Northern Inter-Counties Selections:

The following club members have been selected to represent Merseyside in the Inter-Counties Track and Field Championship at Hull on Cup Final Day. Thaddeus Anim-Somuah (100), Lucy Croft (Shot), Steve Clague (400m hurdles) and Dave Forrester (MD).. Samantha Fraser has been selected to represent Cheshire. Congratulations to everyone.

National Junior League - Ellesmere Port 29 June

The Junior League season was brought to a satisfactory end with seventh place at Ellesmere Port. Satisfactory because, owing to the incidence of exams, this has been a difficult year for Under 17's and the NJL has taken a low club priority but primarily used as a means of allowing individuals to test new events or their general fitness levels.

This worked well for Steve Clague who won the B 400m hurdles in 68.6 and will training for the event during the coming winter. John Appleton, who was second A in 66.8 also contested the steeplechase (6.55.2 3rd A) with Steve (7.36.4 -debut, second B).

Matty Atherton also made his debut running the 800m (2.22.7 -4th A.) and 1500 (4.58 2nd B) with Jake Healy competing in the former (4.37.1 5th A).

The quartet then joined together to run the 4x400m relay in 4.13.7 finishing second. An additional 15 points were earned by John Irwin, Julia Hayes and Janet Holmes who officiated on the hammer. Sue Clague took over as team manager when Phil Thomas went home ill and looked at home in the role for 2008.

World Trials and AAA Championships - Sports City 28/29 June

Dave Forrester reached the finals of the World Trials at Sport City, qualifying as the final fastest loser in 3.48.01, just 0.5secs short of the club record he set earlier this season. With the first race having been run tactically, the second race competitors knew they had to run faster to be certain of qualifying for the final. Dave defeated the (on paper) quicker Chris Parr (Gateshead) by 0.7 secs to clinch the last of the dozen places  in the final. Although slower in the final in which he finished twelfth Dave was pleased to be ranked amongst the top dozen in the event in 2007 and intends to return (along with other club colleagues) for more in future seasons.

National Young Athletes League - Connahs Quay 22 June

The final result from the above match was Wigan 370; St Helens-Sutton 313.5; Border Harriers 264.5; Deeside 237. Rhiannon Armstrong won an Athlete of the Match award for her 1.40.m. in the high jump. The result confirms we move ahead of Border Harriers avoid relegation at their expense. I can only praise everyone for their efforts on track and field, not only in this crucial match but throughout the season and that extends to coaches and parents for their support

In the interim, coaches will be speaking with individual athletes regarding the rest of the season which can now be enjoyed without the pressure of League competition and for the preparation for the winter.

There were two club records. Steve Clague improved the under 17 hammer to 31.67m while Chelsea Jarvis lowered the under 13 800m to 2.25, a splendid run which served as a fitting tribute to the previous record holder, Holly O'Connor, who passed away ten months ago at the tender age of 22.

The under 17's made a significant difference, Mike Jukes coming within a metre of the club record in both shot and discus. Steve Clague was joined in the 400m hurdles by Ben Clough who won the B string and the B hammer, while Tom Sumner's javelin debut saw him take second place. Adam Fackey got off his sick bed to contribute valuable points in the throws.

The trio of under 17 ladies also contributed to our forty points margin over Border with Joanne Prescott winning the long jump, Danielle Coatsworth scoring in three throwing events and Amy Pilkington bravely putting the club before her own preferred events to score excellent points.

The Under 15 girls' saw a trio of individual wins for Sam Fraser and two for fellow jumper Sophie Rigby, both joining 800m winner Heather Drillingcourt and the improving Jenny Lamb for a win in the 4x100m. Jenny Hamon and Natasha Le Surf contested the short sprints, Lauren Bradshaw finishing second in the B 200m as a prelude to winning the 1500m B event.

The ubiquitous Joanna Bebbington won the B javelin, Lucy Waterworth claiming second A while Lucy's sister Katie, joined Emily Dickinson, in making sure every event was covered by contesting shot and discus respectively. Natalie Garrity won the B 800m and Jemma Shaw took second in the A 1500m as the club surprised Wigan with the growing strength of its middle distance running.

