| Christmas Handicap Reports Girls A very strong run from Victoria Swift on a fog bound course at Edge Hill College took her well clear of the opposition. Lindsay Doyle was the fastest just failing to get under the magic 9 minutes for this surprisingly tough course. Posn Name H`cap Time Handicap Actual Time Time Position 1 Victoria Swift 11.26 0.40 10.46 4  2. Erin Halsall 12.01 2.40 9.21 2 3. Maria Barrett 12.02 2.40 9.22 3 4. Stephanie Swift 12.07 1.56 10.11 5 5. Lindsay Doyle 12.08 3.00 9.08 1 6. Caroline Simpson 12.17 1.10 11.07 8 7. Gemma Simpson 12.34 1.40 10.54 7 8. Laura Bear 13.04 - 13.04 10 9. Katie Green 13.07 2.20 10.47 6 10. Helen Quirk 13.29 1.48 11.41 9 Boys (Sprinters) The Sprint Group took themselves off to Ruff Wood for their Christmas Handicap. Juniors(1k) 1. Alex Stokes 3.52 2. Wayne Ashall 4.00 3. Joseph Wengyzn 4.08 Seniors(2k) 1. Phil Taylor 6.47 2. John Murray 7.12 3. Andrew Wignall 7.17 Men Only 6 men turned up for this year's Christmas Handicap which again raises the question as to its future. The field is depleted, of course, because the girls and now the sprinters hold a different handicap at Edge Hill College. At West Derby the course was shortened to about 2.25 miles...from the Gates to the Hall around and back. Results Name Time Actual Time Des McIver 15.08 11.08 Sam Darby 15.30 13.30 Bill Yoxall 15.42 12.42 Reg Armstrong 16.25 14.25 Brian Hughes 17.26 17.26 Stan Cottier 17.31 15.01 Des ran very well but the handicappers were a bit kind to Sam Darby putting him off the same mark as Reg Armstrong and listening to his persuasive argument that Stan Cottier was in good shape! Sorry, Stan, we won't be fooled again! It was nice to see Brian Hughes back in action and his spirited finish to hold off Stan. Newcomer Bill Yoxall also seemed to enjoy himself. Reports Charles Gains |
John's lads have clean sweep at Burnley
15 December The
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton club's domination of the Mid-Lancashire Cross
Country League continues from the previous season. At Burnley the packing
in the Under 13 race of Robert McLaughlin(6), Andrew Livesey(7), Sam
Hutchinson(8) and David Hodgson(10) saw off the opposition. Livesey
enjoyed his highest placing ever and Hodgson surprised in his first ever
race. The Under 15 squad performed a similar feat with David Furlong(2),
Joseph McKenna(7), Ben Johnson(10) and Tom McCarten(14).At the Under 17 level, with three to count, the local club overwhelmed the rest with Robert Stocks enjoying a fine win followed by Carl Williams 3rd and Paul McHugh hot on his heels in 4th place. Henry Stewart also won the Under 20 race from namesake Alan Stewart with Mark Donoghue in 5th spot. A thoroughly satisfactory afternoon with other clubs wondering how they can stop the Ormskirk avalanche. At this stage it looks highly likely that all four trophies will remain in local hands Results . Report Charles Gains |
| Welcome return to racing for Nathan 8
December After a long time out through injury Nathan Vengdasalam made a welcome return 
with a second place in the Longridge 7 mile. Missing out on a victory by
only 3 seconds to Mike Burnett of Leeds City AC in a field of over 280.
Nathan has been an outstanding club man in his twenty years with the club,
turning out on a regular basis at countless events over the years. Never a
great lover of the country Nathan has indicated a wish to run in the
Northern in January so he will boast the team should he run.
Results |
Rankings point to bright future 7
December  The
end of the year UK Track and Field Ranking lists are always a major
talking point in the sport. It is tough to get on these lists. Paul Pudney
tops the over 40 list for 3000 as well as 8th place at 1500 and 10th at
5000, while Michael Rimmer top under 17 at 800 show the depth of the The
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton club at Edge Hill College is attracting
attention as a centre of
quality for both sprinters and middle distance runners. It is the middle
distance lads though who are currently making the most impact on the
rankings. At the Under 17 800m Michael Rimmer stands head and shoulders above everyone else with a remarkable 1.50.55 but tracking down the list to 17th spot is Andrew Donaldson with a very respectable 1.56.70. At Under 20 Mark Donoghue(103) pops up with 1.58.60 and not far behind is Chris Watson(124) in 1.59.9. Four under the tough 2 minute barrier is excellent. At 1500m there are two budding Under 13 prospects in Sam Hutchinson(31) in 4.52.1 and Andrew Bowden(68) in 4.59.1. Michael Rimmer naturally turns up again in third spot in the Under 17s with 3.54.07 with Ben Jones(23) in 4.02.11 and Andrew Donaldson(101) in 4.15.79. At Under 20 three local lads are prominent Rory Smith(84) in 4.02.31, Alan Stewart(98) in 4.04.6 and Mark Donoghue(115) in 4.06.3. At the Under 20 3000m Ben Jones shifts up to 9th 8.53.32 with the two Stewarts Alan and Henry (no relation) collecting 9.12.84(48) and Henry 8.56.77(64). Coach John Bradshaw has produced some excellent steeplechasers in his time so it is no surprise to find David Phillips in 36th place in the 1500mSC and Mark Donoghue(28) running 6.11.39 for 2000mSC At 3000m SC Jon Rice is 66th in 9.31.5 and Henry Stewart 148 in 9.54.9. To get one or two on the lists is good but a total of 11 is remarkable. This is down to hard individual work but also to the excellent team spirit that permeates the squad. British Milers Clubs Rankings 2002 |
| Good performances in Kind 5k 1 December
Although yet to race on the country this winter Joey Parkinson has been
turning eye catching runs on the road. After a good run at Preston last
month it was closer to home for Joey as he collected second place in the
Kind 5k at Walton Park. It is hoped that Joey will now turn his talents to
the country as the championship season gets under way after Christmas. Not
to be outdone by Joey a couple of LPS juniors also raced well, Lindsay
Doyle was first junior woman, and second woman in the race overall, and
Matthew Brooks was first junior man. I had missed the two juniors when I
first looked at the results, so a thank you to Karen Doyle for pointing
out my omission
Results |