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Taylor just misses out 31 January
The Liverpool Pembroke Sefton senior sprint star, Phil
Taylor, switched back to his favourite event, the 400m,
for the Birmingham Games at the National Indoor Arena.
After a good heat time of 48.89 Phil had swift
semi-final qualifier of 47.79 which raised expectation
for the final but a poor second lane draw was not
helpful and although turning on the usual power finish
Phil had to settle for fourth in 47.84. He next goes to
the Irish Championships where he runs the 200m and then
heads for the crucial European Trials at Sheffield in
the middle of the month
Report Charles Gains
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More Northern gold for LPS 25
January
Following gold medals for Harry Doran and Phil Taylor
the previous week in the Northern Under 20 and Senior
Indoor Championships at Sheffield, Adam Thomson was back
at the same venue for the Under 17 meet. Toying with the
opposition in the heats of the 400m in 52.17 he took
complete control of the final to soar away to a very
impressive win in 50.61. The production line of quality
one lappers coached by Ray Twentyman and Trisha Farrell
at Edge Hill University continues its relentless
journey. Also at Sheffield Adam`s Liverpool Pembroke
Sefton colleague, Stuart Dolman, made two semi-final
appearances, the 60m in 7.86 after a heat time of 7.62
and the 200m in 24.18, again after a slightly quicker
heat of 24.08
Results on Northern Athletics
Report Charles Gains
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Medals and a fall at the Northern
Championships 24 January
The Northern Cross Country Championships, a superbly
organised event, returned to the rolling slopes and
thick mud of St Helens` Sherdley Park. The best
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton team result of the day came
from the club's impressive Under 17`s who packed solidly
to take the bronze medals in a tight encounter with the
Lincoln and Sale clubs. Led by David Forrester(15) and
Toby Loveridge(18), neither yet at their best, they had
Jai Vernon-McGuigan(32) and a battling Mike Bride(34) to
close in and with Chris Hesketh(76), Paul Roberts(99)
and Sean Dignam(146) in reserve. There was a truly
astonishing individual performance from Under 15
Alistair Nelson who fell badly at the start but gathered
himself and chased the 150 plus field to emerge in 20th
place at the end of the first lap. Even more was to come
as he charged past another 16 to finish fourth, just shy
of a prestigious medal. There were will be a lot more to
come from this talented youngster. Club mates Sean
Kirkbride(51), Adam Goldfarb(87) and David Reece(100)
completed the team in 8th place with Warren Turner(113)
and Kyle Nicholls(116). It was Rhea Ellis`s first year
in the Under 20 age group but she was clearly not fazed
by the challenge coming home a highly commendable 12th.
Her star continues to rise. Other female performances
came from U13s Georgie Hathaway(139) and Beth
Deary(159), the U 17 pairing of Emma Binns(58) and
Nicole Garner(71) and a similar brace of Seniors, Kirsty
Longley(50) and Lisa Gawthorne(126). The club`s U13 Boys
were 14th, Jake Sache(52), James Grundy(63), Jonathan
Bride(147) and Albert Curran(158) plus Ben Haines(184).
There was a trio of Under 20 Men on display, Joe
McKenna(54), Harry Boyd(63) and Tom Hanlon(65) and a
comparable number of Seniors Sammy Rashid(100), Clark
Roberts(245) and Keith Lester(492).
Results on Northern Athletics
 Left
to Right, Jai Vernon-McGuigan. David Forrester, Toby
Loveridge, Mike Bride
Report Charles Gains
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Double
gold in Northern Indoors
 The Liverpool Pembroke Sefton sprint duo of Harry
Doran and Phil Taylor got their 2009 campaign off to
a truly magnificent start at the Northern Indoor
Championships in Sheffield. Harry was first with a
tremendous 48.32 posting to take the gold medal and
title in the Under 20 400m. This was a personal
best, indoors or out, but he capped his weekend with
a fourth placed 200m in 22.67 to obliterate that PB
as well. Meanwhile Phil Taylor was announcing his
comeback in the Senior 200m edging his way through
the heats with 22.8 and then a 21.64 semi-final. He
really blitzed the field in the final with 21.60 not
only a PB but a new club record. Both athletes
struggled in 2008 with injuries but are now back on
course for possible international honours this year.
