St Helens Sutton June 09 Results Page

Matthew Crehan was second (16.33) and Jim Crehan eleventh (19.28), both having a run out after injury.

Ian Costello finished third in the 1500m in 4.25, Patricia Spark was second in the shot (9.22) and reached the finals of the 100m (14.5) and 200m (29.9).

Dave Forrester qualified comfortably for the final of the 1500m, coming second in his heat in 3.51.91. Report In the final Dave made the podium with an excellent performance, finishing third in 3.45.88. He still has a couple of years to complete his hat trick of titles. Results

NEWS FLASH: David has been selected for the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team for the European Athletics Under 23 Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, from 16 to 19 July 2009. Double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes said: “I would like to congratulate David and his coach on his excellent performances so far this season and on his selection for the European Under 23 Championships. David is a very talented athlete and I have no doubt that he will perform very well in Lithuania and that it will be a valuable learning experience for him.”

Schools Competitions

In an excellent week for the young athletes in schools' competitions Rosie Johnson ran an outstanding 600m in the Primary schools at Sutton in a pb of 1.48.2, knocking over 4 seconds off her pb and ranking her 9th in the country. Rosie's performance won her the female athlete of the match award while another club athlete, Adam Woosey, won the male athlete of the match. Danielle and Jamie Webb both competed in the National ISA schools at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. Danielle finishing 2nd in the 600m in a time of 1.52.4 and Jamie 5th in a very competitive 1500m in a time of 4.36.0. News of any other performances gratefully received, well done to all.

In a warm up race for next weekend's Under 23 Championships and trials Dave Forrester took four seconds off Ian Crompton's 1992 club record (and even more off his own personal best), recording 1.48.91 and earning himself a place in the top ten of the current U23 800m rankings.

In the Grand Prix meeting Mark Davies continued his admirable racing programme recording 2.20.82 (800) and 10.32.21(300). Ian Cooney set times of 12.1(100) and 54.34 (400) while Gemma Connolly (4.54.42), Jake Healy (4.19.56) and Tony Raffle (5.38.8) contested the 1500.

The club finished second in the YAL match at Warrington beating Stockport, Pudsey and Bramley in a match won by Bolton. This means all the team needs to do is to win the final match at Carlisle on 19 July in order to avoid relegation. The club's Athletes of the Match on this occasion were John Ashcroft and Rachel Woosey.

Thanks to our officials who made sure everything ran smoothly on the day despite some errant announcing (Chris Dempsey). Thanks to Dave Morley for taking on the role of Track Referee and staying all day after threatening not to. Timekeepers Pam Appleton and Janet Holmes, Track Judge Julia Hayes, Recorder Alana Dempsey, Field Referee John Irwin and Field Judges George Mullineux, Jake Healy, Ste Clague, Ian Hayburn, Mike Hughes and Carl Bibby. Apologies to anyone overlooked. Results

Matthew Crehan recorded an excellent 4.03.65 in the heats of the 1500m but was unable to repeat his performance in the final in which he pulled a hamstring and managed to hobble to the finish in an excellent tenth. Results

Liane Bibby and Natalie Bannister competed at this meeting. Liane threw the javelin 32.03 for third place as a guest while Natalie, who was representing Greater Manchester, ran 52.5 for the 300m hurdles - not her fastest time - but excellent given the quality of the opposition. Both girls will have benefited from the experience. Report from Carl Bibby

After due deliberation the Committee has decided that for club championship purposes the Manchester Area League is the preferred League of choice in the event of clashes with other cross country leagues. It was felt that MAL's provision of competition for all age groups and both sexes outweighed any advantages offered by any other Leagues.

Sue Clague is the club's new coaching coordinator. Sue can be contacted on her mobile 07870107174 on any coaching matters

Dennis Wharton took to the hills in this 7+ mile trail race, coming home 4th V50 (46th overall).

Owing to the Schools Championships the on the previous day, only seven athletes managed to compete at the third Junior League held at Wigan’s Robin Park.

There were, however, some excellent performances. Sophie Rigby our one and only lady broke her personal best and three club records (U17) pole vault with 2.30m for 2^nd and long jump breaking both the U17 and U20 records with 5.19 again for 2^nd place).

Three of our second claim athletes, James Gladman, James Sutton and Adam Nicholls competed in the 100m. James Gladman finishing 4^th in the A string race and Adam 3^rd in the B race. James Sutton ran as a none scorer but then went on to win the B string long jump in 5.58m. Adam achieved a club best performance in the A string long jump finishing in 2^nd place overall with 6.27m.

Jake Healey, John Ashcroft and Ste Clague all tested their endurance after competing in the middle distance events the previous day. Jake ran a strong 800m finishing 3^rd with a time of 2.10.80 and John tested his stamina out finishing 2^nd in the 1500m in a time of 4.13.90. Ste started his day off running in the 400mH finishing 4^th in a time of 64.30 then finished the day off by jumping the other barriers, in the 2km steeple chase, knocking nearly 14 seconds off his personal best, in a time of 7.03.9.

