National Cross Country Relays - Mansfield 31st October

The biggest turnout the race has had in twenty years embarked upon a dry and warm Berry Hill Park in Mansfield.  The club had a good turnout too with thirteen athletes and three complete teams.
Several of the athletes (you know who you are!) decided to try and take advantage of the short courses with very fast first halves; all paid the price and hopefully lessons have been learned!

The U13 girls team, Rosie Johnson (7.57, 17th), Danielle Webb (8.30, 19th) and Rachel Woosey (8.35, 22nd), finished an excellent 22nd overall with Lucy Griffiths (8.46) leading off an incomplete second team.
The U15 boys were represented by Matt Shirling (6.32, 4th), sixth fastest overall on the day. Chelsea Jarvis (7.17, 4th) led the U15 girls team out with an excellent run on the first leg, 7th fastest overall on the day.  Vicky Lamb (9.00, 38th) and Louise Hayes (9.31, 56th) completed the team finishing 56th.
The U17 mens team were 25th overall with John (I think I can win it) Ashcroft (9.53, 23rd), Dave Griffiths (10.24, 21st) and Jamie White 10.26 (25th).  Nathan Hughes (10.50,70th) and Danny Hughes  (11.36, 70th) ran in a incomplete second team. 

Well done to all who competed and supported, Team managers on the day were Adrian and Lynn Webb.  We can now look forward to the Manchester Area League Cross Country in two weeks (15th November at Sherdley Park).
It will be a great day at this local event, with the Club well represented by both athletes and spectators; make sure you are part of it. Results

OMM (Original Mountain Marathon)  - Elan Valley, Wales 24&25 October

Barry Graney and Ray Vose successfully completed the two day mountain trial, coming 34th overall.  Ray started with an injured calf but the pair made steady progress and good navigation choices, coming into camp 49th on day one. 
After a less than comfortable night under the stars (that was never a 3 season sleeping bag!) the pair picked up the pace on day two and finished strongly, 15th fastest on the day. 
The key to this year's success - training with the compass and running on the fells, who'd have thought it!  Results

Manchester Area Cross Country League - Heaton Park, Manchester 24 October

Sixteen young athletes attended the first Manchester Area League Cross Country at Heaton Park. The weather stayed kind to us for a change and there were some excellent team and individual performances. 

The U13 girls fielded two teams, Rosie Johnson 5th, Rachel Woosey 10th, and Danielle Webb 12th, were the winning team on the day. Lucy Griffiths 16th, Emma McCartney 25th, and Lauren Wilcock 52nd came 8th
team overall. The U13 boys sole representative was Owen Kennedy, who came a very respectable 21st while Alex Bleakley  ran in the U15 boys finishing 33rd. Lets try to get teams out for the next match.
The U15 girls were Chelsea Jarvis 2nd, Vicky Lamb 21st, Rachel Wilcock 26th and Louise Hayes 28th, the first three making up the 4th place team. It was nice to see Natalie Garrity back and racing and a big well done for
finishing 12th. The U17 men were beaten into second  by a strong Sale team. John Ashcroft 2nd, Jamie White 6th and Dave Griffiths 11th. Well done to all who turned up. 

Lets have a better turn out for our home match at Sherdley Park on the 15th November. Teams in the U11s,U13s and U15s should be our aim. The young athletes and U20s are off to the National Cross Country Relays this coming Saturday at Mansfield, hopefully equipped with the new club gazebo!

Senior Ladies Report by Gemma Connolly

The senior ladies team fielded five athletes on a surprisingly sunny afternoon in Heaton Park (must be saving the rain for the remaining 4 races).
Scoring for the senior team were Gemma Connolly (3rd 34.24), Louise Hogg (37th 38.34), Pam Appleton, who returned to the country after a season's absence (87th 44.18), and newcomer to the squad Linsey Wilson, who ran an excellent debut to finish just behind Pam (99th 46.51).  The senior team are currently lying in eighth position. Louise, Pam and Linsey were also the counting scorers for the veteran ladies team who along with Pauline Picton (120th 55.55) brought the squad home in ninth place.

