Austin Tipping 1929 -2008.

The club regrets to announce the passing of Austin Tipping, Lancashire sprint champion over varying distances in the 1950's and an excellent rugby player for West Park and Birkenhead Park. Austin was "old school" - work hard, play hard, uncompromising but fair. His wife, Margaret, to  whom he was married over 50 years, was also an athlete and their family, Anthony, Ann (runner up in the ESAA Championships), Steve, Jane and Jonathan (Chris preferred to watch) represented the club in the early 'seventies when it was decided to enter the track and field League. Although he never lost his speed Austin's application to any task he set himself enabled him to complete the St Helens Half Marathon in the late 1980's. He never gave up on anything. For Austin it was 100% or nothing - and he never settled for nothing.

It is understood the funeral will take place on Wednesday 29 August at Our Lady Help of Christians at Portico opposite the Grapes Hotel at 11.30. a.m. A full appreciation will appear later. Our sincere condolences to Margaret, her children and the rest of the extended Tipping family

A Reminder To All Members

Club members are reminded that whenever they compete they do so under UKA Rules For Competition. We don't expect all members to be familiar with every rule in the book but, if anyone is uncertain about their eligibility to compete, Phil Thomas will be pleased to provide a definitive answer, or seek one from the appropriate authorities. The book is available from UKA or can be downloaded in PDF form from the UKA's website.

Trafford Open Meeting: 28 July.

A small number of athletes competed at Stretford, Dave Forrester setting a personal best 1.52.17. Ian Costello and Steve Mayers recording 2.04.91 and 2.04.49 respectively , Jake Healy and Gemma Connolly 4.35.82 and 5.07.39 over the metric mile.

National Junior League: 26 July

The club finished fourth in the final round of the National Junior League at Connahs Quay. There were club pest performances from Matthew Jackson (steeplechase), Patrick Cook (110H and long jump) while Ryan Fahey won the B string long jump. Steve Clague set pb's in the 400m Hurdles and 800m while Heather Drillingcourt won her 800 and set a personal best in the triple jump.

We had a plethora of people helping on the field, John Irwin, Janet Holmes, Sue Clague (who also acted as team manager), Steve Clague, Andy Drillingcourt and Ryan Fahey.

We beat Wirral and SouthportWaterloo to finish fourth on the day, even managing to tie with LPS in the Mens' results and Wirral with the women.

Northern Inter-Counties Hull

The following club athletes have been selected to represent Merseyside at the Northern Inter-Counties next month.

Liane Bibby (javelin), Sophie Rigby (high jump), Tricia Spark (shot) , Josie Barrow (pole vault), Kathryn Sumner (hammer), Lucy Croft (discus), Jamie White (1500), David Forrester (1500).

Tom Green would have been selected had he not been on holiday. Many congratulations to everyone selected and to team manager, Susan Clague.

Reebok Sizzler - Manchester 24 July

Gemma Connolly was fifth lady in this event, finishing 69th overall in 19.01.

National Young Athletes League - Carlisle - 20 July

Sheepmount Stadium in Carlisle was not as difficult to find as expected - besides which we all enjoyed the lap round the car park and the journey through what looked like a safari park - and the support for the coach, minibus and private transport was excellent. Twenty four hours later we can reflect on what was a fine result finishing second to the combined talents of the North Cumbrian composite team and well ahead of both Manx and Altrincham.

John Ashcroft broke Steve Clague's U17 400m hurdles record, set a personal best 1.60m in winning the high jump, had a one-two alongside David T Griffiths in the 1500m and with David, joined Danny Hughes and Jake Healy in missing the club 4x400m record by a mere one-tenth of a second.

Tom Green won the 100m in 12 dead in blustery crosswind conditions,  taking second in the shot putt with 7.26m. Jack Preston jumped into contention for a place in the senior team with 11.34 in the triple jump, Heather Drillingcourt beating the opposition out of sight twice winning the triple jump and joining with Natalie Garrity, Lauren Bradshaw and Jemma Shaw for a good win in the 4x300m, just shy of the club record. Natalie (300) and Lauren (200) each had individual B string wins.

