Cheshire Schools' T&F Macclesfield 14 June.

Lucy Mitchell, Vicky Johnson and Ryan Tapley rewrote the record books as seven club members booked themselves places in the schools inter-counties contest at Birmingham next week.

Lucy added almost half a metre to the club record she set last week, winning the triple jump in 10.49m with Layla Tapley in second place booking her place for next week. Lucy was narrowly beaten in the 100 metres but will compete in that event too.

Vicky added over half a metre to the previous under 15 discus record held by Natalie Mullineux with 23.98m, Laura Savage setting a personal best 21.64m in second place, both girls earning county vests. Vicky also added the shot putt title with Stephanie Currie setting a personal best 8.55m in third place.

Ryan's 11.04 metres set a new under 15 club record in the triple jump, his fourth place not quite enough to earn a place in the county team for next week but an excellent debut in the event.

Caroline Morley's 200 metres win was sufficient for a county vest and she will be joined in Birmingham by Dave Twigg who won the Cheshire 800 metres in 2.05.73 and Jake Davidson who was second in the triple jump in 11.52.

Ben Fisher won the high jump and javelin at Bebington and there were excellent sprint performances from Charlotte Walkden, Sarah Lewis, Jessica Cretu and Sammi Paxton all of whom made the 200 metres final, an achievement repeated by Charlotte and Sarah in the 100 metres.

Others amongst the two dozen athletes representing St Helens included Jon Appleton, Tom Griffiths and Greg Williams (3000m), Jason White (100m), Mike Burke (1500m), Mike Ehlen (second in the high jump), Emma McClatchey (high jump) and Nicola Quinn (discus).

Dave Forrester competed in the Greater Manchester Schools' championships at Stretford recording 4.37 to finish sixth, although a similar time at Bebington would have earned him fourth spot.

Dave Morley, Colin Cunliffe, Ray Vose and Paul Davenport were amongst those providing technical and other support. Results:
 

Northern Women's League: 3W Blackburn 8 June 2003

Teamwork was the key to a magnificent third placing by the ladies' team in the second of four matches in division 3 west. Faced with injuries, illness and unavailablity caused by examinations, six under 17's and four senior ladies set out to score the maximum possible points in far from ideal conditions, unless pouring rain constitutes ideal conditions.

Lucy Mitchell ignored the rain to triple jump beyond 10 metres for the first time, qulaifying for next year's Northern. Lucy also finished second in the 100, third in the 200 and ran a superb last leg of a hastily re-arranged 4 x 100 metres team with Anna Sheffield, Louise Casey and Chris Dempsey.

Anna had a busy afternoon in the long jump, shot and setting a season's best in the discus. Louise and Chris both tackled the 800 and 1500, finishing second and first in the latter, Chris adding the 400 metres and Louise attempting the high jump.

Julia Hayes and Janet Holmes were each fourth in the hammer, Julia repeating the feat in the shot putt while Janet reveled in the conditions as a timekeeper.

Layla Tapley competed in the 100, 400 and triple jump, always finishing in the top four, Emma McClatchey and Nicola Quinn were active in the throws, while Emma equalled the height she achieved in the first match to finish joint fourth in the high jump.

Pam Appleton and Cecilia Fitzsimons contested the 3000 metres before being joined by Sue Clague and Chris Dempsey to set a new club veteran's record in a race which had the crowd cheering to the echo, Chris crossing the finish line just seconds after the third team had completed its final leg.

Many thanks to our officials John Irwin, George Mullineux, Sue Clague (who only came to watch!), Denis Fulton and Alan Davies. Phil Thomas who acted as track referee and our supporters including Mrs Sheffield, Louise Hayes, Paul Davenport, Ritchie Bradshaw and Alan Geraghty who provided transport to Blackburn. Team manager Dave Morley patiently waited in the rain as his team strategy unfolded with success.

With a maximum turnout and 100% commitment we can secure our place in division three with a good result on the first Sunday in July when we travel to Connahs Quay for the next match. Unlike the girls who travelled over from the Isle of Man to compete in division 4 it won't cost £45 each - just a thought! Results:
 

Northern Men's League: Lancaster 7 June 2003

Chairman Ray Vose inspired the younger club members to quality performances with a display of selfless running on behalf of the team. Ray competed in two hurdles events, hammer, discus, steeplechase and 1500 metres to ensure St Helens-Sutton earned a valuable three points in fourth place to remain third overall at the halfway point of the league season.

Newcomer Jake Davidson improved on both his debut long and triple jump performances, setting an under 17 age record in the latter and missing the club record by one centimetre in the former. Jake also weighed in with a sub-60 first leg of the 4 x 400 metres.

Ben Fisher continues to raise standards in the javelin moving closer to the magical 50 metres mark and setting a new club record along the way. Ben also won the B string triple jump with a personal best and came third in the discus.

Greg Williams was a maginficant third in the steeplechase contested the 5000 metres for the second match in succession and added the 400 metres hurdles to his portfolio earning valuable points in fourth place.

Jon Calder set his season's best times for both the 100 and 200 metres and with Barry Cunliffe ensured we were represented in the high jump. Barry tackled both middle distance events taking third on each occasion before providing 100% effort in both relays.

Alan Geraghty had a busy time providing excellent support in the 400 metres, hammer, long jump and both relays. Steve Mayers had a splendid afternoon finishing second in the 400 and 800 metres.

For the first time in many years St Helens-Sutton now have two regular pole vaulters, although only Alan Oliver was present at Lancaster clearing a personal best 2.20 metres, finishing fourth on his debut in the javelin and contesting the shot alongside Wayne Joyce who also acted as one of our field event officials.

