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Another international call
up 25 June
Following his stunning silver
breakthrough the Northern Under 20 Championships in the 400m
with a time of 48.44 Wayne Ashall of Scarisbrick has been given
a call up to represent his country. The performance took him to
fourth in his age group rankings and the selectors have invited
him run for Great Britain in the European Youth Under 18
Olympics in Serbia in late July. Wayne joins Liverpool Pembroke
Sefton team mates Michael Rimmer and Phil Taylor as a current
international, a remarkable result for the local club.
Report Charles Gains |
| Another Athlete of the Match Award 24 June Liverpool Pembroke Sefton Young Athletes were at Gateshead for the fourth round of the Northern Premier League. The club has made a habit of winning Athlete of the Match awards and on this occasion it went to Under 15 Adam Thompson for a sparkling run of 23.6 in the 200m to match his other win in the 100m of 12.1. At Under 17 'double headers' were achieved by Nathan Hilton(50.7) and Callum Burns(53.2) at 400m. Nathan has his sights firmly set on joining the clubs elite sub-50 seconds club. Dave Forrester(4.18.7) and Jake Helm(4.26.2) also paired up admirably in the 1500m while Tony West took both the Hammer(43.54m) and Discus(33.67m) . Chris Hesketh had a busy afternoon but primarily winning the 1500m Steeplechase in 4.41.7.Under the guidance of coach, Dave McComb, the High Jump squad are making progress and it was no surprise in this age group to see Faye Atkins(1.56m) and Steph Hawkins(1.43m) trounce the opposition. Emma Bowen popped up with a useful 800m win in 2.22.5 as did Toria Swift in the 3000m(12.22.6). Back in the Under 15`s Mike Bride had a runaway win in the 1500m(4.29.5) and the strength of the club`s throws group was exemplified by Mike Jones winning the A Discus(31.85m) and B Hammer(26.43m) while club team mate Brad Brennan collecting the A Shot(11.91m) and B Discus(26.27m). The Under 13`s both boys and girls are characterised by their enthusiasm which showed up particularly well in the Boys 4 x 100m relay win in 59.1(Andrew Freeman, Joel Hutchinson, Adam Townson and Andrew Hutchinson). Overall the club finished third to Gateshead and York and look to be piling up enough points to stay with the North`s top clubs next season.
Tough times for Mark and
Phil
Mark Grimshaw and Phil Taylor were
at Bedford for the AAA of England Under 23 Championships. Mark
has been struggling for a while to recapture the excitement he
generated in previous seasons and drew the same heat as Phil
Taylor in the 400m. He will be very disappointed to have gone
out at this stage with a 50.3 timing but talent such as his does
not disappear overnight and he will surely be back to
challenging for a sub-48 clocking. After his magnificent Indoor
European gold medal Phil Taylor has been trying to shake off
injury and qualified for the semi-finals with 48.51. He improved
marginally(48.41) in the semis but it was not enough to make the
final in a class field. He too will be disappointed but his real
sights are on making the British team for the World Student
Games in Bangkok later in the season. These are two very gifted
athletes who are well capable of shaking off the setbacks which
come to everybody in this sport at some time or other.
