Pendle Open Meeting : Nelson 28 March 2004
Nine young ladies led by Club Secretary, Julia Hayes,
competed in their first track meeting of the season at Nelson in the
Colne Valley. Julia was third in the hammer, less than a metre off
her 2004 best. Sarah Lewis finished second in the 100 metres
(13.9) and also posted an opening mark of 28.7 over the 200.
Jessica Cretu was second in both the 200 (27.8) and long jump
(4.09).
The new group of under 13 competitors were in action, Joanne
Sturgeon winning the 1500 metres in 5.26.5 and
finishing third in the 100 (15.1). Zoë Woodward was
in triple action in the 200 (30.5), 1500 (5.34.6) and long jump
(3.91) finishing second in both races and third in
the jump. Laura Crook won the 200 in 28.8 and recorded 2.51.7
for fifth place in the 800. The dependable Katie Jolly was an
excellent ninth in the 1500 (6.22.8) and eleventh (3.21)
in the long jump.
In the under 11 category Amy Fairclough was second in the
75 and 150 (11.8 and 24.2) and third in 2.08.3 over 600 metres.
Louise Hayes took second place in the under 10, 75 metres
(12.7), third in the long jump (2.88) and sixth in the 600 metres
(2.31.2)
Many thanks to those who went in support including Laura
Savage, John Irwin, John Woodward, Mr Crook, Mr Jolly and
others whose names weren't reported. We look forward to other
occasions in the summer when they will be.
North West Sports Hall Final : Wigan 21 March 2004.
St Helens-Sutton A C made a major impact in its first
serious season in Sports Hall athletics by winning the North West
under 11 girls' title and taking second place in
the under 13 boys' event. These successes reflect the club's
development objectives and the first class application of coaching
skills by Rose Hutchinson, Joe Ehlen with additional
help from Geoff Johnson, Pauline Picton and others. Sports
Hall has been successfully integrated into the mainstream of club
activities and now plays a vital part in the development of the next
generation of athletes.
Under 11 Girls : North West League Champions:
The under 11 squad of Laura Crook, Zoë
Woodward, Heather Drillingcourt, Katie Waterworth, Jenny Hamon, Amy
Fairclough, Katie Jolly, Louise Hayes and Lucy Waterworth defeated
Warrington A C to win the North West League title for the first time.
St Helens Sutton won all the track events, Laura & Heather
first
in the two lap relay, Zoë and Katie Waterworth first in the
four lap relay.
Katie, Heather, Zoë and Laura first in the 4x2 lap relay. Jenny & Katie
Jolly scored heavily in the Soft Javelin, while Laura & Katie
Waterworth demolished the opposition in the chest push. Amy, Louise and
Lucy were magnificent in support. Lauren Hyde was unavailable for
the final but, in common with club practice, will receive a medal for her
season's work.
Under
13 Boys :
North West League
Silver Medallists
The team of
Anthony Marsh, Ben Clough, Mike Ehlen, Steve Clague, Adam Taft,
Lee Taft and Graham Morley
moved from fifth in the league to second in the
North West final, beaten only by the vast numbers of West Cheshire
A C. Anthony Marsh claimed gold medals in the Vertical Jump
and four lap before winning a bronze in the Standing Long Jump.
Ben Clough won the 6 lap race while Mike Ehlen took
silver in the Standing Triple Jump. Steve Clague, Adam Taft,
Lee Taft & Graham Morley all competed superbly for maximum
points.
The full results and
positions are not yet known but will be published in full when they are.
Congratulations to everyone who took part; to our coaching team for their
superb work and skills and to all the parents who have supported the club with
transport and vocal encouragement. Congratulations too to Terry Arnold whose
selfless work was recognised by receipt of the John Young award for service to
the North West League.
St Helens-Sutton 5k : Sherdley Park,
St Helens. 14 March 2004
After last year’s sunshine we had the
delights of rain for the second running of the 5k. The races were preceded by a
Fun Run which attracted both children and adults. Ben Clough won the
event with numerous club members among the 45 finishers.
Laura Davenport
led the team to victory in the ladies’ race, Louise Casey (7) and
Julia Eccleston (9) clinching the win. The number of finishers was 25% up on
last
year and included a record 17 lady club members
beating the sixteen set at the 2003 Liverpool Women’s 10k.
Chris Dempsey
(13), Claire Newing (16), Toni Garnett (17), Jackie
Turner (24), Sandra Dumbell (25), Janice Lawson (28), Kath
Ryan (31), Jean Dearing (32), Joanne Taylor (39), Janet
McCormack (42), Karen Wright (44), Sue Howarth (46), Sue
Morris (56) and Anne Johnson (61) made the record complete.
