Southport Schools' Miles Races 14 May - Southport

Rosie Johnson won the Year 5 race in 6.29.

Liverpool Women's 10k 11 May - Sefton Park

The only two members whose results could be found are Linda White (247: 56.16) & Jane Ashcroft (1134 : 71.52). If anyone else competed please let me know.

Merseyside Championships - 10 May - Wavertree

Although Merseyside County AA have yet to issue a full and accurate set of results we know the club claimed 15 individual county titles and collected twice as many medals as titles. Collected is not quite the right word as we learned that Phil Robinson, Lauren Bradshaw and Danny Griffiths won medals which they were not presented with and which will be collected later.

Matthew Atherton (LJ & 200m) won two titles despite being unwell. Sophie Rigby jumped her way to success in the long and high jumps, setting a p.b. in the latter), Lucy Croft took the hammer and discus titles while Chelsea Jarvis won the long jump after taking Linda Hannaby's 1984 championship best performance in the 800m with 2.20.2. Thanks for keeping the record with Sutton Chelsea.

There were individual victories for Tricia Spark (shot), Liane Bibby (javelin), Steve Clague (400m Hurdles), Jamie White (1500), Michael Causer (shot), Phil Robinson (shot) and Thaddeus Anim-Somuah (100).

There might have been more but Dave Forrester pulled out of the 1500 with a leg strain while Tom Green appears to have damaged an adductor muscle. Dave competes at the Loughborough International next weekend, while Tom will miss the Young Athletes League match to make sure he is right for the Northern the following week.

Full details of all the above performances and the twenty odd other finalists and competitors will be written up shortly.

Cheshire Championships - 10/11 May: Ellesmere Port

Three athletes contested the Cheshire championships at Ellesmere Port on 10 May and came away with four medals. Samantha Fraser took silver in the long jump (4.91) and hurdles (12.5), Ian Costello collected silver in the 1500 (4.25.5) while Shelby Jack marked her county debut with a bronze in the 80 (11.2). Shelby also competed in the long jump (3.28).  On day two Samantha won the high jump (1.60) and the shot putt (9.84). Ian finished second in the 800m in 2.06.4 while Craig Knight put his recent injury behind him with 11.3 to grab fourth spot.

International Track Vest:

David Forrester has been chosen to represent Great Britain in the Junior International held at Loughborough on Sunday 18 May. The fixture will form a key part of Dave's preparations culminating with the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on 8-13 July which is Dave's main aim for the track season..

May Day Running

Julia Eccleston recorded 20.44 to finish third lady over 45 while Cecilia Schroeder showed great staying power to complete the Waterloo 15k multi terrain event at Crsoby.

Trafford Open Meeting: 5 May

Five athletes took part in Bank Holiday Meeting at Trafford. Liane Bibby broke her own U15 Javelin record by 20 cm throwing 27.77m (1st) threw the Discus 18.98m (2nd) and ran 100m in 13.9

Shelby Jack competed in the U13 Girls age group with solid performances in all three of her events 75m 10.9, 150m 22.7 and long jump 3.34

In the U11 age group Jamie Dinnarr won two golds and a silver:  Shot 5.18 (2nd) Discus 12.66 (1st) and Javelin 16.53 (1st) all of which were pb's, as were Daniel Elston's 150m 23.4, 600m 1:53.8 and long jump 3.66.

Rosie Johnson completed the line up for the U11's recording a personal best time of 1:55.6 (2nd) for her 600m running 150m in 23.6 and long jumping 2.84. Report from Carl Bibby  Results

Connahs Quay: Deeside 4 May Young Athletes League NW1

The youngsters showed that they too could match the seniors for club spirit when they contested the opening Young Athletes League match at Connahs Quay. Although there was some initial confusion it appears that the club was second ahead of Trafford and Deeside.. Although we beat Deeside (on a wet day at Warrington) last season we have never beaten Trafford before so it was an excellent result by a depleted squad. In fact, given the extensive road works taking place at the end of the M53 and the diversions which appeared to confuse those who were relying on Sat Nav we did remarkably well to get anyone there in the first place.

The U17 girls team consisted of Lauren Bradshaw, Samantha Fraser and Elizabeth Mousdale, the latter having to go home after hurting her hip following completion of her 800m. Lauren was second in the 1500, Samantha the javelin. As there is no clash with the Northern League next time we should have a much stronger team contesting the second match at Halifax.

The U15 Girls were hampered when Joanna Bebbington finished the 800m limping and had to pull out of the hurdles but Sophie Rigby achieved personal bests in the long jump (4.67) and high jump (1.51). There were wins for Natalie Bannister (hurdles), Patricia Spark (Shot), Liane Bibby (discus and javelin), while Rachel Wilcock added the shot putt to her repertoire after contesting the 800. Louise Hayes made her debut as a javelin thrower. No praise is too high for their individual and collective efforts.

In the U13's Chelsea Jarvis set a League record 2.19.9 (800) and won the long jump with a pb 4.62. Elisha Kane made an impressive, if sudden, debut as a hurdler, joining Chelsea Jukes for two seconds in the shot putt. Rachel Woosey and Sally Ashton contested the 1200m.  Bethany Baxter was second in the B 800, Chloe Rigby won the 75. In addition, Chloe won the B string long jump with 4.15 but was missed off the results. When added this took us past Trafford. This was a splendid effort by all concerned and the club's first ever league record, removing Jenny Meadows' name from the 800m record book..

