| National Junior League
at Wigan 25 April Clubs with smaller numbers are often cruelly exposed in the Junior(Under 20) League and so it turned out for LPS in the opening encounter of the Mersey Division match at Wigan. Finishing seventh out of eight teams is discouraging but within that constraint there are always good individual performances to laud. So it was with a clutch of wins among the men. Adam Thomson in the 400m was well pleased with his 50.8 as was Toby Loveridge taking the A 1500m in 4.10.9 and likewise team mate Jai Vernon-McGuigan in the winning B string support chopping a chunk off his personal best with 4.13.1. Sean Kirkbride won the B 800m easily in a sharp 2.05.3. Dean Matthews was also a clear victor in the Triple Jump leaping to a very satisfactory 13.26m and opening up the prospect of 14m in the near future. Billy Williams delivered a second in the High Jump with 1.70m and two U17 throwers, Danny Holloran and Tom Johnson were prominent with Johnson`s Hammer throw of 36.19m for third spot probably the pick of the casts. The girls had even smaller numbers to deploy but among these another U17, Ruth Doran, looked promising with a Hammer Throw of 28.24m and possibly an even better Shot Putt of 8.76m to finish runner-up in that event. Normally the club storm the relays at the end of an afternoon but only the men could field weakened teams, although to be fair the ad hoc pairing in the 4 x 400m of Mike Bride, Stuart Dolman, Toby Loveridge and Adam Thomson did raise spirits in the final event finishing second with an entirely respectable time of 3.37.5. Most other clubs also have trouble in filling slots and it would take very little on this evidence for LPS to advance its position. The next match should be interesting. |
| Michael Rimmer starts 800m campaign 25 April Michael Rimmer was in Dakar, Senegal for the IAAF World Challenge Meeting. His 800m contained the talented South African, Mbulaeni Mlaudzi, and he gave him a fierce battle, losing out but recording 1.46.29. This represents his best ever opening season debut and demonstrated the fine form he is in. He maintains, nevertheless, that he should have got Mlaudzi and will be looking out for him next time! John Bradshaw believes this could be Michael's best year ever given a long overdue quota of luck. |
Albert Searle 18 April It
is with great sadness that we learn of the death of the club's oldest
member Bert Searle on 18 April2010. Bert who was 98 in January joined
Sefton Harriers in the 1930s and was instrumental along with Stan
Lubbock in starting the club up again after the second world war. He was
club captain in 1950s and was still active until the early 1970s when he
moved to North Wales. Although no longer living in the area he was
always keen to keep up with club news and would make donations to the
club. I had the pleasure along with Norman Wilson to spend an afternoon
with Bert last November when the three of us went out to lunch and
talked over old times. His Funeral will be in Colwny Bay Crematorium on Tuesday 27 April at 1pm Bert Searle on the right of Norman Wilson November 2009 |
Rimmer sets new club record 18 April Michael Rimmer has erased Dave Dudley's long-standing 1500m record
by a good 3 seconds over the weekend. Running at the first Trafford
open meeting of the season on Sunday 18 April he ran 3:41:1 to win
his heat. It will not have escaped the track stats fans that this is
not only a club record but the equivalent of a s ub-4
minute mile. Clearly Michael.s plans are locked into the 800m this year
but his potential over 1500m is a mouth watering prospect. We wish him
well in the forthcoming European Championships in Barcelona in
July/August and maybe the Commonwealth Games in Delhi as well'. Michael sent the following text to John Bradshaw "Not long back from training(presumably abroad). Very happy with the result. Perfect conditions. Confirmed my shape well. Shame I won't be having another crack at 1500m this year. Supposed to be racing in Senegal this weekend but looking unlikely with the ash problem. Will keep you posted'. Dave Dudley the previous holder of the 1500m record sent the following email on hearing of his record being broken "It's about time time!! I have been watching the progress of Michael and have been waiting for this notification that I no longer hold the club 1500m record holder for quite a while. I suspect there