| Kirsty collects at Cardiff while Amelia enjoys silver at
Sheffield 15 January Running for the North of England in the McCain Cross Challenge series in Cardiff Kirsty Longley was 21st in a distinguished field. She was fourth counter for the region but was even more delighted to mount the podium as the first Over 35 contestant to finish. Kirsty started a running career late but is proving a very gritty and determined competitor. Meanwhile at Sheffield Amelia McLaughlin celebrated her entry into the U17 ranks with a competent leap of 1.65m which carried her to the silver medal. She is, of course, capable of much higher but as in 2011 tends starts the season modestly but finishes with a flourish. There`s a lot more to come. Team mate Kate Doran finished fourth in the U20 event with 1.60m and other finalists included Adam Thomson fifth in the U20 400m (50.71) and Alex Higham 6th in the U17 equivalent (55.59). Results Report Charles Gains |
| LPS U17`s rounding into form 14 January After an uplifting county championships it was back to slightly more mundane matters as Liverpool Pembroke Sefton athletes travelled to Hyndburn for another match in the Mid-Lancs League. Pivotal to this encounter for the club was the performance of the U17 Men who were almost at full strength. In perfect weather conditions a slightly off-form Warren Turner still turned in a solid fourth place but there was a real surprise packet in the shape of James Grundy who charged through to fifth. With Ryan Blackwell seventh the team race was sewn up but the additional presence of James Loftus(10) and David Reece(15) raises the prospect of possible medals in the immediate Northern Championships at Pontefract. Inexorably the U13 Boys collected the usual second team placing. Jack Crook(8), Joss Forrest(17), Michael Croft(24) and Joe Martin(25) duly obliged while Max Cotterill(44), showing signs of further improvement, and Joe Marshall(50) were the supporting cast. The U15s of Daniel Wright(18), Chris Webber(23) and Jonathan Bride(27) managed to navigate their way around competently but yearn for a fourth man. Using this as a warm up for the Northern Champs Jai Vernon-McGuigan demonstrated his recaptured form by staying with the leaders running out fourth but first Under 20. Ben Costello was 27th and fifth Junior in. There were only a few girls in attendance, the event clashing with a schools fixture, but Rosie Johnson again showed class and good timing. Lancashire champion Molly Betmead looked secure but Rosie, her Merseyside equivalent, gradually hauled her in with only 6 seconds eventually separating them. Exciting head-to-head encounters are sure to follow as the season unfolds. While U13 Kate Croft(21) was alone in her endeavours, the U11 Barnsley twins, Alex(11) and Megan(15), look potential star material. Only a relatively small improvement could easily propel them into the upper echelons. Results Report Charles Gains |
| Courtney back in shape 7 January Courtney Bishop finished a very creditable second in the Oxfordshire County Women`s race and should be available for the National at Parliament Hill. At the Warwickshire Championships Clark Roberts was 52nd with Sammy Rashid(54) hot on his heels. |
| Triple star performance at county championships 7 January
The Merseyside Cross Country Championships at St Helens Sherdley Park delivered three individual titles  and
a team trophy to the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton club. Early in the
proceedings U15 Rosie Johnson demonstrated a maturity beyond her years,
not only in holding off a determined challenge from a strong Wirral
rival but turning in a powerful closing charge that delighted her
supporters. Thereafter the expression, `Let`s do a Rosie Johnson' spread
through the camp.Some twenty years her senior Kirsty Longley took on the
pride of Liverpool Harriers in the shape of Jenny Clague and Maria
Barrett. It looked like a stroll in the park for the yellow vests but
Kirsty gradually closed an initial gap and surged at the start of lap
two. Clearly surprised a monumental battle ensued but this was to be the
LPS girl`s day. Barrett buckled first but former international Clague
took longer to dislodge. Eventually even her head went down and Kirsty
completed the most magical moment of her career, coasting home to the
county title. Already pre-selected to run for the North of England in an
inter-area match in Cardiff a week later the selectors must be
congratulating themselves on their prescience.Already a good afternoon for the club but more was to come. Favourite for the U20 title Toby Loveridge strode majestically to victory but the real excitement was occurring a minute adrift as Jai Vernon-McGuigan,  back
after a six month lay off due to injury, was comprehensively claiming
the runners up spot. With Ben Costello(4) and Mike Bride(8) the quartet
retained the HM Finney cup with panache.U17 Warren Turner might well
have joined the elite club of winners. Miscalculating the fast start he
found himself grafting hard to overtake a phalanx of harriers eventually
destroying them all but Sharp of Liverpool who had quietly got himself
beyond reach. Warren will learn from that lesson. Others in the fray on
the day were the U13 Barnsley girls Alex(12) and Megan(15), U13 Joe
Martin(21), U15s Daniel Wright(15) and Georgina Hannaway(12), U17 Alicia
Burke(13), Senior Women Lisa Gawthorne(19)and Vicki Jones((29) plus a
loyal squad of Senior Men, Greg Callaghan(48), Robbie Wood(69), John
Dobie(105) and Danny Gilbody(107). Merseyside Results The excitement in St Helens somewhat overshadowed the efforts of the club`s Lancastrian wing at Blackburn. Here there was a stunning run from Ryan Blackwell, second at U17. The back-up boys of Kyle Nicholls(16) and James Loftus(17) with David Reece(21) and Rob Parkinson(30) also took team silver. Not to be outdone the U13 Boys collected medals of a similar hue, Jack Crook(5), Liam Bibby(6), Josh Forrest(17) and Michael Croft(33) with the pairing of Max Cotterill(36) and Joe Marshall(41) striving to make the counting team. Also in attendance were U15 Chris Weber(22) and U20 Sean Kirkbride(12). Arguably, though, pride of place at Witton Park might go to Morag Molyneux who was running in the U13 Girls and was nearly two years younger than some her opponents. She finished an amazing bronze medallist. Kate Croft was 31st in the same race. Lancashire Results Report Charles Gains Photo Top Rosie Johnson, (wally Bridson) Below Junior Men Mike Bride,Ben Costello, Jai Vernon-McGuigan, Toby Loveridge (John Bride) |