| Robert Stocks takes Lancs title The Lancashire Schools Cross Country Championships saw some excellent performances from local runners. Rob Stocks, clearly recovered from an injury prone season, took the Senior Boys individual title. His Junior colleagues, all Liverpool Pembroke Sefton athletes, also claimed the team title for West Lancashire. Jake Helm was 3rd followed by Chris Hesketh(11), Mike McCarten(15) and a super run from Matt Lloyd(18) to close in.Various athletes have been selected to represent their counties in the forthcoming Inter-County event. For Merseyside Jimmy Boardman (Senior), Carl Williams and Mike Rimmer(Junior) and Chris Hesketh(U 13) will be joined by Lancashire representatives Rob Stocks(U20), Andy Bowen(U15), Jake Helm and Mike McCarten(U13).At an open Indoor Meeting in Birmingham two personal best were posted by Mark Grimshaw and Jack McGinn. Mark`s astonishing career continued in the Under 20 400m with 48.62 while Jack McGinn lowered his PB to 51.7 in the Under 17 event. With the national Championships looming both are in exceptional form Report Charles Gains 5th February 2005 |
| English National Cross Country Championships Cofton Park south of Birmingham is immediately adjacent to the Lickey Hills and the giant car plant at Longbridge and was the perfect setting for the English National Cross Country Championships on a cold but beautiful day. Liverpool Pembroke Sefton sent only a handful of women competitors but they performed well. Junior star Maria Barrett was 34th and Under 13 Emma Bowen(102) and Senior Birmingham University student Lyndsey Doyle at 162 meant all were inside the top third of their respective age groups.There were teams elsewhere among the men. Highest placed was the Under 13 squad of Jake Helm(24), Chris Hesketh(27), Mike McCarten(102) and Martin Ward(236) who manged a very respectable 12th spot. Their Under 17 colleagues Joe McKenna(99), Chris Melling(119), Matt Brooks(169) and David Wilkie(172) were only slightly more adrift at 20th. Without supporting team mates were Andrew Bowen(34) and Kieran Sloan(169) at Under 15 and Junior runners Rob Stocks(62) and Michael Rimmer(95).The climax of these Championships is the Senior Men`s race which always attracts a monster field. LPS have made solid improvement this season and were able to field a near perfect team. Jimmy Boardman(64) was among the quality leaders as usual followed by an inspired Sammy Rashid(240) and Adam Clansey(291) who recovered from some mid-section blues. Steve Donegan(355) was pleased with his performance as was Colin Jones(445). Vet Greg Callaghan(684) completed the counters with reserves in hand in the shape of Ian Crichton(925) and Club Secretary Robbie Wood(960). With all six counters inside the first half of the field a decent team result was anticipated but 31st out of 102 was very gratifying for Team Manager Charles Gains. He commented that the club was slowly working its way back to its former prominence and the loyalty and determination of the team was showing dividends |
| Bronze in National Indoor Championships After the disappointment of Mark Grimshaw falling in the National Under 20 Indoor Championships at Birmingham when poised for the gold medal, rather less was expected of the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton squad that journeyed south again for the Under 17 and 15 Championships the following weekend. However, Harry Doran produced a memorable performance to snatch the bronze medal in a class field of Under 15 200m runners in 23.82 where the record was shattered by the winner. Members of the Ormskirk based club were prominent elsewhere with three others making the semi-finals in personal best times. Jack McGinn recorded a smart 51.91 in the Under 17 400m and Nathan Hilton was equally strong running 7.61 in the Under 15 60m. Alex Stokes managed a double semi-final with 7.36 in the Under 17 60m and 23.49 in the 200m. The Ray Twentyman-coached group are obviously shaping up well for the coming track and field season. Report Charles Gains 27 February 2005 |
Comments are closed.