April 2003

Track & Field Season opens with the Junior League 27 April April 27th saw the League track season commence with the National Junior League (Mersey Division) match at Trafford. Club spirit was very much in evidence as the men took 2nd place(248pts) behind Trafford(293pts) but well ahead of third placers Macclesfield(206pts). Phil Taylor was equal first in the 100m in 11.7 but was clear in the 200m which he took in 22.7. Michael Rimmer cruised to victory in the 1500m in 4.03.5. Dave Phillips was another individual winner in the 2000m Steeplechase(6.52.8). In the relays, a club speciality, the LPS squad collected both the 4 x 100m in 44.3 and the 4 x 400m in 3.27.3. The women were more stretched but finished a solid 3rd(192) behind Wigan(269) and Cheshire Tigers(219). Star performance here came from Nicola Gundersen who ran 2.20.2 to take the 800m.

Nathan prevents Paul from making it seven straight wins! 20 April Nathan Vengdasalam prevented team mate Paul Cadwallader from notching up seven consecutive wins in open races when he beat him in the annual Easter Day Halton Bridge Race. In what was a battle between these two for most of the way Nathan just managed to pull clear in the closing stages to claim victory. In third place was the inform top Welsh vet Bernie Jones who won this event last year when he beat LPS man Tom Snape into second place.

A significant day for LPS! 5th April The 12 Stage Relay at Blackpool will probably be remembered as a significant turning point in the Club's history. Having had to rely on make-shift teams for several years the team that raced along Blackpool's North Shore promenade had a balanced look about it. With no fewer than six Under 20s on show Club Captain, Bernie Murphy, had, at last, something to grin about. A blend of experience and youth took the club to 16th position, comfortably qualifying for the National 12 Stage at Sutton Coldfield on April 26th. Ultra-reliable Sammy Rashid led off with a 26.04 posting on the first long leg, placing 13th. Nathan Vengdasalam (great to see him back!) took 3 places with 13.32 on the short stage to leave Henry Stewart in 10th spot. Henry went back 3 places(14.10) and looked a bit disappointed but at this early stage other clubs were fielding strong runners. An unfit Bernie Murphy took over running a 27.27, again dropping 3 places and then spent the rest of the afternoon bemoaning his individual run! Nobody else was complaining, Bernie, you did a Captain's job! Adam Clansey is maturing fast and his 14.19 saw him claw back another place. Dan Taylor took the club to the halfway stage in 14.45, the club looking comfortable and lying 16th. Greg Callaghan was all guts with 28.03 but slipped to 18th, followed by Chris Henry looking sharp and reclaiming a position in 14.24. Mark Donoghue repeated this performance, marginally quicker in 14.23 but we were back to 16th. The final run in saw all 3 runners hang on, battling with other local clubs, Joey Parkinson(27.46), Tom Wade(14.36) and Chris Watson(15.12) on the `glory leg'. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon demonstrating a glimpse of the club's future. Even coach, John Bradshaw, managed a smile, to match the beautiful weather, as his `Junior squad' came good! The team will pore over the results, no doubt, and assess their chances of catching rivals, Liverpool Harriers. Not this season, perhaps, but next year? National Young Athletes Road Relay Championships. 6th April The Under 17 squad went with great expectations and was indeed rewarded with bronze medals behind the formidable Trafford AC and Shaftesbury Harriers. Rob Stocks, Michael Rimmer and Ben Jones formed the team with Ben recording second fastest time of the day. Under 13 Results Under 15 Results Under 17 Results Reports Charles Gains