Top performers at the North West County Relays; Nicola Berry, Olivia Wild and Imogen Nutter
After a long wet summer competing on the track, Stockport's young athletes made the trip to Liverpool's Sefton Park for the annual North West County Road Relays to compete against clubs from all over the Northwest.
The first race of the day was the under-13 girls over a tough 2.65km course, the first leg runner Imogen Nutter came in 9th in a time of 10-26 followed by Jessica Shaw in 14th in 10-48 and just behind Lydia Ross in 19th in 10-56.
On the second leg Niclola Berry took two places back to come in 7th in 10-16 for the A-team while for the B-team Sarah Tipping took two places to come in 17th in 11-19.
On the last leg Olivia Wild took the A-team to 4th overall with the 8th fastest time of the day in 10-03 which took the team to silver medal just behind Leigh in the Greater Manchester Relay Championships, the B-team with Aimee Aikin on last leg came home in 16th place in 10-50.
The next race the under-15 girls over 3 km, on the first leg Aimee Hughes had a great run to bring the team home in 5th in 12-32 the 9th fastest time of the day, on the second leg Sam Wilson ran a good leg to come in 11th in 14-48, on the last leg Becky Hetherington coming back from injury had a good run to come in 12th in 14-01.
In the under-15 boys' 3km race on the first leg Mike Logue ran a great race to bring the team home in first place in 11-23 in the 4th fastest time of the day, on the second leg Jack Nixon came in 5th place in 12-17 but unfortunately the team where short of a last leg runner.
Finally the under-17 men's race over 4km had David Thompson on the first leg who took the team out to 15th place in 18-48 to hand over to Nathan Ludlain who took the team to 9th in 17-45 to hand over to Mike Cooke who had a great run to bring the team in 5th place in 17-02 the 7th overall fastest time which took the team to silver medal in the Greater Manchester Relay Championships.
Ladies win North West medals again
Report: Phil McCann
Again the ladies were up for this event this our fourth outing and again we came away with medals.
With four teams of three we were battling against a lot of clubs with most of their best runners, Liverpool had international Jenny Claque and Salford with Bev Jenkins and Marie Lowe. Warrington also had an extremely strong team with our local rivals Trafford up there as well.
The A-team consisted of Kerrie Wood, Carla Stansfield and Carley Davies and they battled hard. Kerrie led off and came back 13th place to hand over to Carla who made up 6 places to hand over to Carley placing us in 6th. Carley chased after the Trafford girl knowing if she was caught would give us a silver medal. However even trying to catch her both were caught by Warrington AC. Still we finished 7th overall matching are highest overall place from last year and gain 3rd place and a Bronze medal for the Greater Manchester County.
Likewise the rest of our teams were trying just as hard; Lois Brookes (B-Team), Vicky Barrett (C-Team) and Julie Fairclough (D-Team) on her first relay event ran fairly close times, Vicky handed over to Vicky Robinson who took off, Lois came in and was chased by Sharon Glendon as Julie Handed over to Helen Todd. The battle was between the B & C-teams, Sharon caught Vicky but Vicky came back at her on the last 800 metres.
Nicola Pickford raced away with a substantial lead but Samantha Thomas took over from Sharon and eventually catching Nicola and leaving her on the final 2000 metres. Helen was working her way through handing over to Vicky Buckley also running her first relay on last leg.
Well done to all we will see how we compare at the Northerns at Warrington in two weeks time! Although we will have many missing those being at the Great North Run the same weekend.
Wins for Jess and Lucy
Report: Dave Turnbull
Jess Coulson got her winter campaign underway in the Nike women's 5k at Hyde Park, London. Jess won the junior race title in a new best and club record of 16-51 holding off GB team mates Emma Pallant and Charlotte Purdue of Aldershot & Farnham AC.
Jess who had been training at the UKA's Pre-European Training Camp get together at St. Marys London, will race next for Stockport's senior women in the Northern Road Relays at Warrington where Stockport ladies hope to put in a strong challenge.
Club newcomer 16-year-old Lucy Worthington came out on top in the Lantern Pike fell race at Hayfield last Saturday and will wait for an England call up at next month's home international on the Welsh fells.