Jemma won the 800, 300 (just short of the club record) B string shot putt, Kathryn Sumner winning the A string while Samantha Fraser won the hurdles, javelin and long jump. Lucy Croft was victorious in the hammer and discus and won the B javelin.

Chelsea Jarvis won the 150 and 1200m with ease, there was a splendid double from TT Caton-Hand and Luke McDonald in the hurdles, while Natalie Bannister also skipped the barriers for an impressive victory.

There were good performances from sister and brother Danielle and Ashley Worrall in their club debuts over a variety of events. Ryan Fahey made his usual contribution, Adam Fackey showed what a difference he makes in the throws when he competes and Paul Tate, drafted in at the last moment, made a memorable debut.

Sophie Rigby returned to form with a pb in the long jump and 1.50 in the high jump. Liane Bibby and Patricia Spark were massive points earners in the throws while Joanna Bebbington yet again won the B high jump before competing in the 1500m in which she and Louise Hayes almost fooled the judges by wearing the same numbers.

Chloe Rigby was nearly drowned landing on the high jump bed, Vicky and Jenny Lamb travelled to compete and were both disappointed when Jenny had to withdraw from the 800m allowing Patricia Spark the opportunity to set a personal best.

Natasha Le Surf avoided Tom Green's spikes, looked good in the sprints and is hoping to put in a solid winter's work while Rachel Wilcock ran 2.42 in the 800m and offered to learn the hurdles for next season!!!! Rachel Woosey was the B 1200m winner and also competed in the while all the relay quartets gave everything they had for three wins our of six.

Jamie White was in splendid form running excellent times in the 800 and 400, winning the former, Jamie Webb taking the B string and recording a straight 60 secs for the latter against a giant of a Cumbrian who looked as though he was fresh from felling logs in the Lake District. Chris Garrity showed similar pluck for second in the 200 and 800 respectively.

With a few more athletes we may have won the match which was hosted in a friendly manner by Team North Cumbria but holidays, injuries and other things intervened. Nonetheless, it was a splendid effort by everyone including team manager Carl Bibby, Assistant Colin Sparks (who also officiated) alongside Mr Rigby, Andy Drillingcourt, John Irwin, Michael Hughes, Susan Clague and Steve "Rakeman" Clague.

Julia Hayes was all day on the stand with a variety of partners doing their share for the club, Kay Wilcock, Jane Ashcroft, Mrs Woosey and Karen Jarvis. Bearing in mind that all the ladies wanted to see their own children compete this effort on their part is greatly appreciated.

Janet Holmes and Pam Appleton stepped in when the original chief timekeeper pulled out on the morning of the match. Both performed with accuracy and skill and would welcome an increase in numbers of those wanting to provide athletes with times at these events.

It was also good to see James Farghar. James was with us for a short while, winning the Merseyside U15 cross country title ahead of Dave Forrester in 2003 (Dave was third that day but has gone a bit faster since). Shortly afterwards James moved to Cumbria with his parents and was at Carlisle watching one of his younger siblings compete for Team North Cumbria in the company of his two year old red haired sister. He sends all his best wishes to everyone at the club.

Phil Thomas enjoyed his newly found freedom from team management, coaches Adrian and Lynn Webb learned valuable information from watching athletes compete and those parents who didn't feel the cold from the strong breeze had a good time on the day. Many thanks to the good support from everyone in what was difficult fixture after a long journey. Results have been circulated to all those on email who took part. Results

Representative Honours

Kathryn Sumner has been selected to represent the North West at the Schools Games in Bath at the end of August. Kathryn will compete in the hammer.

Sutton Worldwide.

