Great runs from Murphy and Bowen 29 September Liverpool
Pembroke Sefton came away from the Northern Senior Road Relay
Championships at
Warrington with two great memories. The first was the return of Bernie
Murphy in LPS colours on Stage 1 demonstrating he has not lost his
natural speed with a time of 27.46 in finishing 25th for the 5 mile
loop. Bernie is an inspirational figure and the team was indeed lifted
by his reappearance none more so than Andy Bowen, the clubs nationally
ranked Steeplechaser, who stormed past no fewer than 18 runners on Leg 3
running only 11 seconds slower than Bernie. Veteran stalwarts Graham
Cairns Leg 2 (29.47) and Greg Callaghan Leg 5 (29.44) produced their
usual sound performances together with Rob McLaughlin getting his first
taste of senior completion with a Leg 4 timing of 30.30. Adam Clansey
mopped up on the final circuit with 28.20 and the club were home in 28th
spot out of 71 finishers. Not that impressive at first glance but this
is the best in the North and there were many big names behind LPS.
Importantly this felt like the turning point in the fortunes of the
club's endurance men. Similarly, the Senior Women were hoping to
complete a team for the first time in over a decade but remained
tantalisingly one runner short. Kirsty Longley(22.12) and June
Swift(22.32) were very sound on their respective stages and it was also
a joy to have newcomer Katie Highfield compete in 25.44. The club's
women are just a small way from getting some useful results and this is
sure to happen sometime this winter.Katie's Dad Steve ran for both Sefton and Pembroke and was a member of the Pembroke team that won the Lancashire 8 stage relay in the 1980s Results Men Results Women Report Charles Gains, Results |
Mike Bride second fastest at Sefton Park 15
September  Liverpool
Pemboke Sefton's Mike Bride posted the second fastest leg in the Under
15 3 x 3.5K lap in the North West Counties Combined Road Relay
Championships in Liverpool's Sefton Park. Ed Rimmer had run a useful
11.37 on Stage 1 finishing 6th and was followed by John Meakin (11.58)
who took the club to 4th. The stage was set for Mike Bride and he
stormed after the leaders overtaking two failing to catch the final
Warrington runner but running a sharp 11.13. Still it gave the gold
medals to LPS as the first Merseyside club. In the same age group Joe
Hanlon(12.39), Adam Goldfarb(13.09) and Sean Kirkbride (12.31) combined
to bring the club into 15th spot and 5th Lancashire club. Last season
the Under 15 squad had some remarkable national success and this season
a fresh group look equally promising. At Under 13 the Merseyside trio of George Curren(9.53), Warren Turner (9.55) and Andrew Hutchinson (10.46) were 8th overall but got among the medals as third in the Merseyside Championships. Kyle Nicholls(10.50), Adam Turnbull (11.06) and Darren McDonald((.58) were 15th but just missed out on Lancashire medals in fourth spot. Results A Throws Bonanza At the Liverpool Throws Meet at Wavertree 4 LPS athletes produced scintillating performances. At Under 20 new member Charlotte Christian threw the Hammer 34.36m, not only a personal best but an Isle of Man record. Under 17 Tony West had a 41.47m Hammer but also 2 PB`s in the Javelin(40.76) and Discus(35.25). Not to be left out of the action Jessica Broady also PB'd with a 22.22 Hammer. Our Throws group grows in stature. Report Charles Gains, Photo John McCarten |