The aggregate competition is looking good after this first race with Gemma lying second in the open competition, Louise and Linsey seventh and thirteenth respectively in the L35 age group with Pam and Pauline placed fifth and eighth respectively in the L55 category. Let's try to build on these positions at the next match where we have home advantage (you should all know every inch of Sherdley Park off by heart and inside out) and hopefully some reinforcements entering the team to boost the numbers. Well done everyone.
 

Senior Men's Report to follow.

Results:  Junior and Women    Senior and Junior Men

National Young Athletes Road Relays - Sutton Coldfield  18 October

After the seniors on Saturday, the young athletes followed them down to Sutton Coldfield on Sunday.  The U13 girls came an excellent 19th overall with a team comprising of Rosie Johnson (19th), Lucy Griffiths (24th) and Danielle Webb (19th), with all three being first years and missing Rachel Woosey it looks good for next season. 

The U15 girls had an incomplete team but Louise Hayes and Vicky Lamb ran for the prestige of competing at a National Relay and enjoyed the day. Unfortunately no U13 boys team and only one U15 boy attended,  Matt Shirling ran a great first leg coming in 5th, 10th fastest of the day.  Again Matt's a first year so let's try and get him a team for next season.

The U17 Men had two teams out. The first team came a respectable 23rd overall,  John Ashcorft (7th), Dave Griffiths (29th), Jamie White (23rd).  The second team comprised  Nathan Brown (66th), Jamie Webb (71st) and Danny Hughes (waiting for results).

A big thanks to all who turned up.  Results

National Senior Road Relays - Sutton Coldfield  17 October

A senior men's team will be competing in the National 6 Stage Road relay at Sutton Coldfield on Saturday. Details available from the appropriate club officials. The provisional team (running order to be determined later) is Dave Forrester, Danny Griffiths, Greg Williams, Jake Healey, Ian Costello and Matt Crehan which is much a stronger sextet than two years ago and, in terms of average age, a strong squad for the future too. Peter Johnson will also be in attendance. A full report will be provided by the team manager but it should be noted that this year's result represents a thirteen place improvement over 2007 and, thanks to Dave Forrester this is the first time the club has ever led after a stage of the National Road Relay. Well done everyone. Results Pics

Northern Track and Field League 2010

The provisional dates and venues for the Northern Track and Field League are Saturday 1 May -Ellesmere Port; Saturday 5 June -Wavertree; Sunday 4 July Stretford; Sunday 1 August TBA (possibly Wavertree). The opposition are Leigh Harriers, Liverpool Harriers, Liverpool Pembroke Sefton, Trafford and West Cheshire. The League AGM is at Stretford on Saturday 31 October.

National Junior League 2010

Although the provisional dates for the 2010 season have yet to be confirmed the opposition in the League will be Blackburn, Border, Liverpool Harriers, Liverpool Pembroke Sefton, North Wales, Wigan/Horwich and Wirral. Competitive standards will therefore be higher than in previous years and the club will be taking a more proactive role in competing in this League. The League AGM is in Birmingham on Saturday 7 November.

London Marathon 2010

The club has received its allocation of places in next year's London Marathon.  Those who entered the ballot should know by now if they have been accepted or rejected.  If you have been rejected in this year's ballot, meet the membership criteria (member for over twelve months) and wish to be considered for one of the 3 club places, please let your captain or the secretary know as soon as possible (with proof of rejection).  As usual if there are any places not filled from this first call a further ballot of members wishing to be considered will be held, again let the secretary/captains know if you wish to be considered in any second ballot.    

Miscellaneous Races 5 October

Steve Tate was a splendid fourth M45 at the English Half Marathon in windswept conditions at Warrington finishing 48th overall in an excellent 87.47. Greg Williams was very good tenth in the Liverpool 10k recording 35.15 while Ewen Dawick was ninth M55 in 45.25.

Woodbank Park Run. Stockport. 4 October

Ian Costello finished third in a time of 19.16 in this regular 5k competition.