Lucy has been training with the women's middle distance squad under the tutorage of coach Dean Loxam for two weeks and will be looking to make an impact on the cross country this season.
Club Trophies
It's awards time soon so can anyone who holds a club trophy please return it to the Club House ASAP, so it can be engraved in time for the Presentation Evening.
Ladies summer round-up
Report: Phil McCann
The last couple of months has seen Stockport Harriers' ladies quietly getting on with the training and racing. The recent news has been the return of Jenny Murray from illness and injury which she has been out with for over a year. Jenny ran in the inaugural Great Yorkshire Race 10k clocking 37-39 to finish 9th lady. Jenny was going to just run in the mass field for this event but the organisers asked if she would compete in the ladies' elite field. Although this was a tough ask having just returned took it sensibly from the back of the field to come through and enjoy the experience. Having said that she will be easing back into her racing and is looking forward to seeing the girls again.
Other news has seen Toni McIntosh return to Glasgow, she was unable to get onto the course at Salford University and has applied in Glasgow instead. However it is not a total goodbye as she has said she still wants to run for Stockport Harriers. Toni has been running races in Scotland and was winning lady at Girvan 1/2m in 86-36, 1st in the Kilmarnock Trail Race. To add to this she was 2nd lady at the Dunblane 11 miler and 6th in the hugely popular Great Scottish Run in the 10k event in Glasgow. Recently she ran the Cumbrae 10 miler and finished 1st in 63-20 as well.
We will have 4 teams at the North West 3-stage Road Relays at Sefton Park, Liverpool this weekend. Once more we shall take up the challenge as this event is becoming quite popular with many clubs. The Northern 4-stage on the 29th September at Warrington will see many new faces running their first relay event. We will have 3 teams competing and this will be another 1st for us in this event. Others will be up at the Great North Run the same weekend and this shows we have enough ladies in the club to select from to compete in these events. This is pleasing although it is still a challenge where as previously we would have not entered a team.
The Great North Run will see 4 ladies running in the women's elite field. All being well there will be Jenny Knass, Jenny Murray, Sarah Lomas and Rachel Shepherd - watch out for them on TV. The two Club places went to Samantha Thomas and Sharon Glendon, they will be hoping to run close to their personal best. In the mass field will be Jayne Lawton, Ruth Lee and others as well as myself. A full report will follow soon after the event of the highs and lows.
On the Marathon front Rachel Chatwin will be hoping to break 3-15 at Nottingham this weekend and qualify for the Championship field for London next year. Jane Mellor will be running the Snowdonia Marathon in October, a tough one for her 1st one!
At the Sale 10 miler in August Sarah Lomas was the first lady home for Stockport Harriers to record a personal best with a time of 66-27. Meanwhile in the same event Liz Turton and Helen Todd were battling it out. Liz broke the Club's Vet 50 record of 1-18-43 held by Ros Man to record 1-16-53, with Helen also getting close with 1-18-57. Both have been racing extremely well and the battle between them intense. At the moment Liz has the edge breaking the 5k, 10k and 10 mile records this year all within the last month! A new lady to the club under Maureen's guidance is Julie Fairclough and is showing much promise she completed her first 10 miler in 1-22 and ran personal bests this year for 5k and 10k as well.
The Birchwood 10k was also in August and although we only had a few ladies available with others on holiday. We did well with Sarah Lomas 39-49 followed by Kerrie Wood 41-09, Vicky Barrett 43-25 and Liz Turton 46-07 which gave us 2nd ladies team. Natalie England also returned to running after some time out clocking 57-07.
The Trafford 10k saw Stockport Harriers ladies finish 2nd Team with Liz Turton breaking her and the Club's V50 record in 46-02 followed closely by Julie Fairclough 47-06 and Helen Todd 47-09. Vicky Buckley and Cathy Thompson also with a personal best making the line up for the ladies.
The Kirkam 10k near Preston the same day as Trafford saw Vicky Barrett return to her old stomping ground and enjoy catching up with old friends to run 43-25, the same as Birchwood. Consistent Vicky but well done!
