Reebok Festive 5 - Wythenshaw 28 December

While the rest of us were laid low by the virulent 'flu bug going round, the indefatigable Dorothy Fairhurst was out and about winning the O65 prize (£20) by running 10k in 44.35. Tell us how you do it Dorothy!!!!! What's the secret formula for good health, some of us need it - badly.

Indoor Meeting - SportCity - 21 December

Five club athletes decided to test their form by competing in the Open Meeting at SportCity. Pride of place went to Matthew Stone who battled to second place over 400m in 52.32, only to be told off for use of the elbows by a Reindeer wearing an official's badge!!!!!. He's now auditioning for the role of straight man to Peter Kay in pantomime.

Matthew later put fears of being crossed off Santa's list behind him by recording 23.3 over 200m. Steve Moran (24.25) and Ryan Fahey (24.77) also contested the 200m and competed twice over 60m (7.60/7.61 Steve) and (7.85/7/98 Ryan) . Sophie Rigby competed in the high jump clearing  1.55m in her first competition in the U17 age group. Performance of the day was by Matthew Crehan who smashed the existing 1000m record by twentyfive seconds (sorry about that Phil Robinson!!) to set new figures of 2.42.18 for the senior and U20 age groups. Information from Steve Moran.

Christmas Handicap 21 December Sherdley Park

Rosie Johnson, Owen Kennedy Lucy Griffiths, Ryan Wilson, Scott Houghton, Vicky Lamb, Natalie Garrity, Heather Drillingcourt, Siobhan Hattersley, Rachel Wilcock, Louise Hayes, Jenny Lamb, Alex Bleakley, Sally Ashton, Danielle Webb, Ben Walsh, Lauren Wilcock, Becky O'Brien, Adam White and Ben Hayburn all competed in the youngsters' Christmas Handicap.

Jake Healy won the U17 boys ahead of Jamie White, Jamie Webb, Nathan Brown, Danny Hughes, David Griffiths, all of whom finished together with a dive across the finish line. Steve Clague came as a banana skin but slipped up finishing behind Greg Williams, Ian White and Andy Drillingcourt, completing his second race in a week!!!!  The senior ladies did not take part this year, saving their energies for the Christmas Night out.

Thanks to John Irwin, Ian White and others who put out the course and Julia Hayes for collecting the names. We are hoping to have some pictures soon. Information from Julia Hayes

Sport Centre Opening Times: Christmas and New Year

The Sports Centre will be closing at 12 noon on Wednesday 24 December 2008 and reopening on Friday 2 January 2009 at 9.am. The last club training night of 2008 will be Tuesday 23 December and the first of 2009 Tuesday 6 January 2009. The first race of 2009 will be the Manchester Area League match at Stockport on Sunday 4 January where a good turnout is required. Individual training sessions will take place during the holidays under the auspices of the various coaches so make sure you do some level of training over the Christmas period.

Christmas Handicap

Will take place on Sunday 21 December with the first race at 11.am. All welcome. Bring your Santa hats.

Manchester Area League - Sherdley Park - 13 December.

Everyone who competed today chose the inclusive Manchester Area League in preference to the outdated Liverpool and District League and the club entertained visitors with some cold weather but not as varied as last year. The course set by Ian White, John Irwin, Ian Hayburn, Tony Raffle, Colin Sparks, Dorothy Fairhurst and Janet Holmes.

Colin, Dorothy and Janet were also amongst those people who Susan Clague, as chief marshal organiser, has asked be thanked for marshalling.  Others included George Mullineux, Lyn White, Ian Wilcock, Jayne Ashcroft, Mike Healy, Jo Keogh and Pamela Appleton.  Anyone omitted will be added in due course but volunteers are the lifeblood of the club and are too often overlooked. Julia Hayes acted as team manager.

Club members showed their mettle once the racing got under way. Rosie Johnson was third in the U11 race while Adam Woosey and Owen Kennedy earned top ten places to keep the U11 boys in equal second in the team competition. The U13 Boys, with Matthew Atherton making an appearance, also finished a team.

Jamie White earned a top six place and thanks to Nathan Brown and newcomer Ryan Wilson maintained their team challenge. All three U17 girls finished in the top dozen to maintain their lead in the team contest, while the U17 boys' squad, led by John Ashcroft and, with Danny Hughes running better than ever, remain equal second overall.   

The senior men and senior women maintained their respective challenge for honours, Gemma Connolly and Marc Laithwaite leading the teams home with both veteran quartets maintaining top floor places. Chelsea Jarvis and Rosie Johnson remain in the hunt for individual honours with the next match crucial for many athletes who will be missing for the final fixture in February owing to the clash with the County Schools' event. Results:   Senior   Junior    Team Ind  Team Overall

6 December - Open Meeting - SportCity

Steve Moran, fresh from his cross country exploits (see November reports) recorded 7.64 and 38.86 for the 60 and 300m respectively, finishing second in each of his heats.