| Barcelona booked 27 June After a magnificent second place in the European Team Championship Michael Rimmer was at Birmingham for the 800m for the Aviva UK Championships and European Trials. Michael commands such respect domestically that the field virtually pushed him to the front after 100m and thereafter gazed at his back. A 400m in 54.77 was modest for Britain's Number 1 two lapper and he was untroubled to the tape in 1.47.22. This constituted an historic fifth consecutive national title at only 24 years of age. With the European qualifying time already under his belt this was something of a formality and confirmation that his trip to Barcelona was booked. Michael now has two Diamond league runs in Lausanne and Paris before the championships. In his own words he has never felt more confident or better prepared. Report Charles Gains |
| LPS dominate at Wavertree 20 June While the club`s international 800m star, Michael Rimmer, was finishing second for Great Britain in the televised European Team Championships in Norway, the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton Young Athletes were enjoying themselves at Wavertree in the Division 1 (SW) League. This is precisely the sort of competition that Rimmer cut his teeth on over 10 years ago and is the opportunity for ambitious track and field athletes to plot similar careers. On this occasion LPS ran up a points total of 646 and devastated their opponents Wigan(429) and Altrincham(182) with over 40 victories. In such circumstances it might be hard to single out the most outstanding performance but it proved no problem as Under 13 Tom Woodland stole the show with a 5.00m Long Jump. This propels the Ormskirk School pupil to 5th in the National rankings and is attracting attention. On balance it was the field eventers who caught the eye and club High Jump coach Dave McComb`s smile grows broader by the week as his charges took no fewer than 5 of the available 6 events. Outstanding, once again, was U15 Amelia McLaughlin, who edged further skywards with a 1.58m leap that also carries her up the national tables and into the top 20. The progress, too, of the the Pole Vault squad was underlined with wins by Danny Nutbrown(U17 2.70m), Kate Doran(U17 2.60m) and Emily Canning(U15 2.00m) Notable debutants Michael Packwood(U13) took the 1500m in 5.07.4 and Caitlin Allt the Shot Putt with 7.72m. Another high graded performance came from Tawanda Longu with a sparkling 100m in 13 seconds dead. To underline the afternoon`s supremacy the club won seven of the nine relay races on offer. All this lines up the most intriguing prospect of the season for the final match, again at Wavertree. Of the 12 teams in the league LPS lie marginally second behind the strong Crewe and Nantwich club who will also be at Liverpool. If LPS can beat the Cheshire boys and girls by 50 points promotion is guaranteed to next year's Northern Premier League. Team Manager Wally Bridson will be working flat out to get maximum numbers on the team sheet for this match. Report Charles Gains |
| Mature performance from
Michael Rimmer 19 June The European Team Championships were held in Bergen, Norway and will be well remembered by Michael Rimmer. He faced some of the best in Europe in the 800m including the Olympic Champion, Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia. Michael must have been surprised as the Russian abandoned his usual tactic of lurking at the back of the field before pouncing and led through the bell in 52.08. This was spot on for Michael who ran a tactically perfect race. He chased Borzakovskiy all the way to the tape but the strength of Yuriy prevailed and he came home in 1.45.41 with Rimmer, predicted as only fifth before the championships, on 1.45.62 and taking the runner up spot. It was a double pleasure as he relegated the useful Polish runner, Marcin Lewandowski, to third in 1.45.74. Although the times were good these championships are primarily about points and Michael contributed to the Great Britain and Northern Ireland score and second nation overall behind, predictably, Russia. After the race Michael confirmed that he has matured considerably since representing his country four years ago in this same event. He has now appeared in every conceivable type of major championships and is ready for a top medal breakthrough. With the European Championships only six weeks away in Barcelona that pleasure may be near at hand. Report Charles Gains |
| Double silver at
