
ARCHERY
| 1. Annabel Croft |
45 r |
| 2. Katharine Merry |
43 |
| 3. Fiona May |
30 |
| 4. Kate Howey |
23 |
| 5. Liz McColgan |
20 |
SWIMMING - 50 Meters
| 1. Lesley McKenna |
35.06 |
| 2. Annabel Croft |
35.38 |
| 3. Kate Howey |
35.73 |
| 4. Katharine Merry |
45.54 |
| 5. Liz McColgan |
58.10 |
KAYAK - 120 Meters
| 1. Annabel Croft |
49.56 |
48.67 |
| 2. Lesley McKenna |
49.97 |
48.76 |
| 3. Leanda Cave |
50.05 |
|
| 4. Kate Howey |
50.09 |
|
| 5. Zoë Baker |
50.98 |
|
| 6. Katharine Merry |
54.24 |
|
| 7. Fiona May |
56.66 |
|
| 8. Liz McColgan |
58.08 |
GYM TESTS
| 1. Lesley McKenna |
117 r |
32 |
149 |
| 2. Zoë Baker |
98 |
48 |
146 |
| 3. Kate Howey |
85 |
50 |
135 |
| 4. Katharine Merry |
86 |
43 |
129 |
| 5. Annabel Croft |
86 |
37 |
123 |
| 6. Fiona May |
79 |
31 |
110 |
| 7. Leanda Cave |
79 |
12 |
91 |
MOUNTAIN BIKES
| 1. Leanda Cave |
2:03.10 |
| 2. Zoë Baker |
2:03.26 |
| 2. Lesley McKenna |
2:03.26 |
| 4. Katharine Merry |
2:12.72 |
| 5. Kate Howey |
2:34.16 |
| 6. Liz McColgan |
2:40.67 |
| 7. Fiona May |
2:56.81 |
e = estimated time
r = Superstars record
N/A = result not available
dnf - did not finish
nm - no mark