St Helens Sutton Athletic Club September 2004 Results

The opening round of the Sports Hall League started well at Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes. The under 15 boys team of Mike Ehlan and Anthony Marsh defeated Liverpool Harriers by 29 points, while the under 15 foursome of Rachel Hutchinson, Rebecca Keegan, Hannah Green and Helen Grady came within 15 points of defeating Warrington with Liverpool in third place. Adam and Lee Taft were second in the under 13 boys while the under 13 girls quintet grabbed a superb third thanks to Jenny Hamon, Carmella Finnegan, Nicola Gravener, Heather Drillingcourt and Joanne Prescott. Louise Hayes, Nicola Hamon, Gabrielle Large and Lauren Boyle steered the under 11 girls into second place while Drew Atherton, Patrick McCormick, Dominic Garner, Owen Davidson and Andrew Hutchinson also took runners up spot in their first outing. Results:

Club stalwart Tony Raffle took the Northern Veterans over 40, 800 metres title at Hyndburn. Running slightly outside his best Tony ran the opposition out of sight to win his first veteran title.

Both the men's and women's teams showed significant positional improvement as the former gained 31 places over last year and the latter moved up five compared to 2003. The weather was brisk with a slight breeze, well maybe a gale, but with the waves producing a surfers' paradise there was a lot to be said for Blackpool in the winter. The girls were weakened by Lyn Webb's withdrawal through injury but Pauline Picton, in Blackpool for a weekend away, took on the anchor role magnificently. Julia Eccleston had opened for the ladies with 18.07 (33) with the imperturbable Chris Dickinson recording 20.50 in 42nd position. Louise Casey brought the team into 35th with 19.38 leaving Pauline to anchor the team home one place lower in 23.03. The team finished as the third Merseyside club, Wirral finishing second on this occasion.

Only the last minute withdrawal of Andy Boyack prevented a record breaking two full teams, seeing eleven lads representing the club compared to seven two years ago and nine last year. Steve Mayers led the team in 37th spot in 21.51, Greg Williams gaining two places on the second circuit in 22.43. Captain Ian Hayburn found it tough going with 23.57 (40) on lap three, while Andy O'Connor held his position on the next lap with 24.31. Ian White picked up a place with 23.39 and Barry Graney gained four on the final circuit which he covered in 23.28. As with the girls, the team were the third Merseyside club to finish..

Ray Vose led off for the B team in 25.20 (64), Barry Cunliffe continuing his superb comeback by gaining five places with 24.22. Ian Crompton picked up another two in his quest for fitness 24.24, Adrian Webb (25.24) collected another two places and Ian Pass claimed one further position 27.15 (52) before we finally ran out of runners.

Fred and Lisa Bluett turned up in support, Lisa threatening to run next year when we hope to have two full men's and ladies' teams. Phil Thomas acted as team manager and provided Chris Dickinson and Louise Casey with the scenic route home via Poulton and Singleton as a change from the same old boring route out of Blackpool.

Nine Medals two years ago, 15 last year, 19 in 2004. The rising list of successes continues with the senior men adding their first set of bronze medals after two years of just missing the podium. The under 13 girls had two teams competing Joanne Sturgeon (10.41), Laura Crook (11.35) and Heather Drillingcourt (11.05) finishing second Merseyside team and fourth overall. The second team of Katie Jolley (12.56), Carmella Finnigan (13.55) and Nicola Gravener (14.07) were sixth in the Merseyside event taking second place in the B team contest.

Jake Healey (10.17), Joe Jameson (11.02) and John Ashcroft(11.05) were second overall while the under 15 boys Dave Forrester (8.38), Peter Knowles (9.47) and Ben Clough (10.06) were third overall and second Merseyside to finish. Kim Bridge (12.36) collected her third straight medal leading the under 15 girls into third spot with Lorna Forrester(12.43) and Katie Danson(13.19) achieving a combined time of 38.38.

The senior ladies' trio of Gill Bacon (20.11), Julia Eccleston (23.46) and Lyn Webb (24.30) came up with the silver medals and the club had two other complete teams Chris Dempsey (26.13), Cecilia Fitzsimons (26.03) and Pam Appleton (27.31) finishing 24th and Chris Dickinson (27.06), Rosie O'Grady (27.59) and Janet Holmes (27.53) 25th, claiming second B & C team spots. Pauline Picton was the sole runner in the D team recording 31.10.

The senior men's turn out three counting and one non-scoring team, the latter courtesy of referee Jim Green. The A team of Steve Mayers (18.16), Greg Williams (19.29), Tony Smith (18.57) and Ian Hayburn (19.43) finished third in the county championship (ninth overall) ahead of LPS and SouthportWaterloo.

