Jess selected for World Cross Country

Jess Coulson has been selected to run at this year's World Cross Country Championships in Kenya.

A historic day for Jess and Stockport Harriers to have 2 athletes at a World Championships as she joins fellow Harrier Steve Vernon who won selection earlier this month.

Jess, still an under-17, was 4th in the Inter Counties under-20 women's race at Nottingham on Saturday and will be part of a six strong women's team who back in December won the team gold at the European Cross Country Championships.

Other Harriers representing Greater Manchester in the Inter Counties Championships were; Andy Nixon 24th in the under-20s, Richard Hindley 40th in the under-13s, Michelle Wiblin 63rd in the under-15s and Leah Kay 25th in the under-17s.

Manchester Area Cross Country League

Report: Pete Torrence

Daniel Lawton took the individual honours while the under-11s were overall team winners

Stockport Harriers' under-11s had a long, hard weekend when they all competed on both Saturday and Sunday in the Schools' League and Manchester League events.

Sunday's last of the Manchester Area Cross Country League races was held at Woodbank Park where the teams' scores from the previous matches were very close with the girls' team one point ahead of Sale Harriers and two points ahead of Manchester Harriers, while the boys' team were equal on points with Warrington AC.

On the day the two Stockport teams turned out in force taking the honours in both team races and won the overall league team prizes.

In the girls' race Olivia Wild, who has been unbeaten in the school races, had a outstanding race to take the individual title from Chelsea Jarvis of St. Helens while just behind Alice Bowden took 3rd spot backed up by Aimee Aikin in 8th, Bethany Donnelly running her first race for the club in 9th and Emma O'Connell 19th who turned out despite a heavy cold to make up the team.

Not to be out done, the boys' team came out with every one running to form, again there was another outstanding run by Daniel Lawton who has been improving all the time to take the individual honours from Warrington's Liam Barthem and supported by Max Cole in 3rd, Jack Donnelly 7th, William Garner 8th, Tom Donnelly 12th and James Bartley 13th.

Ladies finish with a flurry

Report: Phil McCann

The final Manchester League Cross Country event of the 2006/2007 season at Woodbank park saw Stockport ladies finish with a flurry.

The turn-out of runners from other clubs was low, it seemed strange with many individual and team places up for grabs. However those who ran were not to be disappointed with a 2-lap true cross country course and perfect weather.

Estelle McGuire and Toni McIntosh were in the leading pack from the gun followed by Jane Mellor and Vicky Barrett. Meanwhile Karen McCrackle was moving up through the field with Maryte Moore and Debra McCann battling together.

New girl Lois without spikes was enjoying the experience more to come from her in the future. Alexis Dinsmoor and Marie Kay were as always there and were running well. Janet Booker was running well and in with a chance of being in the prizes for the Vet 50 Category. This she managed finishing 2nd Vet 50 overall.

Finally Maureen Wilkins twisted her ankle in the first half of the race and struggled all the way round to make sure she completed her final event.

The second half of the race saw everybody as they were on the first lap Estelle finished in 8th place with Toni in 10th this gave her an overall series position of 4th place. In the Team events the Seniors who were in joint 3rd place with Trafford at the start of the day finished just ahead to get the Bronze medals.

The Vets too were not to be out done and were having a terrific day lying in 4th place at the start they leap-frogged themselves into silver medal position. Once again with may ladies spreading themselves out at other events and some with injuries it shows what strength we have in depth.

Alexandra Park 5k Manchester

The week before the XC saw Toni McIntosh run her 2nd event here as this event is held every month. Once again Toni was using this as a long training run she ran to the event 4 miles and ran back afterwards.That did not hamper her performance too much she was 30 seconds slower than last time but again enough to win the ladies' event! Toni looks in good shape and is finding a new focus to her running.

Nick Beer Llandudno 10k

This event on the same day as the XC saw Joanna Bleakley run this event even though she has been struggling with a knee problem. However she came away a little pleased that her fitness was still there to finish 7th lady in a time of 44-40. Next week Joanna will be having a scan on the knee to see what the problem is and hopefully she will be back on the mend and into her running we wish her a speedy recovery.