Northern Championships 12/13 June Two Liverpool Pembroke Sefton athletes collected silver medals in the Northern Senior and Under 20 Championships at Manchester`s Sport City. The depth in strength of the club`s 400m runners was on show once more as no fewer than three faced the starter for the Senior 400m final all, interestingly, students at Edge Hill University. This was the big moment, though, for Nathan Hilton who fought hard for an excellent second spot and personal best time of 48.21 leaving Harry Doran fifth with 49.06 and Danny Higham 8th in 50.29. It was also a major occasion for Dean Matthews in the U20 Triple Jump as he too collected silver with a 13.35m leap. Other good performances came from Stuart Dolman fourth in his heat of the U20 400m with 52.25, Kirsty Longley 10th in the Senior Women`s 1500m in 4.53.09 and Jai Vernon- McGuigan 9th in the U20 1500m final recording 4.20.41. Results Tawanda and Holly shine at Blackpool 12 June The Lancashire County Schools Track and Field Championships were held as usual at Blackpool and Juniors Tawanda Lungu and Holly Lewis, representing West Lancashire, scored a brilliant first and second in the 100m with 13.0 and 13.3  respectively,
delighting their coach Mike Dandy. Others who did well by the seaside
were a trio of Intermediate Boys, Sean Kirkbride second in the 800m with
2.04, Adam Goldfarb second in the 1500m Steeplechase(5.09.7) and Luke
Woodland third in the Long Jump(5.31m).The bulk of Liverpool Pembroke Sefton members were representing Sefton in the Merseyside Championships at the Oval, Bebington. Here there was a cascade of medals with first places for the girls in the Intermediate Shot Putt for Ruth Doran(9.48m) and Alice Donnelly in the 300m Hurdles(51.00). The indefatigable Junior Amelia McLaughlin continued her High Jump winning streak with a good leap of 1.55m. Kate Doran jumped an excellent 1.60m in the Inter equivalent bracket but in a particularly tough competition could only claim third spot. Among the Senior Boys Toby Loveridge routinely collected the 1500m title(4.10.7) towing Mike Bride to second(4.19.6). There were a couple of Inter titles also taken by Andrew Williams(400m in 52.1) and Tom Johnson(Hammer Throw 39.87m). Additionally the Juniors performed well with James Grundy a comfortable winner of the 800m in 2.12.3 and newcomer Zac Ellis triple jumping to victory with 10.61m. Silver tints went to Senior Michael Carmona-Jones(Discus 16.25m), Junior Dave McComb(High Jump 1.55m) and Brett Adamson(Int 400m 54.9) with also a bronze 200m(23.6). Not to be left out of the medal hunt Year 7 Charlie Hayward strode to third spot in the 1500m(5.20.9). Quadkids LPS hosted the new Quadkids competition for Year 7 pupils from 5 local schools. This is a new initiative from England Athletics designed to attract more youngsters into the sport. Each athlete competes in 4 events 100m, 800m, a jump and a throw. A team comprises 4 boys and 4 girls. In a keenly fought contest Ormskirk School(1598pts) triumphed over St Bedes(1594pts) and Tarleton High School(1292pts). Report Charles Gains Photo Steve Nelson |
| Much Improved LPS 5June There was a much improved performance by LPS athletes in a closely contested match in the northern league held at Wavertree on Saturday. They finished 3rd(338) behind West Cheshire (391) & St.Helens Sutton (360) It was a good all round team performance, with few individual winners on the day. There was a double success in both the men's long & triple jumps. Mark Leicester(6.45m) & Dean Matthews (5.91m) ensured maximum points in the long jump, whilst Dean Matthews (13.24m), along with Dave Street (11.71m) did likewise in the triple jump. Kate Doran (1.60m) & Billy Williams (1.80m) both secured 2nd place in their respective high jump events, whilst Rachel Hutchinson (34.31m) & Jess Broady (31.03m) were also 2nd in the women's 'A' & 'B' hammer event. On the track, Stuart Dolman's performance (22.9) won him the 'B' 200m race, whilst Clark Robert's debut in the 3K steeplechase also brought him victory in the 'B' event. To complete the afternoon, the quartet of Danny Highan, Nathan Hilton, Tom Hanlon & Stuart Dolman were comfortable winners in the final track event, 4 x 400m relay (3:28.7) Results Report Wally Bridson |
| Amazing performance from Chris Pedder 1
June The Stretford Graded Meeting on 1st June saw Chris Pedder record an amazing 4.27.59. An ordinary time, perhaps, for younger athletes but Chris is over 50 and this posting will surely propel him to the highest levels in his age group. There were other PB`s, Alistair Nelson clocked an excellent 1500m of 4.17.5, while at 800m Rob Parkinson recorded 2.08.76 and Keith Lester 2.23.9. Jai Vernon-McGuigan was also on song in the 3000m taking a chunk off his best time with 9.00.91, frustratingly just a fraction outside the magic 9 minute barrier. It will come before the season is out. |