A real lift for the club especially with
international Wayne Ashall also preparing well and a
host of younger stars in the making. Further comment
from the Northern Indoors... ....Harry Doran`s great
48.32 was a U20 Championship Best performance. His
heat time was 50.28....also in the Final was Danny
Higham(5th) in 50.84. His heat time was the same as
Harry`s 50.28....Callum Burns did 53.50 in his
heat....Phil Taylor warmed up for his tremendous
200m race with a 7.26 60m.
Results
LPS secure
Under 17 league title
At Leyland in the
fourth of the Mid-Lancs Cross Country League
matches Liverpool Pembroke Sefton secured the
Under 17 league title with yet another easy win.
Although Dave Forrester fell badly he struggled
home second and with a jubilant Jai Vernon-McGuigan
fifth, Chris Hesketh(7) and Mike Bride(8) the
trophy was secured and ready for another
journey back to the Edge Hill site even before
the final matches have taken place. Sean
Dignam(19) was, as usual, a dependable back up.
The revelation of
the season is Alistair Nelson who followed up
his Under 15 Lancashire county win to again
coast home first and raise expectations for the
Northern event this coming weekend. Sean
Kirkbride(7), Adam Goldfarb(13) and David
Reece(15) collectively finished second team and
ensured that the club would also be among the
league medals when the season has run its
course. There is depth in strength in this group
as amply demonstrated by Kyle Nicholls(20),
Joseph Hanlon(24), Warren Turner(25) and Darren
McDonald(29).
All clubs look for a
continuous stream of athletes gathering in the
lower age groups and LPS is collecting a solid
Under 13 squad. James Grundy(7), Jake Sache(12),
Harry Collins(21) and Nathan Browne(25) packed
sufficiently well to record second team on this
occasion with the additions of Albert Curran(28)
and Jonathan Bride(34). A couple even appeared
in the Under 11`s, Jake Egglesden(11) and Elliot
Harram(22). At the other end of the scale over
40 Greg Callaghan finished 67th in the Senior
race with Tom Hanlon 82nd but fourth Junior
home. Results
Report Charles Gains
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Breakthrough for Alister Nelson 10 January
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton had divided interests yet again with the
Lancashire Cross Country Championships held at Blackburn and the
Merseyside equivalent at Arrowe Park. At Witton Park Alistair Nelson,
who only took up running last summer, made a stunning breakthrough in
the Under 15 event. Tracking two good Blackburn runners he turned on the
heat in the last 300 yards to record a famous victory. Better still, he
led Sean Kirkbride(6), Adam Goldfarb(14) and David Reece(15) to the team
result over arch rivals Lancaster and Morecambe. Kyle Nicholls(25), Joe
Hanlon(30) and Darren McDonald(34) were the supporting act. There was a
scattering of other Lancashire competitors, U17 Women 9th Nicole Garner,
U13 Boys 12th Nathan Brown, U20 Men 8th Tom Hanlon and second claim
member Peter Hoyle 13th in the Senior Men's race.
Lancashire Results
At Birkenhead the Under 17 Men stole the headlines, David Forrester and
Toby Loveridge dominated the individual title race with the former just
getting away at the end. With Chris Hesketh 9th and Jai Vernon-McGuigan
11th the team scraped home ahead of Wirral and a delighted Jai collared
the trophy to be the first to place it on the mantelshelf at home. Mike
Bride(18) and Sean Dignam(19) were out of the counting squad on this
occasion. The Under 13`s were unable to sustain a team, James
Grundy(10), Albert Curran(21) and Jonathan Bride(40) and George
Curran(13) was on his own in the U15 event. The Senior men was a parade
of the old guys, Bernie Murphy(7), Graham Cairns(22), Greg
Callaghan(29), Keith Lester(65), Mark Bleasdale(74), and Robbie
Wood(76). Sixth team was no indication of the club's potential strength
but Bernie and Graham did at least have the satisfaction of going home
with the gold for first over 40 and over 50 respectively.
Jai Vernon McGuigan, Toby Loveridge, Dave Forrester Chris Hesketh
There were only two Under 13 Girls present Georgie Hannaway(24) and Beth
Deary(32) but Rhea Ellis, although finishing second in her race, took
the Merseyside Junior title easily. She has rediscovered her confidence
and is a rising star once more. The only other LPS woman, Kirsty
Longley, ran comfortably and within herself to collect the Senior bronze
medal.
Merseyside Results
Greg Callaghan, Graham
 Cairns,
Bernie Murphy, Keith Lester
Report Charles Gains |
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