Report Charles Gains |
| Superb run by Michael Rimmer in Munich 24 June After twice running the two best 800m times in Great Britain this year Michael Rimmer was an automatic choice to represent his country in the televised European Super League Cup in Munich. This competition is about points rather than quick times and Rimmer was expected to only collect 5 for fourth spot. In a slow tactical race he positioned himself sensibly and when the inevitable charge for the finish came he surged past immediately adjacent runners and looked to be heading for victory when on the outside Pawel Czapiewski of Poland came in a late rush to just pip him to the line. A photo finish but the unexpected seven points for second place contributed Great Britain`s overall fourth spot and resurgent ambitions. In a post race interview Michael declared that he went for the win and that his first reaction was that of disappointment. It is a measure of his confidence and ambition that a superb result such as this is seen as not yet enough. He now prepares himself for the World Championships to be held in Osaka, Japan in August. There has never been a year like this for Rimmer`s club Liverpool Pembroke and Sefton, based at Edge Hill University. Earlier in the year Phil Taylor had collected a gold medal as part of the 4 x 400m relay squad in the European Indoor Championships. Additionally there are a galaxy of stars-in-the-making setting all sorts of personal bests and collecting medals at the highest levels. No fewer than 17 local athletes made the national rankings in 2006. That figure could be higher this year. Report Charles Gains |
| 2006 Best Year Ever for Rankings Dave Brown has been thumbing through the 2006 NUTs annual has discovered thar 2006 was our best ever year in terms of athletes ranked national. No fewer that 17 athletes make the list for 2006. Congratulations to them all and their coaches The list is below 25/07/2006 Ashall, Wayne Wrexham. 400m. M U 17 50.7s 06/08/2006 Bowen, Andrew Birmingham. 1500m Sc. M U 17 4:28.04 min 05/08/2006 Doran, Harry Birmingham. 400m. M U 17 49.96s 11/07/2006 Forrester, David Stretford. 800m. M U 15 2:03.34 min 17/06/2006 Grimshaw, Mark Manchester. 400m. M U 20 49.24s 06/08/2006 Helm, Jake Birmingham. 1500m. M U 15 4:11.79 min 25/07/2006 Helm, Jake Stretford. 3000m. M U 15 9:37.87 min 27/06/2006 Hesketh, Chris Stretford. 1500m. M U 15 4:19.44 min 08/05/2006 Line, Mark Liverpool. Discus. M V 40 40.15m 21/01/2006 McGinn, Jack Sheffield. 400m. M U 17 50.63s (i) 26/02/2006 Readle, Dave Sheffield. Shot Putt. M Snr 15.45m (i) 18/06/2006 Readle, Dave Manchester. Shot Putt. M Snr 14.43m 29/04/2006 Readle, Dave Birmingham. Discus. M Snr 43.53m 11/07/2006 Readle, Dave Manchester. Hammer. M Snr 49.93m 26/07/2006 Rimmer, Michael Helsinki, Finland. 800m. M Snr 1:45.23 min 17/06/2006 Shaw, Jakob Birmingham. High Jump. M U 17 1.90m 26/02/2006 Taylor, Phil Sheffield. 200m. M Snr 21.77s (i) 14/02/2006 Taylor, Phil Birmingham. 300m. M Snr 34.83s (i) 17/06/2006 Taylor, Phil Manchester. 400m. M Snr 47.85s 23/07/2006 Cummings, Lauren Wrexham. Discus. F U 17 33.58m 06/08/2006 Gore, Nicola Manchester. Discus. F Snr 35.37m 16/07/2006 Pennington, Annmarie Warrington. Javelin. F U 20 36.03m 18/06/2006 Walsh, Natalie Manchester. Discus. F U 20 38.79m |
| Rimmer improves in Oslo 17 June Following a stunning 1.46.87 800m run in Manchester, the best in Britain this year, Michael Rimmer went to the prestigious Bislett Golden League Meeting in Oslo to run an even quicker time of 1.45.54. He finished marginally fourth to three African athletes and can go to this coming weekend's televised European Cup in Munich with some confidence. Given that Liverpool Pembroke Sefton also have European Indoor relay gold medallist Phil Taylor in their ranks it might be expected these outstanding athletes would overshadow other club members. But there is clearly more talent in the pipeline as demonstrated at the Northern Championships at Wavertree. Wayne Ashall from Scarisbrick sprung the biggest surprise. The 17 year old was struggling to break 50 seconds for 400m a few weeks ago but here he unleashed a 48.94 heat time followed by a 48.44 silver medal posting in the final. His fluid style brought favourable comments from knowledgeable observers. Similarly, Alex Stokes in the same age group, is turning into a consistently high class act with a personal best of 10.89 for third in the 100m and a fourth placing in the 200m of 22.3. Fourth placing are frustrating, however good the performance, and additional sufferers on this occasion were Seniors Michael Zaim ( 100m 11.06) and Natalie Walsh (Hammer 33.84)Spare a thought too for temporarily out of form sixth placers in Mark Grimshaw(400m), Phil Taylor(200m) and Andrew Bowen(2000m Steeplechase). Two courageous 5000m runs though came from Kirsty Longley and Danny Gordon. Meanwhile representing Merseyside at an inter-area schools match at Birmingham three other rising local talents Inters Harry Doran(2nd 200m in 22.5) and Danny Higham(3rd 400m in 51.0) and Junior Adam Thompson (1st 100m in 11.8 and third 200m in 23.6) ran exceptionally well. A weekend to relish for LPS but in spite of Rimmer`s great result in Scandinavia perhaps the prize performance went to Wayne Ashall and his breakthrough into national prominence. Report Charles Gains |