Ryan Fahey pulled off a superb double in the sprints, John Ashcroft and Danny Hughes scored maximum points in the 800m, Adam Fackey contested the javelin (before injury) and all four combined for a 4x400m at the end. Josh Costello marked his debut with two B string victories. The quality from everyone involved was outstanding.

For the U15's Jamie White reduced his pb in the 1500m, winning the 200m beforehand, Jamie Webb set a pb in the 800m while Kieran Fahey was excellent in the sprints and long jump. The improvement in times across the board was remarkable on a day with far from favourable conditions for record breaking.

The U13's trio of T T Caton-Hand, Matthew Atherton and Michael Griffiths collected bonus points in the sprints and shot putt (having learned the latter just before the event  thanks to Colin Sparks). That all lads were making their debuts in League competition underlines just how good their performances were.

East Cheshire (who covered virtually every event) were easy winners but Trafford 239, St Helens-Sutton 235 and Deeside 233, meant we had our second straight win over Deeside in two seasons. We were boosted by scoring the maximum officials' points thanks to John Irwin, Sue Clague, Julia Hayes, Kay Wilcock, Billy Mousdale, Colin Sparks, George Mullineux, Michael Hughes, Mr Fahey, Mr Rigby, Susan Clague and Adrian Webb all of whom acted as officials to earn the club an additional 25 points in support of the athletes.

Thanks, too, to Adrian Webb, Lyn Webb and Dave Morley who turned up to watch athletes they train compete and to the many parents (including Mrs Fackey who was cold but supportive), including those who attended for the first time. Their presence was appreciated. We hope you can all get to the next match.

Carl Bibby, in his first year as team manager, did a splendid job, finding out first hand why the previous team manager, Phil Thomas, has no hair. Results:

Robin Park: Wigan 3 May - Northern League  2WC

A brilliant team performance saw the club finish fourth, missing third by half a point and second by six points. Although it was disappointing not to grab second or third this was outweighed by the contributions made by everyone who took part so that the team, though weakened by absences, was competitive throughout.

Sue Clague learned how to putt the shot, throw the hammer and discus and compete within the space of an hour and finished it off by running the last leg of the 4x400m. Track captain Sue Lowrie who hasn't trained for 18 months (being a mother with young children keeps you fit) contested the 100, 200, triple jump, long jump, 4x100m relay and won the B string high jump! Ian Costello, who has a club orientated philosophy of "I'll run anything" stepped in for the injured Craig Knight in 4x100 in which the team was third.

Dave Forrester, who had already won the 800 and 1500, was willing to contest the 4x100 had Ian not been available then ran a superb 4x400 in which the team was third. Ray Vose had a go at the pole vault while Steve Clague and Ryan Fahey, are going to have a go learning the event. Endurance captain Julia Eccleston contested the 200m immediately after finishing fourth in the 3000m.

The youngsters were impressive. Samantha Fraser set new records, soaring over 1.65 in the high jump, 5.08 in the long jump for an under 17 record and won the shot putt for a senior record. Heather Drillingcourt was second in the B 100 and offered to run the 4x400 to the relief of Sue Lowrie who was close to needing an oxygen tent after her sixth event. Jemma Shaw's senior debut was a momentous success winning the B 800, Josie Barrow set a new u17 record in the pole vault, clearing 2.20 while Amy Pilkington's step up to the 400m augers well for the future. Ryan Fahey almost reached ten metres in the triple jump and ran a superb first leg in the 4x100m..

Although still young our experienced runners, Thaddeus Anim-Somuah, Dave Forrester, Danny Griffiths, Craig Knight, who injured himself and Steve Clague showed a level of commitment required if the club is to achieve its long term objectives of British League competition. Jake Healy was second in the 1500m then ran a cracking 4x 400m relay leg to bring the club home third.

Phil Robinson was, well, Phil Robinson, producing discus and javelin throws over thirty metres, clearing over  three metres in the pole vault and contesting another three events. Ray Vose was magnificent contesting both hurdles (the high hurdles solo after Ian Hayburn fell over in practice - that's what happens when you've just done the steeplechase at Ian's age) and the steeplechase before taking second place in the B javelin. Last year's Athlete of the Year, Michael Hughes, was active in hammer, discus and shot and should be one of those to benefit from the club's purchase of video cameras for the technical events.

Gemma Connolly contested all three middle distance races, taking on the mantle of senior competitor with the improved confidence that has arisen from a superb cross country season.

Julia Hayes competed and officiated. John Irwin officiated (he declined the request to pole vault), our timekeepers were Pam Appleton and Janet Holmes (who would have thrown the hammer had not the event been delayed by an injury to one of the male competitors). Dave Morley was on the judges' stand. Phil Thomas was team manager, spending much of his time trying to recruit people, including total strangers, to cover events.

The team scores were 1) Blackpool,Wyre and Fylde 384; 2) East Cheshire Harriers 342; 3) Holmfirth 336.5; 4) St Helens-Sutton 336; 5) Spenborough & District 308.5; 6) Wigan & District 233.

There was plenty of support in the stands and a wonderful team spirit throughout. If it spreads around the rest of the club we could earn enough points next time out to challenge for a win.

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