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Class performance from Rhea 23
January
For the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton contingent attending the Northern
Cross Country Championships at Blackburn's Witton Park there
 was
no argument about the day's best performance. Still on a high from
gaining her first representative vest Rhea Ellis took on the elite of
the region's Under 20 Women and was consistently in the leading bunch.
She tackled the infamous terrain with huge confidence and determination
and in a pulsating finish closed rapidly on the fading third medallist
failing only by a handful of seconds for the bronze. Rhea will be
content with fourth on this occasion. But the best in the North now know
that the top Merseyside 18 year old is one to fear. In the same race
Ormskirk's Toria Swift finished 28th and is brimming with new found
optimism.
As usual in contention for the club's best performance was Kirsty
Longley in the Senior Women's race who chopped a massive 24 places off
her 2009 performance in 27th spot. There was additionally here a welcome
return to racing for June Swift in 175th position. Also commanding
attention these days is the dedicated Under 17 Jai Vernon McGuigan.
After club star Toby Loveridge dropped out with a foot injury Jai led
the LPS charge home in 24th with Mike Bride(49), Ed Rimmer(50) and Sean
Kirkbride(69) closing in for 7th team. Michael Wilson was 93rd.
The U15`s were also without their front man, Alistair Nelson, but turned
out in force. James Grundy(38), Warren Turner(72), Kyle Nicolls(80) and
George Curran(133) made up a counting team that finished 12th. The
enthusiasm of this age group was demonstrated as David Reece(140),
Robert Parkinson(164), Albert Curran(192) and Darren McDonald(195) also
enjoyed good runs. There was a scattering of enthusiastic Under 13s
present, Nathan Browne(126) and Ben Haines(168) and Charlotte
Haines(158), Georgie Hannaway(174) and Beth Deary(207) in their
respective events. The climax of a long programme saw two Senior Men run
well in the mammoth field. The fast improving Mark Salter was 238th
while Coventry based Clark Roberts made the trip to finish 346th.
Results
Report Charles Gains
Photo Steve Nelson
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Rhea collects a representative vest
17
January
The UK Cross Country Challenge races attract the best in the country and
Cardiff was no exception. Running for the North in her first Under 20
representative match Rhea Ellis finished a great 8th barely a minute off
the winning time. No team results yet but it looks like she may well
have collected a silver medal as third counter in the Northern team. Her
confidence will be boosted for the coming weekend's Northern
Championships at Blackburn.
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First Northern medal of the season
17
January
T he ice having receded it was back to business for the Liverpool
Pembroke Sefton club. In preparation for the following week's Northern
Champs the harrier section were at Blackpool for a Mid-Lancs League
fixture. Two individual and two team victories characterised the day. At
Under 15
Alistair Nelson continued his winning ways towing Kyle Nicholls(11),
James Grundy(12) and Warren Turner(13) to an easy team win. To cap a
good performance and emphasise depth in strength George Curran(19), Dave
Reece(29), Robert Parkinson(31) and Darren McDonald(32) closed in fourth
team. The Under 17s provided an almost identical result, Toby Loveridge
striding home first and with Jai Vernon-McGuigan(5) and Mike Bride(10)
ensuring another team win. Sean Kirkbride(14), Michael Wilson(16) and Ed
Rimmer(18) were 5th team.
There were two outstanding runner-up positions at either end of the age
spectrum. Jack Crook continued to
edge his way up the Under 11 age group
and was barely two seconds adrift of the top spot. He is definitely a
talent to watch out for. Meanwhile Kirsty Longley in the Senior Women
wrapped up second place in style and is obviously relishing the prospect
of the Northern and National races to come. In the same field of over 80 Toria Swift will be mightily satisfied
with her 19th position and fifth Junior. Elsewhere Charlotte Haines was
43rd in U13 race and Nathan Browne 17th and Jonathon Bride 28th in the
Boys equivalent.
Mid
Lancs Results
While several of the above were contemplating the first Northern medals
of the year they were beaten to it at Sheffield where the Northern
Indoor titles were being contested. Adam Thomson cruised through his U20
heat of the 400m in 52.33 before turning it on in the final to collect
the bronze with 51.40. Harry Doran was a shade less lucky in the Senior
400m, a heat time of 50.25 translating only to fourth in the final with
50.16. Just fractionally ahead was training partner Luke Edwards of the
Sheffield club currently at Edge Hill University with Harry. He will get
the bragging rights this week at least, as they resume training in
Ormskirk.
Lurking about in the Senior Men races was former international Phil
Taylor gingerly feeling his way back into action with a 60m of 7.37 and
a 22.41 200m. Tucked away in the U20 Triple Jump results was a fine
opening season leap of 12.86m from rising star Dean Matthews whose
target this coming year should be 14m. Other reasonable LPS performances
came from Andrew Williams U17 400m with 53.40 and a U20 60m in 7.67 plus
a 200m in 24.05 from Stuart Dolman.Northern Indoor Results
Top Photo The Under 15 Boys on parade prior to the start
Lower photo Jack Crook
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| The Start |
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All smiles afterwards |
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| Mike Bride |
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Toby Loveridge |
Report Charles Gains,
Photos John Crook & Robert Dignam
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Alistair conquers the snow 9th
January
Lancashire was one of the very few counties that managed to stage their
cross country championships  because
of the severe weather conditions. Witton Park, Blackburn is a difficult
enough course at the best of times but the snow made it even more
hazardous. Burscough's Alistair Nelson was not deterred in the least by
this and was always in control of the Under 15 race running side by side
with Blackpool's Ben Everson before kicking away over the last 800m to
win comfortably by ten seconds. The Liverpool Pembroke Sefton contingent
will remember that this was the same victory 12 months ago that started
a run of success that culminated in a school international vest and the
title of West Lancashire Junior Sports Personality of the Year.
The Ormskirk St Annes School pupil Jack Crook is beginning to adjust to
top class running. Always anxious before the start of a race the nerves
miraculously evaporate at the sound of the gun. The Under 11 took off
with a tough Blackpool trio managing eventually to split them in third
spot gaining a coveted medal and reflect he was only a few seconds away
from the ultimate triumph. Elsewhere the depleted LPS squad saw Toria
Swift finish 7th in the Junior Women's race after a 12 month lay off and
possibly secure a Lancashire vest for the forthcoming inter-counties
championships. The U17 Men had Sean Kirkbride(14) and Peter Gaskell(20)
and a lone Senior Tom Hanlon(59).
Results
Above Ben Everson and Alistair battle it out
Right Jack Crook striding out to collect the bronze medal
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 Sean
Kirkbride |
 Toria
Swift |
| Report Charles Gains
Photos Stephen Nelson |
Although the Merseyside Cross Country
champs had been cancelled the weather is no obstacle to the
indefatigable Kirsty Longley here seen working out on the Beacon at
Skelmersdale in preparation for the Northern Championships.
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