Declining numbers at Junior match
The second round of the NJL (Mersey Division) match was held at Robin
Park on 28th May. It was characterised by lack of support. Out of six
competing clubs no fewer than 11 events were uncontested and a
staggering 35 had only one or two competitors. As the leagues have
declined the club's policy of celebrating individual improvement and
PB's makes more sense than point-gathering. Even so, for the record, LPS
were third(294) behind Cheshire Tigers(476) who, with respect, retain
their dominance because they are a composite club (the way forward for
others?) and Wigan(340).
Alex Stokes is now maturing into an impressive performer winner of the
100m(11.2) and 200m(22.4) but who would have thought of Wayne Ashall
taking the B events in excellent times of 11.4 and 22.7? Sam Hutchinson
is blossoming at last with a first in the 400m of 50.7 and with the ever
dependable partner of Tom Daniels, B string winner at 53.9. One hundred
per cent result to date and it didn't stop as Andrew Bowen's credentials in the
Steeplechase are now well known and he too had an easy passage at 2000m
in 6.33.3. Luke Parker was impressive likewise with a Javelin throw of
44.15 and the men, as usual, easily swamped other clubs in the relays...
4 x 100(46.0) and 4 x 400m(3.31.2).
The girls had fewer winners but, as usual the throwers were good value.
Becci Keegan (29.26) and Emily Carr(27.48) well clear in the A & B
Javelin event and Becci teamed up with Rachel Hutchinson to repeat the
story in the Shot(9.39 and 8.18 respectively). Grace Stuart rounded up
the winners with a 8.18 leap in the Triple Jump. As noted elsewhere the
girls are demonstrating a real fighting spirit and being rewarded
appropriately.
But perhaps the real story is the falling numbers. There really has to
be a re-think on this.
Report Charles Gains
We apologise for an
earlier report that indicated our David Forrester had run a 1.55.2
800m at Wigan. It was in fact the very talented international David
Forrester of Sutton St Helens. Our Dave was, of course, at South
Leeds collecting a bronze medal at 1500m as reported elsewhere.
Doran supremely confident
At the North of England U17 Championships at South Leeds Harry Doran ran
a superbly controlled 400m Final in 49.97 to take the title. His
confidence grows race by race. Later in the season he will face strong
opposition from a Midlander and several Southerners. Either in the
Schools or AAAE Champs they will all come head to head and a sub-49 will
be necessary to get among the medals. Harry is well capable of this.
Other podium placers were silver medallists Chris Hesketh(U17 1500m SC
in 4.30.0), new sprint sensation Adam Thompson(U15 200m in 23.96) and a
bronze duo of David Forrester(U17 1500m in 4.12.46) plus Mike Bride(U15
1500m in 4.30.97). But spare a thought for fourth placers Ed
Marsters(U17 1500m SC) and Danny Higham(U17 400m in 51.49). An excellent
day out for LPS.
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Doran Man of the Match 20 May
The second match of the Northern Premier Young Athletes at Wavertree
pitted Liverpool Pembroke Sefton against two big city clubs in the shape
of Liverpool Harriers and Leeds Athletic Club. While it was going to be
an impossible task matching the sheer volume of these clubs LPS
individuals often stretched them in quality. In particular Harry
Doran (Under 17) so impressed the judges with his victory in the 400m
with a time of 50.4 that he was made Man of the Match. It must have been
a tough choice as Adam Thomson (Under 15) was equally exciting with Grade
1 wins at 100m(11.8) and 200m(24.0). Other winning U17 results that
caught the eye were Chris Hesketh's runaway 1500m Steeplechase(4.42.3)
backed up by B runner Elliot Masters (4.57.9) who also managed an
unusual Long Jump winning leap of 5.50m. As ever Tony West was a Discus
winner with 34.27. Middle distance wins by Chris Hatton(800m in 2.13.3)
and Mike Bride's mature 1500m victory in 4.33.0 along with the Thomson
sprints highlighted the Under 15 group.
The women were equally diligent but with fewer individual successes.
