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England Gold for Alistair Nelson
28 March
 For
someone who only took up running only 9 months ago 13 year Alistair
Nelson has enjoyed a roller coaster ride to the top of his sport. The
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton cross country runner has shown remarkable
talent and composure. By finishing fourth in the English Schools
Championships he qualified to represent England in the Aviva Siab
International Cross Country Race in the beautiful surroundings of the
Vaynol Country Estate near Bangor, North Wales. Up against the best from
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland he made his usual cautious start
but worked his way through the field climaxing with a storming sprint
finish to close in sixth and third counter for the victorious England
team. The Burscough Priory Science College pupil has astonished even his
coach, John McCarten, with his progress and maturity. He is yet another
outstanding product of the club's Edge Hill University training squads.
Club sprinter Harry Doran who has also medalled while collecting an
English Indoor vest this year has received a call up for the North of
England team in their annual international match in Malta later in the
month. The 400m runner is a student at Southport`s KGV College who
recognise and support this talented athlete. He hopes to continue his
studies next year at Edge Hill University |
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Report Charles Gains
Photos Steve Nelson
Another international call up
 Liverpool
Pembroke Sefton got 2009 off to a great start with sprinters Phil Taylor
collecting a silver relay medal indoors for Great Britain in the
European Championships in Turin and Harry Doran also medalling for
England Under 20`s in an indoor home countries match in Cardiff. Now
they are unexpectedly joined by one of the club's youngest members.
Running in the high profile English Schools Cross Country Championships
in Leicestershire Alistair Nelson looked off the pace for the first of
two laps of the Junior race but produced a storming run on the second
circuit to finish fourth and guarantee himself a place in the English
Schools team in the forthcoming home countries match in Bangor, North
Wales. Although the 13 year old just missed out on an individual prize
the Burscough Priory School pupil led Lancashire to the bronze team
medals. He has had an astonishing first season in the sport.
Also at the championships and running for Merseyside Jai Vernon-McGuigan
was 104th in the Intermediate race. At Senior level David Forrester(66)
and Harry Boyd(71) led their county home to 13th spot. Toby Loveridge
and Michael Bride failed to finish. Paul Roberts was 271st for
Lancashire. The club had two representatives in the Senior Girl's race,
Rhea Ellis first home for Merseyside in 38th and a courageous Toria
Swift(189) who was part of a respectable 8th placed Lancashire squad.
Report Charles Gains
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Tough end of season course at Blackburn 14
March
With the English Schools Championships only a week away a number of
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton athletes rested. However, a small contingent
made their way to Blackburn's Witton Park for the final Mid-Lancashire
Cross Country League match, where the organisers had supplemented the
notorious challenging `saucer' climb with an equally sharp hill designed
to stretch the older competitors. The club's Under 17 men were not
present having already secured their respective title so the focus
switched to the Under 15`s who were also medal prospects. Sean
Kirkbride(9), Adam Goldfarb(13), David Reece(17) and Kyle Nicholls(24)
ran very solidly and secured third team behind close rivals Blackburn
and Lancaster and Morecambe, although overall silver medals now look
possible. George Curran was 28th. The Under 17 Women saw excellent runs
from Emma Binns(3), Toria Swift(5) and Nicole Garner(7) to take their
race on the day but not enough previous results in the bag to claim any
overall prizes. There were additionally incomplete teams at the U13
level, Georgina Hannaway(32), Alicia Burke(35) and Molly Morgan((37) for
the girls and James Grundy(9), Albert Curran(24) and Jonathan Bride(33)
for the boys. Elliot Harman(42) was a solo runner at Under 11 as was the
diminutive Charlotte Mawdsley(30) who impressed on her first outing for
the club. In the high profile Trafford 10K Road Race senior Kirsty
Longley was not among the prizes on this occasion but ran a personal
best time of 38.20.
Results
At the Trafford 10k on 15 March Kirsty was
122nd in the race. Adam Clansey was 80th in 35.51
Report Charles Gains
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Phil silvers 8 March
 The European Indoor Championships at Turin provided somewhat meagre
pickings for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland squad but Liverpool
Pembroke and Sefton 400m star, Phil Taylor, rose to the occasion again
as a member of the 4 x 400m squad. Two years ago he collected a gold
medal and the selectors obviously appreciated his experience giving him
the crucial final leg against the opposition big guns. Led off by an
inspired Richard Buck and courageous runs from Nick Leavey and Nigel
Levine the GB squad had a narrow lead over the fancied
Russian team at the final takeover. The Russian duly struck overtaking
Taylor who kept his cool, recovering on the final bend. As the Russian
faded Poland took up the challenge but neither was prepared for the
amazing finish of the Italian team that swept to victory. As ever Phil Taylor's
power and professionalism came to the fore, he concentrated on the final
dip and although the timekeepers could not separate them GB was declared
silver medallists over the Poles who also recorded
3.07.04. The supporters club of Phil's family, coaches Ray Twentyman and
Trisha Farrell plus Dave and Karen Brown were overjoyed. The eagle eyed
will have spotted the club's banner on the back straight!
Results
Report Charles Gains
Photo John Taylor
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A disappointing time at Nottingham 7 March
Seven club members were representing their respective counties at the
Inter-counties Cross Country Championships at Nottingham. Possibly the
two most pleased were Alistair Nelson(51st in the U15s) and second for a
Lancashire team that finished 14th and Rhea Ellis at U20 who was 32nd
and first of the Merseyside contingent in 17th team spot. Harry Boyd was
93rd and second home for Merseyside at U20 but the team was a lowly
24th. Kirsty Longley was way off her best in the Senior Women(156 and
4th counter for the 24th placed Merseyside). The club's Merseyside U17
duo of Toby Loveridge(67) and David Forrester(98) led their county to
22nd with Jai Vernon-McGuigan 133. It was one of those days when nobody
really hit top form. These things happen!
Results
Report Charles Gains |
Great result for Sammy in Malta 1 March
 Sammy
Rashid ran a half marathon in Malta in a great time of 1.14.53, his
second best time ever. He was 8th in the race but collected the first
O40 Vet prize. Another `international' result! |
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