When
coach John McCarten of Liverpool Pembroke Sefton Athletic Club
looked at his Under 15 distance runners at the beginning of the
autumn season he knew he had something special on his hands. Not
only had he got the quality but he also had the depth. After silver
medals in the Northern 3 stage relay and a whitewash of the
opposition in the recent Mid-Lancashire Cross Country League his
team were brimming with confidence as they headed down the motorway
to the National Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield to take
on the best in the country. But even McCarten was staggered at the
maturity of his squad. Dave Forrester on first leg shrugged aside
the opposition and coasted home in the lead with a 12.33 timing. The
Tarleton High School pair of Chris Hesketh and Jake Helm were to
follow, an intimidating prospect for other clubs. Chris was
momentarily caught but recovered to maintain the club`s lead in
13.04. Jake Helm(12.36) was anchor man on this occasion and hardly
had to breathe heavy to take the club home comfortably from
Tonbridge AC, national champions from last spring. The club last
achieved this distinction in 1983. The club`s B team figured well in
25th position (Mike Bride 13.22, Paul Roberts 13.57 and Sean Dignam
14.31).
The only other team LPS fielded was the Under 17s with Andrew Bowen
leading off in 10th place. Tom Hanlon and Rob McLoughlin ran solidly
but had to yield ground to powerful opponents finishing 35th.
Mid Lancs 14 October The
opening fixture of the cross country got off to a great start for
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton. In sunny conditions at Leyland's Worden Park
the club's strong Under 15 squad totally dominated the field filling the
first four places in the shape of Jake Helm, David Forrester, Chris
Hesketh and Mike McBride. This is the group that has already scooped up
silver medals in the Merseyside and Northern road relays. It looks like
there will be nobody stopping them here in this the Mid-Lancashire
League.
Andrew Bowen was a comfortable runner-up in his Under 17 race, adrift of
the winner by some 25 seconds but confident this can be overcome at the
next encounter. With team mates Rob McLoughlin(14), Tom Hanlon(19) and
Matthew Lloyd(25) provisionally results indicate they finished third
team as did the club`s Under 15 Girls quartet of Emma Binns(9), Emma
Bowen(11), Toria Swift(19) and Shirley Hannah(33). Elsewhere the club
failed to finish teams although there were solid runs from Joseph
Hanlon(18) in the Under 13s, Joe McKenna(7) Junior Men and Steve
Donegan(42) Senior Men.
But as always there were performances that surprised even team mangers.
Most significant was that of Edward Rimmer who finished 8th in the
astonishing Under 15 race, a stunning debut. Similarly Jessica Bolton
finished 12th in the Under 13 Girls race is now expected to flourish.
Taking up the sport relatively late is the cheerful Kirsty Lonsky who
ran a very strong 22nd in a field of 88, a run that will do her
confidence a power of good.
Results Report Charles Gains
Photos Alan Forrester
Silver in Northern Championships The Young Athlete North of England Road Relay Championships were held at
Manchester's Sport city, a fitting start and finish venue even if a
somewhat boring course around the adjacent Manchester City's car parks.
Having already attracted some attention by taking silver medals in the
Merseyside Championships the previous week the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton
Under 15 3 x 3 kilometre squad were already talked about as one of the
favourites for the regional title. They did not disappoint. Dave
Forrester 8:56 stayed with the usual helter skelter start to hand over to
Mike Bride in 9:14. Mike, brimming with confidence, strode into
the lead to hand over to Mike McCarten. McCarten 9:25 held this with
about 800m to go when the powerful local Sale club came through to
collect the gold. The LPS lads though were jubilant with their silver
medals but the team management even more overjoyed. A class result with
two of the club's best athletes, Jake Helm and Chris Hesketh, yet to
appear. The National Road Relay Championships in Birmingham now beckon
before the end of the month and thereafter an intriguing cross country
season.
The club's other team in the Under 13s were a little out of luck as Adam
Goldfarb lost a shoe early on but his recovery was amazing as he came
home 13th. Joe Hanlon(11th) and Warren Turner(10th) improved to
demonstrate that the younger squad has similar potential as their older
team mates. Results
When
coach John McCarten of Liverpool Pembroke Sefton Athletic Club
looked at his Under 15 distance runners at the beginning of the
autumn season he knew he had something special on his hands. Not
only had he got the quality but he also had the depth. After silver
medals in the Northern 3 stage relay and a whitewash of the
opposition in the recent Mid-Lancashire Cross Country League his
team were brimming with confidence as they headed down the motorway
to the National Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield to take
on the best in the country. But even McCarten was staggered at the
maturity of his squad. Dave Forrester on first leg shrugged aside
the opposition and coasted home in the lead with a 12.33 timing. The
Tarleton High School pair of Chris Hesketh and Jake Helm were to
follow, an intimidating prospect for other clubs. Chris was
momentarily caught but recovered to maintain the club`s lead in
13.04. Jake Helm(12.36) was anchor man on this occasion and hardly
had to breathe heavy to take the club home comfortably from
Tonbridge AC, national champions from last spring. The club last
achieved this distinction in 1983. The club`s B team figured well in
25th position (Mike Bride 13.22, Paul Roberts 13.57 and Sean Dignam
14.31). 
The
opening fixture of the cross country got off to a great start for
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton. In sunny conditions at Leyland's Worden Park
the club's strong Under 15 squad totally dominated the field filling the
first four places in the shape of Jake Helm, David Forrester, Chris
Hesketh and Mike McBride. This is the group that has already scooped up
silver medals in the Merseyside and Northern road relays. It looks like
there will be nobody stopping them here in this the Mid-Lancashire
League.
Report Charles Gains
The Young Athlete North of England Road Relay Championships were held at
Manchester's Sport city, a fitting start and finish venue even if a
somewhat boring course around the adjacent Manchester City's car parks.
Having already attracted some attention by taking silver medals in the
Merseyside Championships the previous week the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton
Under 15 3 x 3 kilometre squad were already talked about as one of the
favourites for the regional title. They did not disappoint. Dave
Forrester 8:56 stayed with the usual helter skelter start to hand over to
Mike Bride in 9:14. Mike, brimming with confidence, strode into
the lead to hand over to Mike McCarten. McCarten 9:25 held this with
about 800m to go when the powerful local Sale club came through to
collect the gold. The LPS lads though were jubilant with their silver
medals but the team management even more overjoyed. A class result with
two of the club's best athletes, Jake Helm and Chris Hesketh, yet to
appear. The National Road Relay Championships in Birmingham now beckon
before the end of the month and thereafter an intriguing cross country
season.