Michael Rimmer has experienced some drama in his lengthy middle-distance career and the British Indoor Championships at Sheffield provided another fraught chapter. Michael had declared himself in the best shape for five years and had enjoyed a series of good performances prior to this event. In a heat of the 800m he trounced the opposition only to find himself disqualified for a line infringement. Frustratingly he had to watch a final won in a time he had already beaten this year by nearly four seconds. Offered a place in the 1500m instead he finished second in his heat to one of Britain`s best, Charlie Grice in a decent 3.49.14. Come the final he failed to finish with yet another injury. He will want to forget Sheffield in a hurry but there is no doubt he remains a class act and could yet gain outdoors another Olympic selection.
One who came away a lot happier was Liverpool Pembroke Sefton colleague, Harry Doran. In his heat of the 800m he ran an impressive 1.52.60 This was agonisingly just short of qualification for the final but he will take a lot of encouragement from the performance.
The weekend also saw the National Cross Country Championships at Castle Donington in Leicestershire. On a course described as `a true test of fitness and character’ the club’s Jones brothers again performed admirably. The younger, Adam, was 32nd in the Under 15 race while Dan was 59th in the Under 17s. These were quality fields and it represents very high placings among Lancashire runners. Interestingly they are both at Ormskirk School as is Jack Dee-Ingham of the Wigan club who was 22nd in the U15 event. Ormskirk School is developing a reputation as a cross country hot-spot. The only other club member to run was 55-year old Chris Pedder who placed an excellent 1048 out of a massive field that exceeded 1700.
At home there were several who ran in the weekly 5K Park Run around the grounds of Edge Hill University. Aaron Jarvis was a worthy winner in 16.49 with Mark Wynne not far adrift on 17.03. Among others were Ian Roberts 4th in 18.27, Joe Houghton 7th in 19.12 and Chris Webber in 20.25.
Charles Gains
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