is quite a bit more to come off the record as I think Michael is capable of running sub 3.35. No pressure Michael. As with a few other club members I do feel that Michael should consider a move up to the 1500m sooner rather than later, as that is where I foresee some success for him at the majors. One word of warning Michael, you better make that 1500m record a good one, as my little boy Laurence is beginning to show signs of being a bit of an athlete. Good luck for 2010 and beyond and if there is one tip that I can pass on to you, don't fall asleep on the third lap. I owe that one to John Bradshaw." An excellent to start to 2010 lets hope Michael can carry through this early form into the major championships later this season. |
| Track and Field round up 18 April Among the interesting early season performances at the two Liverpool Harriers meetings several other athletes, besides Amelia McLaughlin, displayed their season's intentions. Nathan Hilton ran a swift 200m in 22.8 and 400m in 50.7. Danny Higham was in close contention in the latter recording 51.1. Junior Stuart Dolman will also be happy with a 200m outing of 23.1 and 100m in 12.0. Andrew Williams(U17), was impressive with a 53.2 one lap to add to a 23.7 200m clocking. Paul Milburn in the 400m Hurdles was more sanguine about his 60.4 timing but there is more in the tank than that. Hannah Roberts, 100m in 13.8 and 200m in 29.1, also went home happy. The old stagers Mark Line and Dave Brown warmed up in the Throws meeting with useful performances but it was probably Charlotte Christian who was most content with a 36.12m Hammer throw, a 40m plus PB cast must surely be on the cards this season. Rachel Hutchinson with 33.81 and will be delighted with her throw as well. Tucked away in the results though was probably the best LPS performance of the meeting. Under 15 Amy Aitcheson threw a 26.00m Javelin to leap to 4th in the rankings in the North West and 14th in the UK. A remarkable result. Road race round up LPS runners were in various places over the weekend. The Ormskirk Belle Vue House 10K started and finished at Edge Hill University and Ian Roberts was prominent from the start. However, he was narrowly beaten on the run in to finish second in a time of 35.59. Kevin Carroll was 29th and second O55 in 42.16 while there was a welcome return to running for Lisa Gawthorne in 43rd spot with 43.57. She was fourth lady home. At Croxteth Park the 10K Women's race was won by Kirsty Longley with Greg Callaghan 2nd in his race and first Vet home. Chris Pedder was 7th and first O50. Keith Lester also finished well. 2. Greg Callaghan V45 34.57 7. Chris Pedder V50 38.17 8. Kirsty Longley 38.24 (1st Lady) 28 Keith Lester 42.50 54 John Bebbington V60 46.23 Paul Walsh does not appear in the results Over at Coventry Clark Roberts completed a 5K Park Run in a personal best time of 17.32. To complete the day Jeff Mason went to Warrington for the Whiteley 10K finishing 40th in a time of 38.40. |
| Rivington Pike 3 April The mini-revival in LPS endurance running fortunes continued as a trio tackled the traditional Bank Holiday fell run at Rivington Pike. Greg Callaghan who is running superbly at the moment was 23rd and 3rd in the O45 category. Chris Pedder was not far adrift in 33rd with the ever-dependable Keith Lester on 136. As a team LPS were an encouraging overall 8th and in the accompanying Merseyside County Championships second behind Wirral AC. Results Bumper day at Southport 2 April There was a good turn out of Liverpool Pembroke Sefton runners at Southport's attractive Good Friday races. Not unexpectedly the club's star turn was Kirsty Longley in the Women's 4 mile event. Kirsty has made remarkable progress in the last few years and girls that used to beat her comfortably are now left trailing in her wake as she steamed to an untroubled victory. Seven men were in the equivalent 4 miler with a remarkable Jai Vernon-McGuigan 10th and first Under 17. Jai collected the scalps of useful LPS runners including Greg Callaghan(15) who collected the O45 prize, Ian Roberts(16) and Mike Bride(21) who was third Junior Man home. The amazing super-vet Jeff Mason was next in 38th, taking the O55 prize. Ed Rimmer was 40th and Keith Lester 69th. There was another bright spot as Under 15 James Grundy won the Male Fun Run with Toria Swift unofficially 3rd Junior Woman. Results Report Charles Gains |