Emma Bowen and Toria Swift (Under 17) collected useful placing across
the 400m to 3000m metre spectrum but top marks have to go to thrower
Emily Carr first in the Javelin with 29.92m but with placing elsewhere
in the Hammer and Discus. Emma Carter was equally prolific in the Under
15s with a predictable win in the Javelin(29.31) but with again useful
placing in the Shot and Discus. Faye Watkins also took the Long Jump
with 4.62m. No winners in the Under 13 but a growing feature of the club
is the manner in which lesser talented athletes work towards a club
success. On this occasion it manifested itself in the culminating relays
where two wins at 4 x 400m(Under 15 and Under 17 Men) plus other useful
results steered the club to third overall behind Liverpool and Leeds but
ahead of Blackburn.
Report Charles Gains
A frenetic weekend 7 May
Apologies to Seniors
Laura Abel, Kirsty Longley and Mark Leicester for
their omission from our county report due to the Merseyside result being
posted late. Laura took the 400m in a respectable 60.9 while Kirsty made
the breakthrough to her target of sub-11 minutes with 10.57.0. Mark won
the 200m in 23.6. The weekend's total of gold medals is now 19.
Great sub-11 run from Alex Stokes
In track and field athletics the 100m is sometimes referred to as the
`blue riband event'. To run under 11 seconds is to enter the area of
class performance. Two Liverpool Pembroke Sefton runners have been
around this figure for some time and the county championships were the
perfect occasion to try once more. Although only finishing third in the
Lancashire Championships at Blackpool in 11.2 Senior athlete Michael
Zaim had run a tantalising 11 seconds dead in his heat. Over at the
Merseyside Championships at Wavertree though Junior colleague, Alex
Stokes, made the breakthrough to win in 10.9 and to delight his coach
Graham Pilkington. These are still early days in the season and both
these athletes will be chasing even quicker figures.
The club enjoyed an avalanche of medals of all hues but in particular
the nine gold gained at Liverpool and the seven at Blackpool.
Merseyside`s other LPS winners at Under 15 were Edward Rimmer with an
800m time of 2.16 and Michael Bride at 1500m in an excellent 4.29.7.
Javelin exponents Emma Carter(24.46) and Drew Atherton 29.43 also
excelled. The 200m is not star Harry Doran`s best event but in the Under
17`s he took the 200m in 23.2 leaving Danny Higham to win the 400m in an
impressive 50.5. Chris Hesketh was the 1500m(4.41.1) steeplechase
champion. The only Senior win came with Paul Rudkin at 400m hurdles in
65.9.
There was another flurry of medals in the Lancashire championships.
There were two winners at Under 15 Chris Hatton(800m 2.9.7) and Jessica
Brodie(Discus 22.49m). In the Under 17 Tony West had a fantastic day
collecting two throwing events, the Discus in 34.89 and Hammer in 38.39.
In the same age group rising 2000m steeplechaser Andrew Bowen added
another title with a 6.20.6 posting. Ormskirk`s June Swift was literally
too swift for the opposition claiming the 800m elsewhere and second
claim member Charlotte Christian had a unusual first, second and third
in, respectively, Hammer(32.05m), Discus (22.33m) and Shot(8.38m).
These results naturally overshadowed numerous other quality performances
by athletes at all levels. But LPS club members will be particularly
delighted to see how well the throwing section is competing, a huge
tribute to coach Merrik Bousfield's whose tragic death before Christmas
shocked the club. He would have been delighted with this weekend's
results.
