The UK Cross Challenge came to Sefton Park on a cold day
but with good running conditions. The addition of the
selection for the European Cross Country Championships
brought some of the best athletes in the country to
Liverpool. Liverpool Pembroke Sefton girls figured in
most of the age groups. Rachel Morris was alone in the
Under 13 race finishing 53rd but there was a clutch of
team mates in the Under 15 event, Emma Bowen(28), Emma
Binns(58), Jessica Nicholls(63), Hannah Riley(65), Chloe
McGuiness(69) and Elizabeth Swine(73). Stephanie
Swift(96) was another lone entrant in the Under 17s but
Maria Barrett(41), running as strongly as ever, was
partnered by Birmingham University student Lyndsey
Doyle(76).
LPS`s Under 13 squad is
growing in strength and finished a team with Rob
Ford(19) in the Club`s best position on the day and Mike
McBride(24), Chris Hatton(33) and Joe Hanlon(49). The
club had less luck in fielding teams at Under 15(Chris
Hesketh 42, Tom Hanlon 54) and Under 20(Mark Leicester
86, Chris Melling 87) but closed in a Under 17 team of
Andrew Bowen(37), Rob Mcloughlin(65), Kieron Sloan(82)
and Danny Higham(83). Team Manager, Charles Gains, was
delighted to field virtually a full squad of the club`s
senior men. Jimmy Boardman led them in as usual in 45th
place but Sammy Rashid(96) was also running well in a
class field. A gritty Steve Donegan(147), super vets
Greg Callaghan(160) and Graham Cairns(172) and a
resurgent Ian Crichton(215) completed the team but there
were runners to spare in Steve Murphy(222), Kevin
Carroll(236) and John Dobie(285). Opting for this race
Gill Darby was 351. Team results await as they are
always difficult to disentangle in this premier event.
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