Danny Hughes returned to competition with an excellent shot putt win, while Jonathan Griffiths took the B javelin. The rest of the afternoon was marked by a succession of second and third places which proved vital in the final victory over Border. Tom Green was second in the shot as well as his sprints, Luke James second in the high jump and Jamie Webb second in the 800m B race. The rest of the lads pulled together for the team, David T Griffiths, Jamie White and newcomer Shaun Abbott who went over the hurdles on his debut. Now they can enjoy the rest of the season.

Michael Causer also returned to competition with wins in the 100 and shot putt . Ethan Allen scored two sprint wins and took the B high jump.  Andy Harvey achieved a hat trick in 800m, high hurdles, and high jump, Chris Sumner similarly in the 200, hurdles and long jump, Kieron Fahey winning the B long jump and Lewis Jarvis the B shot. Keiron, Ethan, Andy and Chris then joined for a win in the 4x 100m.

In addition to Rhiannon Armstrong's Athlete of the Match award and Chelsea Jarvis's 800m club record there was a double victory for Tricia Spark and Rose Hindley in the shot putt, Tricia later contesting the hurdles, Vicky Lamb in the 800m and excellent competitive performances from Lucy Renshall (high jump and hurdles), Rachel Wilcock and Louise Hayes in the 1200m and Liane Bibby in the 75m. The relay came a very close third.

Many thanks to the many parents who came and helped out today - your contribution was valuable, particularly those who acted as officials, in addition to the regular officials and to Carl Bibby, who took over as team manager, at very short notice.

I understand Carl's fully recovered from his ordeal and may be able to act on future occasions once he undergoes counselling. By comparing notes we think we have an accurate picture of the full results but if you spot any errors please let us know. Full results to follow:

Sports Hall News:

The Sports Hall Fixtures for the 2007/8 season have been settled. The club is paired with a combined Prestatyn/Colwyn Bay team and has matches at  Widnes (7 October), Wigan (28 October - Double Header), Ellesmere Port (18 November), Deeside College (20 January 2008) with the North West Final at Wigan on 2 March.

Age groups are as for the outdoor season i.e.Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 as at 1st September 2007. This is different from the indoor athletics season which uses the 2008 definition.Further information from Julia Hayes.

Miscellaneous - June and July

Thaddeus Anim Somuah competed in Edinburgh in the first weekend of July recording a creditable 11.12 for the 100 and 22.72 (200). Liane Bibby competed in the Barnsley Open recording 15.4 (100) and 19.42 in the Under 15 Javelin where she competed as a guest. In the Cheshire League the previous month Liane had been permitted to compete as a non scorer in the u15 javelin recording 20.28. Although most of the results are known from the June Cheshire League match we are still waiting for information about the rest. Anyone who can supply the missing information should contact Phil Thomas.

Phil Robinson recently won a silver medal at the British Masters' Track and Field Championships held in Oxford, scoring 4404 points (breakdown not yet known). Also competing was Anthony Tipping, now living in Essex, who told him about the old days when the the team manager used to persuade and cajole people into turning out for the club (no idea who he meant!).

The Penny Lane Striders' 10k on 12 July saw Barry Graney lead the club home (36.14) in sixteenth place, three places and 26 seconds ahead of Ian Hayburn. Chris Levy (running without a club vest!!!) was 27th in 37.24, Ian Pass's 40.41 earned him 69th position while both Tony Roche(49.16) and Anthony Hargreaves (50.47) also appeared. Denis Wharton appeared on the photograph at the first bend but then pulled out with injury.

Louise Hogg was fifteenth (first over 35) in 43.45, Julia Eccleston 21st (45.45) and Tracy Carr, eighth over 40 in 52.01.

Louise Hayes finished sixth in the Burtonwood 1.8 mile Fun Run on 14 July recording 13.24 and finishing as first girl.

Northern Track and Field League - Bolton 15 July.

A weakened team just edged out Stockport to keep alive hopes of staying in division two although it was a close run thing. Thaddeus Anim-Somuah and David Forrester returned from the ESAA Championships to finish second in the 100m and 400m respectively, David adding a win in the 1500m. Early reports of a club record 400m were incorrect, Scott Cargill's 51.0 secs still stands.

