Macclesfield Spring Meeting: 26 March

The St Helens-Sutton threesome of Laura Crook, Zoe Woodward and Katie Jolly showed Macclesfield what to expect in future years when they produce a consistent series of performances in the spring meeting. Laura won the long jump, 80 and 150 metres, Zoe won the 600 metres, was second in the 150 and fourth in the long jump while Katie was third and sixth in the 600 metres and long jump respectively.Results

Wigan Winter Open 23 March

A small number of athletes competed at the Wigan winter track meeting, Mike Ehlen rewriting the club's under 13 long juump record with a leap of 4.64 metres. Results

Wilmslow Half Marathon 23 March

Gill Bacon was the nineteenth female to finish in a new club record time of 84mins 30 secs, anchoring Merseyside into third place behind Yorkshire and Middlesex, along with Helen Lawrenson (Wirral) and Liverpool's Lorraine Reynolds.

Slightly lower down the field Alan Davies narrowly missed his season's best time, finishing 99th in the over 55 category and 2289 overall male.

Cheshire Cross Country League at Macclesfield 16 March

David Forrester capped a fine first season with victory in the final Cheshire League match at Macclesfield, collecting the overall prize for the season. The under 11 girls were out in force taking fifth place and finishing sixth for the season. Cecilia Fitzsimons spent the morning marshalling at our own road race before racing over to Macclesfield to finish 19th in the senior race.
Results

St Helens Sutton Road Race Special: 16 March.

Richard Lee (WS&E) and Jenny Heath (Sale) were the inaugural winners of the universally praised St Helens-Sutton 5k. The spectator friendly course saw 120 runners complete the 5k including a British record 0/55 from Carol Anne WoIstenholme (Hallamshire) whose 19.22 was seven seconds inside Pat Gallagher's existing time.
For the club it was a record day with a dozen ladies turning out, equalling the record set at Swinton in November, while eleven turned out in the men's race, making an overall turnout of 23 in club colours.
Louise Casey, Chris Dempsey and Julia Eccleston took third team prize behind Salford and Liverpool in the women's team race, while the men's trio of Andy O'Connor. Richard Farrar and Dave Twigg collected second team after Liverpool in the men's competition.
Merseyside officials have already suggested the course would be suitable for the County and Northern Road Relays, although whether those organisations would be prepared to pay the £600 legal costs associated with road closures is open to question.
Many thanks to aimbec ltd., whose sponsorship enabled us to meet those costs, adidas for practical support in the form of numbers, tape and prizes, Mrs Moore, Head Teacher at Eaves Lane Primary School and all those who helped with the marshalling.
We have taken on board a number of constructive suggestions, including detaining the timekeepers until they have handed over all the times and have been heartened by the positive responses from athletes and officials of other clubs who enjoyed a good race in the bright sunshine we ordered for the day!
Mens Results    Womens Results

Merseyside Schools' League For Girls : Fazackerley 15 March.

There was a trio of top ten performances in the Merseyside Schools League. Melissa McLoughlin, Lucy Cannon and Sara McLoughlin were eighth, ninth and tenth in their respective races. Suzanne Wooward made her debut finishing 56th in the youngest age group.

ESSA Championship at Brighton

Dave Forrester was disappointed with his position in the ESSA Juniors Boys' championship at Brighton but he need not have been. Dave was the anchorman for the second placed Greater Manchester team in 124th place inflicting his third successive defeat on Merseyside county champion Paul Cummings. Dave has another year in this age group. Dave Twigg, also taking part in his first ESSA event and running as a first year intermediate, was 208th while Jodie Nelson completed the course without difficulty. Congratulations to all three for having been selected and providing the standard for next year's athletes.Results

Warrington Open Meeting 2 March

Caroline Morley set two club records at Victoria Park, beating Kate Sheffield's old mark in the 300 metres and, in the abence of any previously recorded times, being credited with a new 150 metres best. Mike Ehlen narrowly missed out on two records in the 150 and 600 metres. As with Caroline, Mike has been awarded a club record as we have no previously recorded long jump performances. As our researches continue they may have to be re-written. Vicky Johnson made a splendid under 15's debut finishing second, only five centimetres down on Natalie Mullineux's under 15 shot putt record. It augers well for the season. Results