We have received an email from former member, Ian Ashcroft, who has has been working as a design consultant in the oil and gas industry in Moscow since May, having moved there from Tomsk in Siberia which he rather liked despite it being in the Artic circle, -54 degrees below and winter for eight months of the year. Before that he was in China and India, though not at the same time, and will shortly be moving to Bucharest for the final two years before he finally settles back in the UK. Ian has asked to be remembered to all his old friends, although he was disconcerted to know Jim Crehan has a teenage son. Ian's dad was the late Norman Ashcroft who founded the Northern Veterans and was secretary of Sutton Harriers in the 1960's and 1970's.

In addition to Ian, of course, we have Steve Tipping in Germany. Does anyone have the location of other members living abroad?

Important Notice:

Owing to industrial action by members of Unison all local authority buildings in St Helens and other  Local Authorities, including schools and Sports Centres, will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday 16 & 17 July 2008. Arrangements for training - or having the days off - should be made with individual coaches.

ESAA Championships - Gateshead 11/12 July

The club's Famous Five had variable fortunes at the ESAA Championships held at rainy Gateshead.

High jumpers Samantha Fraser (1.54) and Sophie Rigby (1.42) had to contend with adverse conditions, Samantha finishing equal twelfth in her pool and Sophie equal sixteenth in her final. Hammer thrower Kathryn Sumner threw 31.07 (her second longest of the season) for twelfth in her pool while Liane Bibby fought off the cameras to throw the javelin 28.65 for fifteenth place in the final. Tom Green ran a fine race in the 100m recording 11.91, alongside his season's best. Next year's championships take place in Birmingham. All five will hopefully be there although they must still be attending school or college to be eligible, especially as it costs the County Schools' Association £35 per entrant which is lost if an entrant is subsequently found to be ineligible.

World Junior Championships, Bydgodzcz Poland 10 July

David Forrester finished ninth in a rough and tumble World 1500m final. To finish in the top ten of a world championship is a magnificent achievement and we echo the text message from is dad Paul who said he was "dead proud" of him. So are we and, knowing Dave, he'll already be planning his next steps on the road to the top. Well done, Dave.

We have just received the official press release from the On Camp With Kelly website which said, "David ran in second or third place for most of the race and kept out of trouble when the pace slowed and the field bunched on the second lap.  When the kick came at the bell he was knocked off his stride as a number of athletes came round him and wasn’t able to follow the change of pace, finishing ninth in 3:51.00.  The race was won in a sprint finish by Algeria’s Imad Touil in 3:47.40.

David said: “I came here wanting to get into the final and I did, which was good.  It would have suited me more if the race had been quicker from the start but it was a bit slow, then the last 800m was run in one minute 50 seconds which was electric and left me too much to do at the end. It’s my first international on the track though and it was a good experience. It was a lot more aggressive racing than I am used to, but I have learned a lot going away from it.”

Dame Kelly Holmes, who is in Bydgoszcz to support the ‘On Camp with Kelly’ athletes, said: “David did not do much wrong tactically in the race but competition at this level is tough and reaching the final is an achievement he should be proud of.  The race was a typical championship race slow, at the start building up to a blistering last 800m. David is not that type of runner and will have learnt a lot from the experience which will stand him in good stead as he moves into the senior ranks.”
Results

Note: Cheshire League Sunday 13 July

The Cheshire League match will take place at Connahs Quay on Sunday 13 July, not as previously stated. Full details from Julia Hayes

World Junior Track and Field Championships : Bydgoszcz, Poland 8 July

David Forrester qualified for the final of the World Junior 1500m. Competing in the final heat David led at the bell, finally finishing fifth in 3.47.54 and qualifying as a fastest loser. David has done remarkably well to reach the final and we hope he does well against the best juniors runners on the planet. The final is apparently live on Eurosport at 18.20 on Thursday so if any of you are late for training we'll understand why. Apparently it can also be seen live via the IAAF championship website.

Halifax - Northern Track and Field League: 6 July

Two new records were set at the penultimate Northern League match at a showery Halifax where the view is wonderful when the sun shines but dreadful when it doesn't. Steve Clague set a junior pole vault record of 2.20 while the 4x400 metres team of Heather Drillingcourt, Jemma Shaw, Lauren Bradshaw and Natalie Garrity set an U17 record of 4.23.9 (not that the thought of breaking the club record ever crossed their minds!!!!)