Once again many thanks to all our supporters and especially our officials - timekeepers (Janet Holmes and John Irwin) and field judges (George Mullineux, Colin Spark, Ste Clague and Jake Healey). Between them they gained 25 of our 90 points. (Report by team manger Sue Clague) Results

We regret to report the death of Alice, mother in law of Andy Drillingcourt, who passed away today after a long battle against cancer at the age of 87. Andy, Heather, Jessica and Gill would appreciate your understanding and forbearance while they come to terms with their loss.

Dave Forrester continued his busy schedule of track races in the Mens 1500m A race at Watford. After following pacemakers who ran out of steam with 600 to go, Dave took up the lead and finished in 3rd place with a good pb and club record (3:40.8). Results

Both St Helens Sutton and the Town team had an outstanding turn out at the Championships held at Bebington Oval. Fortythree athletes competed for St Helens with many notable achievements.

In the inter age group, John Ashcroft won the 1500m, Sophie Rigby the high jump, and Kathryn Sumner the hammer. In the junior age group, Chelsea Jarvis won the 800m, and Liane Bibby the javelin competition. All five athletes achieved the qualifying standard giving them automatic selection to the English Schools in July.

At the selection meeting on Sunday evening another two of the clubs athletes were selected Michael Causer (winner junior long jump) and Patricia Spark (winner junior shot), making a total of seven athletes representing St Helens Sutton AC at the English Schools.

Natalie Bannister won the Greater Manchester Schools 300m Hurdles title with a time of 51.9 and represents the county at the Mason Trophy in Birmingham next Saturday.

It is with great sadness we report the death of Doreen Hayburn, mother of club captain, Ian Hayburn. Doreen (66) passed away just after midnight on the morning of 13 June 2009 after a battle against cancer. It is requested that everyone respects Ian and his family's request for privacy at this time. The funeral will take place on Wednesday 24 June at Bethel Church, Green Lane, Liverpool 13

St Helens Sutton had a representative in the Super 8 competition; UKA's new initiative to increase the competition and audience for athletics in the UK. Following the success of the Twenty20 cricket competition, UKA tonight launched a series of more focussed meetings containing limited events. David Forrester was chosen to represent the Manchester area team in the 1500m and produced a fine run in a tactical race to come through second in 3:50.77. Details

One club record fell and another was equalled as the club pulled off a superb fourth place in terrible conditions at Litherland. Newcomer Gary Ireland added two centimetres to Ken Williams's shot putt record, set in 1993, for a mark of 10.92m while Sophie Rigby equalled Josie Barrow's U17 pole vault record of 2.20m. Full details of a remarkable afternoon will be posted shortly by Ian Hayburn and Sue Clague but the team scores were West Cheshire 377, Blackpool 349, SouthportWaterloo 306, St Helens-Sutton 283, LPS 272 and Manx 176. This leaves the table West Cheshire 12, Blackpool & Fylde 10, St Helens-Sutton 7, SouthportWaterloo 6, LPS 5, Manx 2. Therefore maximum turnout at the next League match is essential to make sure we consolidate our position in League 2 for the fourth successive year. Let's not get ahead of ourselves but we have a great collection of youngsters coming through so let's give them a good base to work from.

For the ladies team Sophie Rigby jumped extremely well in both the pole vault and high jump, finishing second in both events. Sophie was accompanied by Amy Hughes in the high jump who finished also second in the B competition. Jenny Lamb, one of our youngest competitors was partnered with one of our throwers, Lucy Croft, who showed excellent team spirit by stepping in at short notice to run in the 100m. Both ran extremely well against a very strong head wind. Lucy then went on to win the B string discus, alongside Natalie Mulineux who finished third in the A string discus, and again in both the shot and hammer. Kathryn Sumner also contested the shot finishing also in third position for the B string event.

Natalie Bannister made her debut to the senior competition running a solid race in the 400m hurdles, finishing in fourth position. Heather Drillingcourt was our sole runner in the 400m finishing in third position and also ran a strong 200m alongside Jenny Lamb.

Once again our senior ladies, Gemma Connolly and Julia Eccleston both ran excellent races in all three middle distance events of the 800, 3000 and 1500m. Gemma in the A string finishing third, first and third and Julia finishing fourth, second and second in the B string races. Sue Lowrie finished fifth in the long jump and Pauline Picton was teamed up with Julia Hayes, both returning after a couple of years to produce valuable points in the javelin.

The under 17 girl’s team of Sophie, Heather, Amy and Jenny rounded the day off with excellent performances in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Thanks must go to all those people who came to support in such unseasonably wet conditions and to our officials: track referee Dave Morley, track judge Julia Hayes, timekeepers Pam Appleton and Janet Holmes and our field judges, John Irwin, George Mullineux, Chris Dempsey and Jake Healey. Thanks also to Phil Robinson for transporting the club’s poles and giving his support. (report by Sue Clague (Ladies Team Manager)

Dave Forrester ran comfortably to win the 1500m in this challenge series meeting in 3:45:34. Report