From the moment Phil Robinson and Ray Vose scored a double victory in the pole vault to the javelin clean sweep achieved by Phil and Ben Fisher we knew we would have a good day. And so we did - so good we came within 5.5 points of defeating winners Wigan, taking second place on the day and for the season. We will start 2005 in division 2.

It was a victory based on self sacrifice as Diane Appleton delayed her evening  out to finish second in the 800, 400 and 4 x 400 relay - when we only had four girls still standing. Julia Eccleston gave up the day celebrating her husband's  birthday to achieve a personal best in the 3000. Chris Dempsey was unable to greet her son on his return from holiday so the club would be represented in the middle distances and Louise Casey competed despite food poisoning. Lucy Mitchell won the triple jump with ease before rushing off to her evening stint at     a restaurant.

It was a day for heroes and heroines, Ian Crompton running a brilliant 300 metres then realising there was another 100 metres to go!! Craig Knight and newcomer Rachael Price took on the unaccustomed role of 200 metres runners, Craig winning and Rachael all but repeating the result in the ladies' race to add to her second place in the high jump.

Sue Lowrie led the sprinters with a captain's performance and can now finally look forward to resting her troublesome ankle. Natalie Mullineux was again invaluable in the throws and Vicky Davies took second place in the long jump with 4.21m.

There were winners too: Caroline Morley bravely resisting the opposition in the 400 metres, Greg Williams, Dave Twigg and veteran Andy O'Connor scoring maximum B string points in the steeplechase, 800 and 1500 metres respectively. Puneet Gulati overcame her fears to add third place in the discus to her javelin win.

Craig Knight set a club under 17 record in the 100 metres, Jake Davidson set two in the jumps and added a senior one for good measure. Steve Knowles, who has made a difference each time he's competed this year, was second in the long and triple jumps.

Steve Mayers ran superbly for the team, Ian Hayburn was ready to add events to the gruelling hurdles and steeplechase until persuaded otherwise by the timely appearance of Barry Graney who, with Ian White, slogged round the 5000m.

Layla Tapley, having been for a job interview, made a dramatic late entrance in the hammer, was part of the winning 4x100 relay and anchored the 4 x400m squad into second place to rapturous applause. Julia Hayes was third in the hammer while Steve Moran picked up useful points in the sprints.

John Irwin, George Mullineux, Fred Bluett and Ian Fisher were our field event officials, Ian officiating on the discus and javelin but wisely ignoring the example of Andy Flintoff's dad by not trying to catch Ben's big hits. As ever the superb Sarah was on hand to keep Mrs Fisher from getting too excited.

Dave Morley completed his fifteenth stint as a track judge this season while Frank Vose did sterling work as timekeeper, in particular in providing the splits  for the 4x400 relay squads.

Mr & Mrs Mitchell turned up, uniform at the ready, to whisk Lucy away for her evening's work and Danny McLoughlin was seen relaxing in the stand alongside Stan Erlam and Tony Raffle. Mr Moran was on hand to give Steve support and Ray Vose's other half brought her father along to cheer the team on.

We had 28 athletes out today. They scored 374.5 points finishing second on the day and second in the division. The points earned us promotion but it was team spirit that got us there. We've been promoted a season early. The challenge is to build on that success. The challenge starts now.

Results

National Junior League: 25 July

A few hardy souls travelled to Macclesfield's exposed running track to compete on a shower-filled afternoon in the final round  of the National Junior League. The results were sensational: sensational that no-one went down with the 'flu or suffered from hypothermia. Our trio of girls defeated Wirral to stay in seventh place overall at the end of their first season. The lads were fifth and took fifth place in their competition. Rumours abound that the League will undergo changes. If it means scoring as a club instead of separately as males and females then St Helens-Sutton will give their full support.