The men's 4x100 quartet of Josiah Teepso, Thaddeus Anim Somuah, Steve Moran and Matthew Stone won their event, to add to Thaddeus's and Matthew's wins in the individual 100m. Thaddeus actually pushed Lewis Hamilton into sixth place. I knew he was fast but I didn't realise just how fast!!!! Another winner was Josie Barrow who decided to "go for it" in the high jump and cleared 1.55m for victory. She may have gone higher but decided to run the first leg of the relay instead.

Gemma Connolly  (who recently skipped training while in Egypt because it was 40 degrees all the time!!) worked hard in the distance races with support from Lauren Bradshaw and Rosie "It's how many laps?" O'Hagan. Rosie's trepidation vanished when she watched Tony Raffle contest the steeplechase, "Seeing Tony finish his race has inspired me," she said before her own event.

Chris Dempsey lopped three seconds off her best in the 400 and Sue Clague matched her for effort in the B race. Steve Clague and John Ashcroft provided a solid 400 hurdles pairing, Ian Costello was excellent in the 800/1500,  support by Jake Healy in both events. Maurice Collins made his League debut by just beating a fast finishing Barry Graney by one fifth of a second. Phil Robinson pole vaulted over three metres again (once he gets the new pole bedded in the club record will go). was over ten metres in the shot putt and eleven in the triple where the support came from Josiah.

Where the girls were short in numbers they made up for in spirit, Jemma Shaw and Natalie Garrity finishing second and third respectively in the 800m, Heather Drillingcourt setting a personal best in the triple jump, Kathryn Sumner proving a competent shot putter, Lucy Croft and Natalie Mullineux defying injury to contest the javelin. I'm sure those who may have inadvertently been missed off will let me know. It's been a long day.

Many thanks to stand in officials, timekeeper Paddy Meehan, track judges The Beautiful Emma, Jane Ashcroft (not that you're not beautiful Jane), nor you Chris Dempsey, but I wouldn't say the same about Phil Thomas.

On the field Roger McCall was an oasis of calm in a sea of chaos, George Mullineux was his same solid self, Chris Dempsey, Phil Thomas, Sue Clague and Andy Drillingcourt all contributed on the field. Thanks too to all those who provided transport for other athletes and officials. A special thanks to Chris "Hill Start" Dempsey for her driving lessons. Phil Thomas was team manager with some help from Sue Clague.

We have a difficult but not impossible task in the final match at Blackpool. Second place is not beyond us and if we achieve it we will be safe. Let's give them all a shock. Results

Forest Park Ladies 5k. Birchwood. 2 July 2008

There was a splendid turn out of eleven ladies at Forest Park on a good night for running. In addition, Amy Rose Talbot, who runs for Warrington - but represents St Helens-Sutton in the Junior League - finished third, (19.32) just missing dinner for two which was on offer.

Chris Dempsey forgot she was trying to avoid running the 3000m on Sunday, passing Pam Appleton in the last 400 metres to finish 24th (24.05) with Pam 25th (24.09). Linda White was 42nd (26.11), just ahead of the splendidly vested Joanne Keogh (45 - 26.31). Jean "Spot Prize" Dearing was 59th (27.44) just ahead of Susan Clague (63rd 28.03) and O60 category winner Dorothy Fairhurst (70: 28.33). Michelle "Are you sure she's not 18?" Moran debuted in 28.54 (74th) with Jane Ashcroft (75:29.01), Pauline "I haven't raced for two years" Picton 78th (29.26) while Janet Holmes completed the course in 33.24 (94th).

The next race the ladies are aiming to go to is the Preston 10 at the end of August. See Sue Clague for details or she'll be seeing you with an entry form.

John Appleton and Phil Thomas provided support but decided against competing as their dresses didn't arrive in time.

Results