Hopefully, we can beat the record later this year when Adele Rasul, Dorothy
Fairhurst, Rosie O’Hagan, Jeannette Sanderson, and Cecilia Fitzsimons return
from injury.
In the men's race team running was the order of the day
with Andy O’Connor (13), Ian Hayburn (14) and Barry Graney
(15) scoring 42 for second place behind Penny Lane Striders. Ian Crompton (20)
led the other eight club members who included John Appleton
(22),
the unrelated veteran John Appleton (24), Andy Boyack (32),
Robin Emley (46), Tony
Raffle (48), Mike Deraing (64) and Anthony Emley (70).
The overall men’s number of finishers
was up by 5%.
A debt of gratitude is due to John
Irwin who set out the bollards and other markings: to the marshals, Sue
Crompton, Fred Bluett, Denis Fulton, Steve Eccleston, Sue Clague, Mr Johnson,
Mrs Davenport and Paul Davenport. To Dave Morley,
Referee Tony Riley, timekeepers Ron Scott, Robbie Wood and scribe
Julia Hayes, whose magnificent hill running was a feature of the
morning’s entertainment. Thanks too to medal presenters Sarah Lewis, Kirsty
Lewis and Lucy Mitchell and to all others who assisted in making the
event a success, including sponsors, Aimbec.
Janet Holmes and Pam
Appleton were busy taking late entries and working to produce results for
the 12 noon presentation, although Penny Lane Striders were surprised to finish
third and were reinstated to first on a recount.
Club stalwart Brian Renshall
brought a photo of the old Sutton 7 sometime in the 1960's which showed
Brian contesting the lead along Chester Lane, with Ron Hill, later to win the
Commonwealth Marathon in 1970, also in contention. Other former members appearing
included John Newall now living in Cambridge and competing for Royston
Runners and his sister Ann who still lives locally and is threatening to
join our rapidly increasing number of ladies. John finished a very creditable 11th.
Also running this year was Sharon
Williams who, as Sharon Beckley, competed for the Pilkington club as a
sprinter in the 1980’s and now runs longer distances for fun near her home in
Leeds.
Cheshire League : Macclesfield 14
March:
The under 11 Girls’ team are the
Cheshire League champions,
the club’s first team victory since joining the competition in the late 1990’s.
In the final race of the season Joanne
Sturgeon
took the individual honours ahead of Zoe Woodward and Laura Crook
who made it a one, two, three for the club. Amy Fairclough completed the
count by taking sixth spot. Zoe won the aggregate competition for the
season with Laura second.
Katie Jolly almost made the start but was
held up in traffic near Knutsford when the race started. In common with club policy Katy and the other
girls who ran in the under 11 races for the club will receive a league medal.
This practice, which is also carried out by the Northern Women's League,
provides encouragement to all who take part. It's unfortunate the County
Committee is unable to move with the times and adopt the practice as well. Thanks to
John Woodward whose first team manager’s job was carried out so
successfully. That's another club helper and official we've found!!
E.S.S.A
Championships: Maidstone. 13 March:
The club provided runners for three
counties, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester at the E.S.S.A Championships
held over a tough course at Maidstone in Kent.
Dave Forrester
produced an excellent performance to
finish in the top dozen of the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships at
Maidstone. Dave was eleventh across the line in the junior race leading Greater
Manchester into seventh place in the team race. Mike Burke recorded 19.24
in 186th place as part of the Merseyside team which finished 24th.
Dave Twigg,
running for Cheshire, was 57th, leading the cheesemakers into
sixteenth place, one position behind Merseyside in the intermediate boys’ race.
In the senior boys’ race Steve
Mayers was 121st, the second Merseyside runner to complete the
course. Greg Williams withdrew from the team as he had another engagement
over the weekend. Our heartiest congratulations to all four athletes who
competed, bringing our representative honours for 2004 up to the two dozen mark.
Inter-Counties at Nottingham 6 March 2004
Nine club members won their county vests at
Wollerton Park, Nottingham, eight for Merseyside and one for
Cheshire. Ben Clough and Peter Knowles each made the count for the
under 13 team, while Dave Forrester was first Merseysider home in
the under 15 race. Also amongst the counters were Steve Mayers in
the under 20 event and Laura Davenport, running in the senior event,
who anchored the county team home. John Dumbell ran well on his county
debut, Mike Burke used the race as a warm up for next week's
E.S.S.A. championships, Greg Williams performed up to standard and
Dave
Twigg, representing Cheshire, had a much needed race following
recent injuries. A close examination of the results, particularly in
the younger age groups, reveals the qualitative nature of the field.
Congratulations to everyone who took part and commiserations to
James Farghar who had to pull out with
injury.
Lytham St Annes 10 mile:
