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Radcliffe 12 Mile Trail Race: 27 February.
Sarah Charnock finished second lady in this event in a time of 1.25.12
and was last seen heading home with two bottles of wine as a prize.
National Under 17/U15 Indoor Championships: National
Indoor Arena Birmingham: 26 & 27 February.
For the second time in seven days Birmingham was the venue for an historic
performance when Mike Ehlen became the first St Helens-Sutton
athlete to win an individual national indoor medal, clearing a club
record 1.72m to take the bronze in the under 15 Boys' high
jump and defeating Northern silver medalist Robbie Kelshaw on countback to do
so.
In the under 17 championship Thaddeus Anim-Somuah finished fifth
in his heat in 24.70 slightly outside his club best achieved at Sheffield
earlier this season. (Report based on information supplied by Joe Ehlen).
Results
English National Cross Country Championships :
Cofton Park, Birmingham 19 February
On a sunny but bitterly cold day Dave Forrester
became the first St Helens-Sutton athlete to win an individual medal in
the National Cross Country championship when he took second place in the
under 15 Boys’ race behind Northern Champion, Simon Horsfield (East
Cheshire).
Ably supported by John Dumbell (175), Ben Clough (265)
and Steve Clague (305), the club took 31st place,
having failed to finish a complete team a year ago.
The under 13 girls team also performed better than
last year, Joanne Sturgeon (164), Heather Drillingcourt(198), Lauren Bradshaw
(244) and Katie Jolly (293), all of whom were running a year under age,
taking 35th place.
The two senior teams fielded complete teams, the ladies
improving on 2004 when Cecilia Fitzsimons’ broken ankle prevented them
from finishing a team. This year Cecilia anchored the club into
26th place (eighth Northern team to finish) taking 330th
place. Gill Bacon, who has decided against running in the inter-counties,
(66), Sarah Charnock (142) and Julia Eccleston (279) making the count
with Chris Dickinson (382) running well in support.
Barry Graney (285) led the senior men’s team into
58th place, an improvement of 53 places over 2004 and
embarrassing the county selectors yet again by beating one of their more dubious
selections. The two Ians had a battle royal, Ian White (456) finally
getting the better of Ian Hayburn (465), Ray Vose (592) ran
strongly, Dennis Wharton (730) ran to form and Ian Pass (1106)
made the counting six in his first national.
David Bradshaw (1184) completed the course despite
concerns about the effect of the cold conditions on his recent injuries while
Tony Raffle pulled out after a lap with a calf injury.
James Farghar staked a place for inclusion in the
Merseyside team for the inter-counties by finishing 112th,
maintaining the improvement shown in the Northern. John Appleton was
173rd and Tom Griffiths, back in championship action,
196th.
For the third time this season illness prevented the club
fielding a full team, thus stressing the need to build up squads of six or more
in each age group.
Jake Healy kept his hopes of earning a place in the
Merseyside Schools’ team alive by taking a top fifty position in the under 13
race, John Ashcroft (205) and Daniel Hughes (305), running
much of the race with one shoe, also completing the course.
Sarah McLoughlin was the club’s sole representative
in the under 15 girls’ race, finishing 163rd before being whisked
back up the Motorway by Ian White who was in vain pursuit of half the women’s
team.
Steve Mayers (52) and Greg Williams (77)
produced solid performances in the junior men’s age group and, although Steve
moves into the senior ranks next year, Greg will, hopefully, have John Appleton,
Tom Griffiths and Sheru Gulati as team mates in 2006.
John Irwin provided the tent, which was essential in
the biting wind, Tony Raffle coordinated taking it down. Louise
Casey travelled to take pictures but without her camera, fortunately
Barry Graney gave Greg Williams a crash course. Phil Thomas
acted as team manager and there was plenty of parental support for the younger
age groups.
This year represented another significant step forward in
the club’s development. Next year’s event is at Parliament Hill Fields which
will require an overnight stay, a lot of organisation and careful planning so we
can field full teams in even more
age groups. (Report
edited by
Barry Graney).
Results Pictures
Cheshire Cross Country League : Stockport 13 February
A small but happy group of runners travelled to Woodbank Park for the second
round of the Cheshire League. The day started with snow and the under 11 girls'
race. Louise Hayes was first home for the club in 30th
place, followed by Emily Dickinson (39) and Keisha Green,
running her first race for the club, who was 40th.
The under 13 girls were brought home by Joanne Sturgeon (4th)
who was followed by Heather Drillingcourt(14) and Laura Crook (21).
The team was completed by Katie Jolly who ran well to finish 24th
despite losing her shoe because of the very heavy going.
Cecilia Fitzsimons led the senior women in 25th place with
Chris Dickinson who was 31st. Barry Graney finished eighth
in the senior men's race, Dennis Wharton our only other finisher in
37th place. Tony Raffle unfortunately had to pull out after one lap
with a calf strain
Julia Hayes acted as team manager and would like to thank all those
who ran for the club and all the loyal supporters for turning out on such a cold
day.
After two rounds Barry Graney lies joint fourth in the League while
Joanne Sturgeon is also in the top six. In the cumulative team scores
the men and women each lie sixth behind Macclesfield (men) and Stockport
(women). The under 13 girls are tying for third place with Macclesfield behind
Stockport and Vale Royal. Results (Report
by Julia Hayes).
Hyde Park Relays : Imperial College London 12
February
Steve Mayers competed in this traditional
event representing Liverpool University bring his team through from twentieth to
eleventh on the second lap in 17.14, the fastest lap for the university. They
finally finished in twelfth position. The results are on the Imperial College
website but be aware that, in common with many of the university relay races,
the names have been changed to protect the guilty!!
Parbold Hill Race : Parbold 12 February
Gill Bacon finished second and Sarah Charnock fourth in the
35th running of the Parbold Hill Race. Gill was 39th
overall in 51.32 and Sarah 67th in 53.53. Only the absence
of a third runner prevented the girls from winning the team race. Perhaps next
year! In the men's race Mark Laithwaite was tenth (45.24) and
Karl Allender 52nd (52.46).
Results
Runcorn 5 Mile Road Race: 6 February
Andy O'Connor finished second veteran, tenth overall, in
29.24 at Norton Priory. Dorothy Fairhurst recorded 45.10 in
196th place.
Alsagar 5 Road Race: Alsager 6 February.
The popular Alsager 5 set out at a brisk pace giving Dennis Wharton
an opportunity to break 30 minutes which he narrowly missed recording
30.32 (142nd), the 12th over 45 to complete the course.
John Appleton (174) in 31.36 was 14th over 50 to finish as he
races his way back to fitness. With only three to count in the team race
the possibilities for developing a road running squad is
apparent. (Report by Dennis Wharton) Results:
BUSA National Cross Country Championship: Leeds
5 February.
Steve Mayers (Liverpool University)
finished 29th in the Men’s short race, recording 14.07 for the two
and a half mile course.
North West Regional County Sports Hall Final :
Wigan 5 February.
The club’s twelve athletes in the Merseyside
team won
twelve medals and one title in the Regional County Sports Hall final at Wigan.
Anthony Marsh won the under 15 Boys’ All Rounder title, earning a place in the National
Sports Hall Final and taking gold in the standing long jump and speed bounce.
To our knowledge Anthony is the first boy from the club to make the National Final.
The third gold medal went to Paul Nicholas in the
obstacle relay, Paul also collecting bronze in the under 13 two lap event.
Grant Oldham won
silver in the same age group while Laura Crook took silver in the shot putt.
Mike Ehlen (standing triple jump) and Hannah Green (speed
bounce) each took silver in the under 15 contest, Thaddeus Anim-Somuah
claiming the standing triple jump and four lap bronze medals. The other
two
bronze medals were won by Heather Drillingcourt in the 2 Lap and
Speed Bounce
events.
Other club athletes not in the medals but earning Merseyside selection honours were
Rachel Hutchinson, Helen Grady, Dylan Riley
and Daniel Hughes and the club’s congratulations are given to all those who
took part, including county team manager Roseanne Hutchinson and Joe Ehlen
who
has been active with the team all winter.
Merseyside finished 3rd in U13 boys behind Lancashire and
Cheshire (Greater Manchester 4th) and 3rd in U15 boys behind Greater
Manchester and Lancashire (Cheshire 4th and Cumbria 5th). In the girls’ competition,
Merseyside were 4th overall in both U13s and U15s; Lancashire won both.(report based on data provided by
Joe Ehlen, Roseanne Hutchinson and, with acknowledgement,
the SWAC website)
Results.
Greater Manchester Schools Cross Country :
Stockport : 5 February
The first three in the Northern repeated the result on
the tough
Woodbank Park course,
David Forrester
finishing second and
earning a place in the county team in the ESSA championships at
Norwich.
John Appleton
was very pleased to finish 18th in his race, running
against lads 12 months
older than himself.
(Report by Paul Forrester).
Merseyside Schools Championships : Stadt Moor:
Huyton 5 February
St Helens finished teams in four age groups, the first
time the town has been so well represented at this annual event. Only the
first three finishers in each age group were guaranteed places in the
Merseyside team for the ESSA Championships in Norwich
next month with the rest of the squad being decided by results from other races, including the National.
In the
Year 8/9
contest
Jake Healy (7), John Dumbell (11), Ben
Clough (16) and Peter Knowles (18)
have the incentive to train for
the National with renewed vigour . Carl Haggerty and Nathan Dean
completed the count for the town who were the second A team to finish.
In the equivalent girls’ race
Sara McLoughlin
(representing
Knowsley)
was 11th
while for
St Helens
Jenny Toole (18), Amy Pilkington (21), Anna Powell (22), Hanna
Carrick (23), Steph Rowe (30) and Jennifer Giblin (31),
included some recent newcomers to the club who did well to finish fourth
overall.
Joanne Sturgeon
was fourth in the Year 7 race, Carmella Finnigan (21), Lauren
Bradshaw (22), Katy Jolly (26) and Sherbrice Lee (27) all made the
count with superb support from Jemma Shaw (28), Heather Leyland (29),
Nicola Gravener (32), Hazel Lyon (33) and Zoe Spellacy
(36). The team was only five points short of taking second place.
John Ashcroft led the
Year 7 Boys finishing fifth followed by the two David Griffiths
(ninth and tenth). Ryan Sephton, Adam Walker and Ben Gravener
found that football was no substitute for proper training but closed in
together to give the team second position.
Lucy
Cannon made an
appearance in 10/11 race, running underage and finishing 21st,
representing Knowsley while Tom Rigby continued his improvement,
encouraged by his P E teacher, Miss McNulty (a former Sutton Harrier herself)
finishing 34th in the boys’ race. There was good
support from parents and excellent contacts with local teachers impressed by
the turn out. (Report by Phil Thomas).
Results.
St Helens Primary Schools Cross Country:
Sherdley Park 5 February.
Over 350 athletes took part in the annual races staged by the club on
behalf of St Helens MBC. In the team event 19 schools finished complete boys'
A teams and 14 B teams, while there were 21 girls' A teams and 13 B teams.
Bleak Hill won the girls' team race and Rainhill St Annes the boys'
team. The total number of individuals who finished were 189 in the girls' race
and 188 in the boys with a number of club members to the fore. Several new
members have joined since.
Independent Schools' Association Cross Country
Championships 4 February.
Two St Helens-Sutton runners, Michael Collins and Thaddeus
Anim-Somuah, represented Tower College at the North West ISA
(Independent Schools Association) cross country championships held at the
John Leigh Country Park in Altrincham. Michael was the first Tower College
boy home in a team that came 3rd, with all its runners in this category
coming in the top 25. Michael finished 8th, in 15:09, which meant that he
qualified for the National ISA Cross Country championships. Thaddeus, who
was leading the team before he was overtaken by Michael, coming 12th, at the
3k point with just 1k to go, came 21st in 17:54.( Report by Thaddeus
Anim-Somuah).
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