July 2003

Junior Ladies 4th at Bebbington 27 July
LPS ladies junior team finished 4th at Bebington Oval in their 3rd fixture of the season. This now leaves us 3rd overall with one match left. Kerry Massey won the javelin with a new pb of 33:03 and then won the discus and hammer 'B' events. Maria Barrett showed she is in good form with a win in the 1500 in 5:12:1

Ken Beisty flies the LPS flag down under.

A sub 2 hour half marathon is useful time and when you are fast approaching your 70th birthday it a decent run even if you had hoped for a little faster. Ken Beisty a prominent Pembroke runner in the 50s & 60s now living in Australia email me on a regular basis and likes to keep up on club results tells me that he has now
"am over all my injuries, raced a half marathon a f/n ago, dead flat course in Queensland. Managed 1.56.45 so aiming for 1.55 or better next year when I hit the M70's." I useful run and we are glad to see Ken is still fit as he reaches his 70th birthday. The picture is of Ken in the Lancashire road relay in the early 1950s

Robbie tackles Snowdon yet again! 26 July
Robbie Wood took a day off from his duties as club secretary to take part in the 28th running of this popular mountain race which attracts International teams from all the home countries plus a team from Italy. Robbie has been an active competitor in Snowdon event since the 1970s and believes he must have done about 20 races over the years.
Overcast and damp almost perfect conditions and clear at the summit. It is a hard slog this race and carrying an extra two stones plus a lack of fitness tests one's resolve. After his slowest time in this event last year (1 hour 45.27overall and 65:30 at the summit) Robbie was intent on having a go at running quicker this year. A summit time of 62:37 was outside the 60 mins hoped for but a steady decent in tricky under foot conditions (blisters on both feet to prove it) was enough to come home in 1 hour 40:38 (hopes to dip 1hour 40 just missed out on) Long gone are the days of reaching the summit in 47 mins and coming home in 74 mins!
For those who might consider having a crack at this event the Snowdon races which comprises running 5 miles up and 5 miles down with a climb of 3365 feet. Results

City of Hull to Strong for LPS 20 July
Edge Hill College was the venue for the final young Athletes Track and Field League match. Liverpool Pembroke Sefton was up against the powerful City of Hull team, Wrexham AC and the Sheffield club, Hallamshire Harriers. There were numerous LPS successes including Ashley McComb`s Under 15 Girls High Jump of 1.43m. Rob Stocks ran a typically committed front run to take the Under 17 1500m in 4.11.3 and Phil Berry was similarly victorious in the Under 15 Javelin with a throw of 38.05. Excellent for an athlete in his first serious competition. The person who caught the eye though was Daniel Higham of Upholland High School who stormed to both an Under 15 800m win in 2.08.6 and 400m in 56.1.

With LPS taking 4 out of the relay titles available the club finished second overall to Hull but only a handful of points in front of Wrexham who were struggling hard to avoid relegation. Enjoying home advantage LPS did them no favours, nor to the Sheffield club.

Scores...Hull 390.5, LPS 315, Wrexham 308, Hallamshire 226.5. We await the final table positions.

Report Charles Gains

Maria Barrett wins National Title (13 July)
Maria retained her U20 British bi-athlon title in Bournemouth yesterday against stiff opposition. This comprised of a continuous run, swim, run the distances being,1500m run followed by a 200m swim in the sea and ended with another 1500m run. Quite an exhausting feat, not only to complete but to come out at the end as British Champion. This comes a week after Maria took 34 seconds off her 3000m time from 11.17 to 10.43.

Also mention that Kiera Vogel has been selected to run for GB in the Catholic Schools Championships in Salamanka, Spain WC 20/07/03.

Great Run by Michael as he dips below 1.50in final. 12 July 21;09
In another great run by Michael he finished 4th in the World Youth Games at Sherbrooke Canada in a new pb of 1:49:61, the first time he has gone below 1:50. In a top quality field Michael was less than a second behind the winner Mohammed Al-Salhi of the KSA, with the two Kenyans Bernard Kiptum Kiptanui and Abraham Ngeno Kipngetich. This will be not only be a great boost for Michael and his coach John Bradshaw but all his many friends in LPS and his former club SWAC and Merseyside athletics.

After recently describing Michael's run in the AAA under 20 Championship as "disappointing" I wonder if the Liverpool Echo and their 'knowledgeable athletics reporter' will conclude that running 1.49.61 in the final of a major games at the age of 17 is perhaps slightly better than a disappointing 1.51.17? Maybe not!

Official Results - 800 METRES - Men - Final

Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 15:50

Pos	Lane	Bib	Athlete	Country	Mark
1	3	345	Al-Salhi Mohammed	KSA	1:48.79	(CR)
2	6	330	Kiptum Bernard Kiptanui	KEN	1:49.14
3	4	332	Ngeno Abraham Kipngetich	KEN	1:49.17
4	7	205	Rimmer Michael	GBR	1:49.61	(PB)
5	2	500	Abdelgadir Abdalla	SUD	1:51.12
6	8	196	Fennell Steven	GBR	1:52.11
7	5	461	Gania Florin	ROM	1:52.11
8	1	574	Haddan Michael	USA	1:53.31

Intermediate	Pos	Bib	Athlete	Nat	Mark

400m	1	332	Ngeno Abraham Kipngetich	KEN	53.05

Michael through to final.(12 July 03.00)
In a tough heat Michael qualified by coming in with the top Kenyan athlete Bernard Kiptanui Kiptum. Michael led at the bell in 57.68 coming home in 1.52.66. The final is today Saturday at 20.50 UK time and we hope to have the results shortly after.