Our cavalier trio opted for their favourite events. Nicola Quinn set a personal  best and club junior record 18.87 in the hammer and recorded our first junior league 100 hurdles in 21.7. equalling the club record she set at Wavertree on 4 July. Sarah Lewis ran the 100 and was our leading discus thrower but withdrew from the 200 leaving Layla Tapley to battle bravely in the sprint in support of her jumping & throwing events.

Tom Griffiths and John Appleton ran superbly in the 3000, each finishing second before giving new meaning to the phrase "get one in" with a 1.51. javelin (Tom) and a 4.28 shot (John). Tom was third B and John fifth B in a nine club match, so titter ye not as Frankie Howard would say.

Richard Atherton and Steve Moran tackled the sprints with gusto, joining ace jumper Jake Davidson and the irrepressible John Appleton in the relay. John used the race as a warm up for his fourth place in the steeplechase, recording club records for the under 17 and junior age groups. Ben Fisher won the javelin and set a new junior discus record of 28.67. He was supported by high jump debutant Sheru Gulati, mercifully wrapped up against the cold and the rain.

Gold medals to John Irwin, Mr Atherton and Mr Fisher - our field judges - and timekeeper Janet Holmes who discovered that waterproof & rainproof are two different things. Phil Thomas acted as team manager. The Moran Family, including Steve's soon-to be hurdling girlfriend, Mrs Fisher and Ben's girlfriend (must get her name one of these days) were all in attendance.

A useful first season in which we attended all the matches and opened the way for next year's crop of youngsters to move through the ranks to raise the possibility of promotion. Of course some will have to plan their annual holidays better but that's another story.

Results

Warrington Open Meeting 24 July

Thaddeus Amin-Somuah, Vicky Johnson and Mike Jukes set club records  at  Victoria Park. Thaddeus beat Dave Forrester's 400m  mark by one tenth in 58.2 and Vicky added over 20 cms to the record she set at Nelson and equalled at Stretford earlier in the season and shot putted 10.19m. Mike took the under 13 long jump record and came within a tenth of a second of equalling his own 200 metres time.

Dave competed in the 800 finishing first in his age group in 2.06.8, confirmation of his rapid improvement while Adam Jukes was fourth in the long jump and recorded 7.36  in the shot putt. Owen Davidson won the cricket ball, throwing 33.43 and long jumped 3.26.

Laura Crook recorded 10.9 (75), 21.4 (150) and finished second in the shot with 7.27m. Zoe Woodward collected the bronze in the 1500 m in 5.21.7, recorded 11.3(75) and long jumped 3.43.

Jake Davidson long jumped 5.83 and shot putted 10.57, the latter four cms. short of another club record. Ben Fisher won the javelin with 53.99. Elliott Barron's results are to hand 11.4 (75m) & 2.03.7 (600). Thaddeus won the  100 & 200 metres, the latter in 25.3.

South Liverpool 5. Sefton Park 21 July.

Half a dozen of our ladies tackled the South Liverpool 5 with John Irwin adding male support. Julia Eccleston (83) 35.63, edged out Louise Casey (89) 35.48, and Chris Dempsey (141) 39.42. John came next (177) 44.21, Janet Holmes (182) 44.43, Jean Dearing (187) 45.19 and Dorothy Fairhurst (189) 45.40.

Three More New Club Records: Stretford 20 July

The club has three new club records as well as a host of personal bests following the latest Grand Prix meeting at Stretford. Dave Twigg set a new under 17 800m record of 2.00.72, taking half a second off Steve Mayers' previous mark. Dave Forrester took three seconds off Dave Twigg's under 15 800 metres record with 2.05.22. Vicky Johnson moved into third place in the U.K. under 15 hammer rankings with 37.10, just under two metres beyond her previous best. Vicky also competed in the shot (9.75) and discus (27.68)

Ian Crompton made a long awaited return to competition with 2.05.96, Laura Davenport came home in 2.15.04. Those contesting 1500 metres included Greg Williams (4.23.21), Ian Hayburn (4.34.4), Tom Griffiths (4.44.42), John  Appleton (4.42.41) and Ray Vose (4.44.34). Ben Fisher won the javelin with 52.83 and the high jump with 1.70.