Barry Graney (19.29), Andy O'Connor (20.17), Ian White (19.59) and Ian Crompton (20.48) were the B team, 22nd overall and third B in the Merseyside championship. The C team was led by Ray Vose (20.43) with Barry Cunliffe (21.00), Adrian Webb(21.10) and Andy Boyack (22.56) completing the count. Denis Wharton (20.25) replaced John Irwin in the D team with Ritchie Bradshaw (24.17), Tony Raffle (24.08) and Stan Erlam (24.30) completing the afternoon's running with a record number of sixteen athletes.

Only the lack of a third athlete prevented the under 17 team from collecting medals, John Appleton (20.44) and Tom Rigby (24.21) lying in third place in the Merseyside championships at the end of the second stage.

Individually Dave Forrester and Jake Healey were second fastest in their events while Gill Bacon and Joanne Sturgeon were fifth fastest in their respective races.

There was splendid parental support and additional sources of goodwill from Julia Hayes and Sue Clague. Phil Thomas acted as team manager. We are all looking forward to the Northern at Blackpool next week. Results Results (pdf)

Mike Ehlen and Rachael Hutchinson entered this event, Mike scoring 1530 points with 15.1(80mH, 7.72(shot), 3.78(long jump), 1.57(high jump) and 2.43.5 (800). Rachael recorded 13.8(75mH, 7.74 (shot), 3.52(long jump) and 1.21(high jump) scoring 1405 points before withdrawing from the competition with injury.

Christine Dickinson was the surprise winner of this event after missing the start and running a solo race apart from assistance given on a lap by lap basis by Julia Eccleston and Chris Dempsey who had already run their race and used the opportunity to warm down. Gill Bacon was the race winner, slower than her best but moving magnificently in the later stages. Julia was second across the line in 11.59, Chris Dempsey recording 13.55. Chris Dickinson then produced an unexpected 14.10 take the handicap award by nine seconds ahead of Julia with Chris and Gill a further eleven seconds adrift. Gill has been cleared to compete for us in the North West Road Relays for the Merseyside Championship only and is expected to be clear for open team competition for the National Road Relays in October.

Cheshire League: Boggart Hole Clough 5 September

A small but dedicated group of athletes completed the Cheshire Leagues season with a superb display at Blackley. The club again claimed a top six place for the season and it would be regrettable if this competition were to fall by the way in the wake of the reorganisation of the various leagues which may take place in the 2005 season. Results

John Appleton was the third over 50 to finish recording 40.01 in 45th place while wife Pam was the third over 50 in the ladies race taking 154th position in 51.29.

Richard Bradshaw was ninth over 55 vet (47.47) in this much under-publicised race, Cecilia Fitzsimons taking the over 55 with 51.29.

Six club athletes took part in the first race of the 2004/5 ladies' road race championship led by Julia Eccleston who finished sixth in 21.25. Louise Casey finished just under 22 minutes in fourteenth place followed by Christine Dempsey (23.57), Rosie O'Hagan (24.47), Dorothy Fairhurst (26.12), Elizabeth Southern (28.30) and Sheila Jackson (32.50). Had there been a team race we would have won it.

There wasn't much of a welcome in the hillsides or the dales when a number of club members made what might well be their last visit to the Colwyn Bay September Games. Specific results are not available but we have been given to understand that the following won medals: Mike Ehlen (Gold High Jump, Silver Hammer, Bronze Long Jump), Anthony Marsh (2 silvers Long Jump,100m Bronze 200m) Becky Keegan (3 Silvers Javelin, Shot, and Hammer), Rachael Hutchinson, Jessica Cretu and Laura Crook (Gold and Silvers 200m & 100m), Drew Atherton (Gold Javelin, Silver 200m, Silver 75m), Ryan Marsh (Bronze Javelin), Rose Hutchinson (Golds Discus, Javelin and100m) and Chris Dickinson ( Gold 1500m, Silver Discus & Javelin). Joe Ehlen might be learning the native language for his future role as a star on Welsh TV!! Results.

Greg Williams succeeded Barry Graney as holder of the trophy when he defeated Tony Raffle by two seconds on handicap over 12 and a half laps. The Race winner was Steve Mayers who finished seven seconds ahead of Dave Twigg, Greg taking third place four seconds later and Dave Forrester setting a club u15 5000m record in fourth place. It was a night for club records, John Appleton ducking under Greg Williams' u17 record, set in 2002, by less than two seconds and Steve smashing the previous u20 best. The race also acted as a guide to the road relay teams with the winning margin a credit to Ian White's handicapping. Ray Vose was timekeeper and Julia Eccleston acted as recorder. Results