Heat 2 - Friday, July 11, 2003 - 20:38 Semi Final Result

Pos	Lane	Bib	Athlete	Country	Mark
1	6	330	Kiptum Bernard Kiptanui	KEN	1:52.63	Q
2	4	205	Rimmer Michael	GBR	1:52.66	Q
3	7	22	Rapatz Andreas	AUT	1:54.10
4	1	73	Martinson Geoffrey	CAN	1:54.17
5	5	508	Repcìk Jozef	SVK	1:54.88
6	3	541	Omar Alaya Rachid	TUN	1:57.05
7	2	106	Zhang Zhenyong	CHN	1:57.32
8	8	149	Campo Alvaro	ESP	2:01.64

Intermediate	Pos	Bib	Athlete	Nat	Mark

400m	1	205	Rimmer Michael	GBR	57.68

Second Round draws Michael against Bernard Kiptanui Kiptum
After what seemed from the results was a comfortable opening round Michael is up against one of the top prospects in the shape Kenya's Bernard Kiptanui.Kiptum On paper he a full second faster than Michael but given Michaels strength it should prove an interesting race. The full start list is below.

First Round no problem for Michael (11July 00.25) I am staying up late for this!
Mike Rimmer cruised through to the next round at the world youth games with a comfortable win in 1.54. His next round is late Friday UK time and we hope to have a report

Official Results - 800 METRES - Men - Heats

Qual. rule: first 2 of each heat (Q) plus the 10 fastest losers (q) qualified

Heat 1 - Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 18:40 Results from Round 1

Pos	Lane	Bib	Athlete	Country	Mark
1	2	205	Rimmer Michael	GBR	1:54.77	Q
2	8	430	Barquero Cesar	PER	1:55.04	Q
3	6	297	Parker Davian	JAM	1:55.91
4	1	232	Vassallo Daryl	GIB	1:57.24
5	7	148	Monterrosa Marlon	ESA	1:57.77		(PB)
6	3	278	Rai Vashisht Kumar	IND	1:57.90
7	5	336	Mozgov Pavel	KGZ	1:59.84
8	4	524	Chiou Yih-Sheng	TPE	2:03.99

Intermediate	Pos	Bib	Athlete	Nat	Mark

400m	1	205	Rimmer Michael	GBR	56.34

Mike Rimmer in Canada. (10 July 20.48)
Regular updates on Mike's performance in the IAAf World Youth games in Canada
Below is the competitors in Mike's heat

Startlist - 800 METRES Men - Heats

Qual. rule: first 2 of each heat (Q) plus the 10 fastest losers (q) qualified

Mixed Fortunes for Track teams 6 July
The Men`s B Team had a very enjoyable home fixture at Wavertree. Covering most events they stormed to a 388 points victory over Barrow & Furness(347) and Chorley and Preston(270). Paul Jamieson played a captain`s part with victories at 100m and 200m but possibly the best performance came from Joey Parkinson who ran a very encouraging 16.18 second place in the 5000m. Pity we can`t see a bit more of him on the track! And who was that mysterious character in the discus throwing a very impressive 37m? It was Mark Hodge lured back in to competition after 10 years by Mike Dandy.Overall LPS lead on 20pts from Barrow & Furness and Chorley & Preston, both on 17pts.

The following day at South Leeds the A team looked in trouble with numerous absentees. The only win came from Jon Rice in the 110m Hurdles who had a good afternoon, also collecting a third spot in the High Jump with 1.90m. No words can express the club`s appreciation of Sammy Rashid who turned up yet again to run an impressive 15.47.5 5000m in fourth place. Elsewhere individuals were burrowing away on a day when 4th, 5th and 6th places were crucial. As most of us were treking home convinced we were last the results of the High Jump and Javelin were announced and we had got 6th postion! Overall LPS cling on to 3rd(16) behind runaway winners Derby(23) and Leeds(18) but with Gateshead lurking on 15. This sets things up for a great final match at Derby when we will definitely be much stronger and hoping to repeat the first match result when we won at Blackpool. The mathematics suggest Derby as certain to go to Watford in the `play off' for BAL but who will go with them? Everything suggests a nail biting finish to the season. Well done all who went to South Leeds and kept LPS in the frame!

Over at Connah`s Quay in Division 3W our Women were 6th and last. This is very frustrating for our distance girls and throwers who post some noteworthy performances. But where are our sprinters? We need to rethink our strategy for next season. As you can also see we do not get reports from our ladies!

Call up for Rimmer. 4 July
Michael Rimmer, Britains outstanding Under 18 800m runner, has headed off to Canada to represent his country in the World Youth Championships. The Edge Hill College based athlete has already had a remarkable season collecting County and Northern County titles with comparative ease. At the AAA Championships at Bedford he ran an excellent 4th place against older athletes in 1.51.17 but he had already caught the selectors eye three weeks previous when racing in the British Milers Club highly competitive 800m at Wythenshawe and recording a truly stunning 1.50.00. Michael competed in the World Championships in Hungary two years ago as an inexperienced 15 year old and reached the semi-finals. This time he has to be considered a very real medal prospect.

Also competing at the AAA Championships was a slightly off form Phil Taylor who nevertheless finished 6th in the final of the 400m in 49.19. Elsewhere Ben Jones relentless rise continues as he collected 5th spot in the 5000m in an excellent 15.02.90.