National Young Athletes League:Warrington:18 July

Six club records fell as the club produced a magnificent result against two of the promotion chasing clubs, finishing second to Trafford, beating Stockport  - giving security for next season when, with athletes moving through the age groups, we can make a strong challenge for promotion.

Newcomers Jordan Purnell and Mike Jukes made their presence felt. Jordan set club records in the under 15 hammer and shot. Mike removed Andrew Garner's 1994 under 13 Boys' 200 metres mark from the record books. Mike came within six centimetres of taking the club long jump record with a leap which was good enough to win him one of the Athlete of the Match awards.

Vicky Johnson rewrote the under 15 girls shot putt record, Jake Davidson cleared six metres in the under 17 long jump and Zoe Woodward beat her own 1200 metres record.

With limited numbers owing to holidays and injuries, team managers adopted the two athletes field event strategy. In simple terms wherever possible rather than one athlete contesting a single event the club fielded A & B athletes to maximise points. In addition, the club concentrated on the field events where more points could be earned.

The results were remarkable. Vicky Johnson, Becky Keegan & Laura Savage scored maximum points in the throws, Steve Knowles won the high jump and gave onlookers an insight into the mysteries of the mechanics of javelin throwing. Jake Davidson added second place in the shot to his long jump win, Lawrence Bright made a significant difference in the field events, as did Nichole Harrod on her debut, while Vicky Davies was a revelation on track and field.

Mike Atkinson won both his field events, the long jump with Mike Jukes, the shot putt with newcomer Anthony Lewis. Laura Crook & Jenny Hamon took the under 13 shot putt, Sammi Nicholls filled a gap in the long jump by winning the B string event. Rachael Hutchinson won the high jump, Anthony Marsh chipped in with a B hammer win. Mike Ehlen equalled the under 15 high jump club record of 1.55  for the second time this season.

There were successes on the track too Dave Forrester winning Athlete of the Match for a grade one performance in the 3000 metres with Mike Burke taking the B string and winning the B javelin. Thaddeus Amin-Somuah won the 100, the 200 ( a fraction outside the club record) and was second in the 400 metres. Jason White provided excellent support in the short sprints before winning the B shot. In the under 13's Paul Nicholls pulled off a win in the 200 metres.

Heather Drillingcourt took the under 13 sprint and led the relay team to victory, Zoe Woodward pulled off long jump and hurdles wins, Laura Crook & Joanne Sturgeon the 150 and 800 metres A & B. Jessica Cretu and Caroline Morley each won the 200 metres, Taja Rundle finishing second while Sarah Lewis, back from injury, was our leading discus thrower..

The day was also about responding to crises, Katy Jolley and Nicola Gravener taking second places in the jumps after being drafted in at the last minute. John Seddon showed good fitness in the 800 metres as did John Ashcroft and Alex Thow in the under 13 event. Jake Healey made a very encouraging debut in the 1500 metres where John Jameson remained as solid as ever.

Tom Rigby and Tony Emley contested the 1500 metres and both were relieved there was no 4 x 400 metres relay to follow although the under 17 and Under 15 boys races could have been significant in the final score. Shauna Kerr produced an excellent third place in the long jump, Hannah Green bravely continued her sprinting after injuring herself in the high jump.

The adjusted scores were Trafford 338; St Helens-Sutton 325; Stockport 309; Halifax 138. First or second place in the final match at Warrington on 1 August will mean we have achieved our objective of consolidating our position in division one in anticipation of a push for promotion in 2005. However, it can't be taken for granted, especially in view of holidays and other absences, so a maximum turnout of athletes and the need to contest all the relays is essential. Keep the date free.