| Rimmer throws down the Gauntlet 10 June The Liverpool Pembroke Sefton 800m star, Michael Rimmer, put together a  very assured performance at the British Miler`s Club series of quality
races at Manchester's Sport City. Running his first serious 800m of the
season he took complete control after the pacemaker dropped out and
there was little opponents could do as he soared away to a fine time of
1.46.47. There was obviously something extra left too as his coach,
Norman Poole, confirmed. He now puts himself in a very strong position
to be regarded as a favourite to make the Great Britain squad for the
World Championships in Japan later in the season. He was not the club's
only star performer at the meeting. Running equally as confidently as
Rimmer team mate Courtney Birch was a clear victor in the Women's B
5000m race breaking her own club record substantially in the process in
a sparkling 16.52.75. There was another avalanche of medals and personal best performances in the Schools County Championships. In the Merseyside event at Wavertree Adam Thompson collected a very satisfying gold and silver in the U15 200m(24.0) and 100m(11.7). Danny Higham was also successful with a 50.7 clocking in the U17 400m in 50.7. Harry Doran's excellent season continued with a great 100m(11.4) and in taking the 200m race(22.8) the spectators were treated to the next three places also being occupied by LPS athletes (Nathan Hilton 23.2, Callum Burns 24.0) with Tom Kenningly fourth for good measure. Ed Rimmer was the U15 800m title winner in 2.16.0 In a weekend where all the clubs throwing squad achieved personal bests Emma Carter won the U15 Javelin in 25.9m and second claimer Charlotte Christian from the Isle of Man was a double senior champion (Hammer 32.69m and Shot 8.04). In the Lancashire Championships at Blackpool the two winning performances that really caught the eye were Wayne Ashall's tremendous clocking of 49.2 in the Senior 400m and equally significant Tony West's throw of 43.36 in the Discus. Shot Putter Brad Brennan won the U15 Shot with an impressive 12.29m. There will be clearly a significant presence of LPS athletes at the forthcoming national schools championships. Report Charles Gains |
| Another Athlete of the Match Award for LPS 3 June Two full coach loads of athletes, officials and supporters made the cross country trip to the King George V track at Cleethorpes. A terrific atmosphere for the club but the match was marred by an edginess and several disqualifications some of which are still being looked into. On the day the club was announced third behind Hull and Cleethorpes. Danny Higham's U17 400m run of 51.1 gave him the male track Athlete of the Match award. He joins the queue of LPS athletes preparing themselves to duck under the magic 50 second barrier. This was a Grade 1 performance using the 4 grades adopted in this competition. It is a rare accomplishment but rising star Adam Thompson managed it as well in the U15 200m with 24 seconds dead. Grade 2 performers and winners were at U17 Dave Forrestert(1500m 4.16.5), Chris Hesketh(1500m SC 4.42.8), Nathan Hilton(400m B 52.4) and Emily Carr Javelin 30.01). Repeating this feat at U15 were Adam Thompson(100m 12.1) and Jessica Broady Discus 22.22). These were class performances but not far adrift in Grade 3 and Grade 4 rankings were numerous other club athletes. We won't plough through more individual names on this occasion, you can look up the results yourself, but there are lots of heroes and heroines in the club. If you have a story about PB's, transformations etc let us know and we will highlight them. LPS is a class club in all events and at all levels. The match finished with the relays. The LPS tradition of finishing the afternoon with resounding success continued. Nine relays and 5 wins(U17 Male 4 x 100m, 4 x 400m U15 4 x 400m, U13 4 x 100m and the Female U17 4 x 300m). A fighting spirit few can match. Report Charles Gains
Northern Senior League Match 2
Stockport
Team result: 1. Bolton(412), 2.
Stockport(354), 3. St Helens Sutton(302), 4. LPS(288), 5. Manx(285),
6. West Cheshire(275)
Again a very much weakened team but a
big congratulations to the handful of girls who repeatedly doubled
up to score useful points. Particularly satisfying was the
partnership of Laura Abel, June Swift, Steph Swift and Kirsty
Longley who combined well to get 3rd in the 4 x 100m relay and
second in the 4 x 400m event.
Winners among the men were Wayne
Ashall(400m in 49.9), Jacob Shaw(B High Jump with 1.80m) and Mark
Line(B Pole Vault 3.10m). But the star of the day was Jon Rice with
a double victory in the 110m Hurdles(16.0) and High Jump(1.90m). For
once LPS did not clear up in the relays losing out in the 4 x 100m
but were solid winners of the 4 x 400m(Alex Stokes, Mark Grimshaw,
Wayne Ashall and Tom Daniels).
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