Under-17/15 England Athletics Championships
Report: Dave Turnbull
Three of Stockport Harriers' middle distance squad qualified for this year's championships at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield.
First timers at the championships were Michael Logue who ran in the under-15 boys' 1,500 metre heats on the Saturday and finished in a time of 4-38.
Michael Cooke also in his first ever championships qualified through to the final of the under-17 men's 1,500 metres and finished 6th in a tactical race with 4-08.
Luci McLoughlin who was at her third championships just missed out on qualifying for the final finishing 4th in her 800 metre heat in 2-16.
Ben and Andy picked for international
Ben Styles and Andy Nixon have both been selected to represent the Northern Athletics team in the under-23 international at Moorways Stadium, Derby on Sunday.
They will face teams from Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales, Scotland. Ben will compete in the 800 metres and Andy Nixon the 3km.
Tour of Marple, New Mills and Etherow series
Tuck Shop Brian
Some might remember the Tour of Tameside, well not that it is being revived but there is the opportunity to relive the experience of racing on consecutive days.
Know as 'Tomatoes', it is 3 races over a weekend
Friday 21 September - an unofficial race in Etherow park, a race amongst friends.
Saturday 22 September - Marple 10k, Goes from Rose Hill to Poynton and back to Marple. Closing date is 31 August, beer and food included. More details on The Marple Website.
Sunday 23 September - the New Mills fun run. This is from the leisure centre on the Sett Valley Way. Details not published but last year was 10.00am, free and prizes.
There will be no series prize or team prize, but those who fancy a different racing challenge please come along and join in the joy of running, though the winner might be allowed to buy a drink for all those that gave him/her the opportunity of winning.
London Grand Prix
Report: Dave Turnbull
Three of Stockport's middle distance training group competed at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in London last Friday night.
Andy Nixon was amongst 24 athletes selected on their 3km time to compete at Crystal Palace, the scene of some of our greatest ever international track meetings down the years.
Andy finished a brave 19th in a time of 8-46, well outside his best of 8-36.
Jess Coulson who made this her last race of what has been an outstanding year for the 17-year-old.
Jess finished second to Emma Pallant but beat European under-20 5,000 metre silver medalist Emily Pidgeon for the first time ever, the pair had been in training together at Stockport in the week leading up to the event.
Becky Lyne was racing to take her place in this year's World Athletics Championships and improved on her last outing by more than 2 seconds to just over 2 minutes.
This was enough to convince the UKA selectors and Becky will start her campaign in Osaka, Japan on the 25th of August.
Northern Senior League - Match 4
Stockport's senior team for the Northern League will be back in Division 3 next season after being relegated together with Manx Harriers after the final match at Warrington.
Salford World Cup Triathlon
Report: Maureen Wilkins
Some of Stockport Harriers' athletes excelled themselves again last weekend, by competing in the World Cup Triathlon at Salford Quays in Manchester. This mamouth task included a one mile swim in open water, 40km cycle ride and then to finish a 10km run.
With an early start at 7.07am, on a glorious Sunday morning, Karen McCrackle, Maureen Wilkins and Julie Aikin, all first timers in this event had a fantastic day.
Karen was slightly worried about the swim, but once in the water she found it settled her, even though she had tasted and swallowed some of the water!! Karen really enjoyed the cycle part of the race, getting some good speed up throughout the course; she finished in a great time of 2 hours 54 minutes.
Maureen Wilkins also had a great day, although not having such a great swim, she managed to make up her time on the bike and had a great run to finish with a total time of 3 hours 5 minutes. Maureen was the fourth lady home in her age group. Not to be out done, Julie Aikin gained a personal best in the swim, completing a mile swim in just 34 minutes. Still going great guns on her bike, Julie still managed a burst of speed for the finish, gaining her a overall time of 3 hours 8 minutes.
The only man on the day to compete from Stockport was Kevin Garner, who entered the sprint event. He was in fine form and came 1st in his age group and 2nd overall in this event. He gave a fantastic swim, cycle, and run. Kevin accepted his award and took pride of place on the winning podium.
Everyone had a great experience in taking part in Salford's World Cup Triathlon.