Joe Ehlen and Julia Hayes were team managers today, Dave Morley & Tony Davidson were on the judges stand, Ray Vose, Dave Green, Pam Appleton and Janet Holmes were timekeepers, while field event referee, Roger McCall,  had the support of John Irwin, Alan Davies, Fred Bluett, John Woodward & Steph Forrester. Paul Forrester acted as marksman and we were grateful to Colin Robinson who travelled from Rochdale to officiate and Mr Smith who came from Bolton to act as starter.

Hazel Morley delayed her holiday packing to combine with Steph Forrester in mastering the recording system. Chris and Alanya Dempsey provided excellent transfers to the master sheet while Phil Thomas coordinated the meeting. Thanks too to the many parents who came to provide support and encouragement to their offspring and the club as a whole.

Results

Northern and Open Decathlon : Hexham : 17 & 18 July.

A magnificent club record 4530 by Phil Robinson was one of the factors helping Dean Macey earn his place in the Olympic team. Phil kept the pressure on all the way with a 12.48 100m (560 pts), 5.61 long jump (504 pts), 9.23 shot putt (440 pts), 1.59 high jump (457 pts) and 55.70 400m (571 pts) for a first day's total of 2532.

On day two Phil recorded 19.93 110 hurdles (355 pts), 29.67 discus (458 pts), a first ever pole vault clearance 2.30 (199pts), 26.79 javelin  (396 pts) & a 1500 metres in 4.54.2 for a personal best by 500 points and a club best by 200 points. Macey recorded 7842 to qualify for the Olympics but with Phil breathing down his neck he can't afford to be complacent !!! Phil's total was enough to earn him fourth place in the Northern Championships. Congratulations.

ESSA Championships : Gateshead : 9 & 10 July

Ben Fisher became the club's first ESSA Champion since the amalgamation in 1990 when he won the senior boys' javelin, following in the tradition of Sutton Harriers whose ESSA Champions included Lynton Boardman & Ann Williams. Ben's winning throw was 56.48.

Dave Forrester was on the six strong victory rostrum finishing fifth in the junior boys' 1500 metres. David produced a remarkable run in his heat with a personal best (4.16.16), then bettered it again in a fine run in the final (4.13.78). Only Paul Forrester had a higher heart rate!!

Vicky Johnson reached the final eight of the discus with a solid series of throws,  (29.38), a superb performance in her first Championships. Vicky's already looking forward to Birmingham in 2005 whether it's in the discus, hammer or shot!!

Jourdan Cotter set a personal best in the junior girls' 1500 metres (4.55.63), an excellent achievement for someone so inexperienced at track racing and her second club record this season.

Caroline Morley competed in the 300 metres hurdles (47.15) and, although she went out in the heats, benefited from the experience. Although she also competed in the 4x100 relay, Merseyside's team managers failed to run the athletes in the appropriate order and the team were eliminated in the heats.

Lucy Mitchell competed in the triple jump recording 10.24 and fouling narrowly on two others which looked longer. Given her recent bout of chicken pox Lucy's participation itself was an achievement.

Congratulations to all six for reaching the championships and paving the way for others. Hopefully the number of participants, champions and medal winners will increase in the next few years.

Forest Park Ladies' Race: Birchwood: 7 July

Six senior ladies travelled to this enjoyable fixture and came away with three spot prizes (those mosquitoes don't half bite!). Julia Eccleston (12th - 21.16), Louise Casey (21st - 22.10), Chris Dempsey (36th - 23.29), Jackie Turner (58th - 25.05), Dorothy Fairhurst (98th - 27.48)and Sheila Jackson (176th 33.24).

Trafford Open Meeting: Stretford 6 July

Laura Davenport and Vicky Johnson set new club records at the Trafford Open Meeting. Laura recorded 2.14.86 in the 800 metres for a new senior record while Vicky improved her own club hammer record by almost two metres with 35.89 and equalled discus record 29.51 she set in the Young Athletes League at Nelson.

Results