Newcomer Matthew Stone made an impressive debut over the 100 and 400m, freeing Steve Moran to fill in the B string high jump, Matthew, Steve and Thaddeus joining Andy McDonagh in grabbing an impressive second in the 4x 100m.

As usual the club depended on athletes covering a variety of events (onerous at the best of times, terrible in rain) and Phil Robinson, Natalie Mullineux, Ray Vose and Emma McClatchey didn't disappoint, although Phil and Emma were disappointed with the cancellation of the pole vault.

Natalie's 26.56 discus earned fourth place, as did Phil's 25.24 hammer. Ray surprised himself with 3rd place in the 400m hurdles and took on the 110m Hurdles A while Greg Williams claimed second in the B.

Distance runners Karen Jarvis, Chris Dickinson, Julia Eccleston, Sarah Charnock and Louise Hogg covered a variety of sprints and middle distance events between them in a magnificent team effort, scoring vital points. They were supplemented in the 100m by Sue Lowrie, who's warm up was done around the stand where she was warming up!!!!!

Richard Atherton had a tough welcome back to competition and intends to use the next three weeks to get fit, Peter Johnson improved again in the steeplechase, Ian Costello set a personal best over the 1500m while Robbie Marsh ran in the 5000m despite a heavy cold.

Lucy Mitchell claimed second place in the B long jump, Holly Keenaghan leading the challenge in the A event while Rachel Harrison made a solid debut in the shot putt, Josie Barrow contested the discus.

Ian Hayburn did two unfamiliar events, including the triple jump but won't be available for the vital final match at Warrington on Sunday 5 August where a full turn out is required in order to maintain our position in the division and build for promotion.

ESSA Championships - Birmingham 13/14 July

Thaddeus Amin-Somuah (Merseyside), Samantha Fraser (Cheshire) and David Forrester (Greater Manchester) represented their counties at the ESAA Championships at Birmingham. Thaddeus ran in the senior 100m in 11.28, one tenth of a second short of qualifying for the final and twelfth fastest overall.

Samantha didn't enjoy the shot putt which took place in pouring rain and was below her best with 9.33m. However, Samantha will have a second chance when she competes in the ESAA Pentathlon at Exeter in September.

David executed his 1500m strategy perfectly to collect the ESSA senior boys' title in 3.53.86 to make up for his disappointment at being beaten in 2006.

National Junior League: Litherland 1 July

Four athletes and and an equal number of officials made it to Litherland for the National Junior League, despite some circuitous routes. Adam Fackey made it via Daresbury (even I know that's in another direction!), Jake Healy via Aintree, Tom Kingsley via who knows where and Phil Thomas via the wrong way down a dual carriageway to the sound of a siren. Fortunately, it was an ambulance and not a police car but who was to know they've moved the traffic lights at the end of the M57 and replaced the roundabout with a set of lights opposite the pub (which, admittedly was on the other side of the road than where it should have been!!!)?. We're still looking for Mike Jukes but, given that athletes from other clubs couldn't find the venue either, we're just hoping he made it back home and makes it to training on Tuesday.

Thaddeus Anim-Somuah had no trouble making the venue (he wasn't driving!!!!!) and his two second places in the 100m and 200m included an Athlete of the Match performance. Tom Kingsley made his sprint debut finishing second to an international over 200m. Adam Fackey had two splendid middle distance races and finished third in the shot with 7.24m while Jake Healy completed the 3000m in 10.08.6. John Irwin, Janet Holmes, Phil Thomas and George Mullineux (who came down to officiate and help the club, despite being on nights) were the field events team earning 15 of the points scored on this occasion. Phil acted as team manager and did well despite the tough nature of the task (for the uninitiated that's a joke!)

A number of parents now have easy to erect tents in case of rain (and Litherland is open to the elements, not to mention muddy and waterlogged). The rain seemed to follow the field event team around whenever they went to judge the shot putt. However, SouthportWaterloo provided good hospitality and a set of results by the end of the day - which have now been circulated to those who took part). Report from a soggy Phil Thomas

 

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