Report Charles Gains Please check out
Northern Athletics
website for results
Report Charles Gains
It was a frenetic early May weekend for LPS athletes and officials. At
Ellesmere Port the Seniors were in action for a Division 2W League
match. There were a number of outstanding performances. For example,
Wayne Ashall at last cracked the elusive 50 second barrier in winning
the 400m in 49.8 and joins the club elite sub-50 group. He also ran a
great final leg in the 4 x 400m relay for another winning result. Mike
Zaim(100m 2nd 11.1, 200m 4th 22.5) and B support team mate Alex
Stokes(100m 1st 11.2, 200m 1st 22.5) made their mark. Naturally they
were part of the winning 4 x 100m relay squad. Elsewhere Andrew Bowen
had a superb inaugural 3000m Steeplechase, 2nd in 9.48.6 and with Adam
Clansey in B support with 10.16.1. Adam might at last have found his
main track event. It's always hard to find more superlatives for Sammy
Rashid who regularly makes the journey by public transport from
Sheffield and then turns in a sound performance but here he went even
better in the 5000m showing great courage in taking second place in
15.46.9. Perhaps he will let us know if this is a PB? Dave Readle with
three firsts (Hammer 47.97, Discus 42.01 and Shot 14.42) was a major
point scorer, with Mark Line even more prolific buzzing around in
support(1st Discus 37.61, 1st Shot 11.12, 1st Pole Vault 3.40). Luke
Parker looked good taking the B Javelin with 43.79.
Among the Women Kirsty Longley continued her battle to duck under 11
minutes for 3000m with a 11.04.6 in fourth place. Steph Swift was
picking up useful points at 200m(5th 29.9 and 400m 3rd 69.1) as was
Rachel Hutchinson(2nd 100m Hurdles, 5th Discus 19.50, 5th Shot 8.18).
For various reasons many events were not covered and so it was no
surprise the club ended up 4th behind Bolton, West Cheshire and Sutton
St Helens).
Report Charles Gains
The Young Athletes were at Bebington for their match against tough
opponents Sale, Macclesfield and Wirral but again there were many
outstanding individual performances. For the first time the girls
outscored the boys. The most eye catching were U17s Emma Bowen(1st 300m
44.2 and 2nd 800m 2.23.5) and a very mature 2nd place for Toria Swift in
the 3000m in 11.17.4) also first placings for Rachel Hutchinson (Shot
8.23), Emily Carr (Javelin 26.85), Faye Atkins (Long Jump), Abby McComb
(B Shot 7.43), Stephanie Hawkins (B High Jump 1.45). At Under 15 Sarah
Moore ran 13.64 for a 75m Hurdles win and at Under 13 Eleanor Mitchell
was also a good first at 1200m(4.04.5). But what characterised the girls
was the excellent turn out and team spirit.
For the Boys there was Grade 2 wins from Under 17 Harry Doran(1st 200m
in 22.9), Danny Higham(400m 2nd 51.9) David Forrester(1500m 1st 4.14.1)
and Grade 3`s from Nathan Hilton(100m 3rd 11.6), Chris Hesketh
(Steeplechase 1st 4.43.8) and from throws expert Tony West (Discus 1st
34.11). But the real star performances were at Under 15 where there were
Grade 1 efforts from Adam Thompson(2nd 200m in 23.9 plus a 100m win in
11.9) and Mike Bride(1st 1500m 4.27.2). Newcomer Mike Jones also threw a
26.51 Discus to win in his first competition! There were no outstanding
results at Under 13 but in particular Joel Hutchinson, Dave McComb and
Adam Dible were prominent point gatherers. There were predictable relay
wins at Under 17( 4 x 100m 45.7 and 4 x 400m 3.37.6). Overall the club
was joint 3rd as we go to press.
At the BUSA Championships in Bedford Mark Grimshaw got as far as the
semi-finals with a useful 49.2 at 400m but the most delighted was June
Swift with her heat time of 2.10.9 for 800m. She has set her heart on a
club re cord
this season and who can say she won`t do it!
Tucked away in Waterloo there was a 5000m road race and LPS had two
first placings Adam Clansey(17.10) and the ubiquitous Kirsty
Longley(20.05). Steve Donegan was second in the men's race(18.30) but
was that really Mike Dandy 16th(and 1st O45) in 22.32? Please confirm
someone!
Reports say that our international star Michael Rimmer ran a 3.45 1500m
at Stretford during
the week, very close to breaking the club best by Dave Dudley (caped
Crusader see photo) and Nathan Vengdasalam.
The photo of Dave (Batman) Dudley was taken at in the late 1990s
after he had won the Blackpool 10k in 33 minutes dressed as Batman in
hot weather and beating a large field over a thousand runners if my
memory is correct. Dave currently holds the club 1500m record with
3:44:1 set on 24 June 1986
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