Adam Lang, who was unable to compete last time on a technicality, made his club debut with stirring performances in both sprints and the relay. Last, but certainly not least, Tony Raffle turned back the years with a performance of determination and courage for fourth place in the 5000 metres.

Phil Thomas tooted his horn in the field, causing one false start, while Dave Morley was our man on the track judge's stand. We had excellent support from Mr & Mrs Fisher, Mrs Raffle and vociferous offspring and good reason to be grateful to Ron Scott and Tina Parr of SouthportWaterloo A C who brought the pins which some of our experienced athletes forgot.

We now lie third, clear of relegation worries and confident of consolidating our position in division three as part of our ten year plan to achieve National League status. Results:
 

Wirral Corporate Cup 1 June

Cecilia Fitzsimons led the Cuff Roberts team into 46th place with the quickest time for the legal eagles team. Michelle Holmes engineered the Halewood Leapers from Jaguar Cars into 56th spot, while, the trio of Jim Powell, Stephen Powell and Linda Green eased their Family and Friends team into 19th place in division 4.

National Young Athletes League: Warrington 1 June 2003

The club pulled off a magnificent victory in the home fixture staged at Victoria Park, Warrington, scoring almost 600 points and winning by a margin of 149. The afternoon culminated with victory in the under 17 men's 4 x 400 metres relay with the opposition nowhere in sight!!

Three club records fell. Jake Davidson marked his debut with victories in the long and triple jumps, setting a new club mark in the latter. Jon Appleton emulated Tom Griffiths by winning the 3000 metres, while Dave Twigg won both the 400 and 800 metres, Sheru Gulati making it a double in the two lap event.

Layla Tapley had a busy afternoon winning the discus alongside Nicola Quinn. Lucy Mitchell set a club season's best in the shot putt, Caroline Morley ran a fine 300 metres while Emma McClatchey won the B string high jump. The four girls then combined brilliantly to finish a close second in the relay. Anna Sheffield delayed her attendance at the nearby Super League match to contest the long jump and shot putt winning the B string in the latter.

Ryan Tapley and Jason White led the under 15 Boys' sprints, Ryan adding a club record in the long jump and winning the discus. Newcomer Ryan Lee made his debut in both events, finishing third in the jump and second in the throw. Dave Forrester won the 3000 metres, Mike Burke was third in the 800 and 1500 metres, both lads joining Ryan Lee and Jason White for second place in the relay.

Charlotte Walkden recorded a season's best in the 200 metres as did Melissa McLoughlin in the 1500 metres and Rochelle Lee in the long jump. Jessica Cretu showed sparkle in the hurdles and 200 metres, winning the latter, while Stephanie Roughley scored steadily in the 100 metres and long jump. Sammi Paxton was second in the high jump and javelin while Vicky Johnson (shot and discus), Laura Savage (discus) and Stephanie Currie (shot) all scored winning points.

Anthony Marsh and Craig Twigg established their credentials with successful debuts in the under 13 Boys' sprints. Tom Bromhead and Mike Atkinson again demolished the opposition in the shot putt, as did Mike Ehlen and Ben Clough in the long jump. Ben was joined by the suntanned Steve Clague in the 800 metres while John Dumbell confirmed his metric mile qualities with third place. Anthony, Craig, Graeme Morley and Ben Clough then sahved one tenth of a second of the previous club best in the relay.

In the under 13 girls Hannah Green scored a magnificent victory in the 150 metres. Rachael Hutchinson was second in three events, recording close to her best in each. Lorna Forrester and Megan Twigg were second and third in the 800 metres, while Kim Bridge and Sara McLoughlin both improved on previous performances in finishing third and first respectively over 1200 metres.

Kellie Rigby made an impressive debut in the 100 metres and with Laura Carroll attacked the high jump with gusto. Laura ran a fine leg of the relay in which the girls were second. Michelle Rogerson had a mighty battle with the opposition in the long jump with four competitors separated by just six centimetres. A total of 27 graded times were achieved in addition to the three new club records.

All visiting teams were fulsome in praise of our match hosting. The match went well because of the efforts of everyone including our nominated officials, John Irwin, Alan Davies and Joe Ehlen in the field, timekeepers Ray Vose, Pam Appleton and Janet Holmes with Dave Morley fighting off dehydration as Track Referee. Louise Casey as recorder and runner Graeme Morley were excellent in their allotted tasks.

Team Manager Julia Hayes was firm but fair with assistant Roseanne Hutchinson providing gentle encouragement to the under 13 girls' team. Behind the scenes Chris Dempsey, Denise Fulton, Hazel Morley and Stephanie Forrester recorded the results with accuracy under pressure, while Sandra Dumbell joined her husband to help Danny and Mandy McLoughlin in providing refreshments throughout the afternoon, despite the heat in the kitchen.

Paul Forrester was in good voice on the microphone and Phil Thomas provided some coordination of events. Paul Davenport spent the afternoon watching his triple, long and high jumpers in action, educating each with technical analysis.

There were far too many supporters to mention individually but the Twigg family was out in force as was the Charlotte Walkden fan club. Mrs Bromhead, Beryl Currie, Mrs Carroll and mater, Ian White and pater, Mr Gulati, Mr Bridge, Mr Rigby, Sue Clague, Mr Savage, Louise Hayes, Geoff and Julie Johnson and many others. Apologies to anyone not mentioned by name, your support was appreciated.

As a result of today's match St Helens-Sutton head the division on match points and can look forward to the next match at Crewe at the end of the month in the eager anticipation that we can beat the magical 600 points barrier. Full results analysis will be on the noticeboard on Tuesday. Congratulations to everyone. Results: