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Toni wins the Girvan Half Marathon

Report: Phil McCann- 22/7/2008

Toni McIntosh

Last week saw Toni McIntosh win the Girvan Half Marathon in Scotland. Toni battled all the way against Fiona Matheson who had beat her convincingly the year before.

On a tough hilly and windy course they were stride for stride most of the way but Toni took control in the last mile and out kick to win in 1-20-55.

This moved her into the Power-of-10 UK top 100 rankings ranking 64th in the UK. With more to come she will be hoping to go under the 1-20 barrier at the Great Glasgow Run in September then follow up that at the Great North Run in October.

Toni has been greatly improving over the shorter distances as well she clocked 36-59 at the City of Manchester 10k finishing 5th. She was 3rd placed the year before but such was the field that she ran much faster and up against a stronger field including a couple Kenyans which said it all.

Kerrie Wood finished just outside 42 minutes but was 2nd over-40. Other lady Harriers running well on the day were Liz Turton, Alison Coulson and Nicola Logue along with myself finding it hard

European Mountain Championships

Report: Dave Turnbull - 20/7/2008

Steve Vernon finished first Britain in 20th at the European Mountain Championships

Steve Vernon finished first Briton in 20th at the European Mountain Championships

The Harriers’ Lloyds TSB Squad had athletes competing in three championships over the weekend.

At the European Mountain Championships on the edge of Germany’s Black Forest Steve Vernon finished first Briton in 20th after being with the leaders up until half way

Steve fell away in the second half of the race with a stitch but managed to hold on for a top twenty place.

At the Olympic Trials Ben Styles and Becky Lyne competed in the 800 metres, Ben at his first senior championships finished 8th in his heat.

Becky was just edged out in her heat in 2-06 making the following days final as a fastest loser.

In the final despite a brave move to take the lead at the bell Becky finished eighth.

The English Schools’ are a place where the first footstep on the athletic ladder to the top begins.

The Squad had three athletes at the Championships, in the 1500 metre Junior Boys’ Jack Nixon ran close to his best to finish 10th in 4-25.

Luci McLoughlin ran her season’s best of 4-39 to finish 7th in the Senior Girls’ 1500 metre final and Mike Cooke 8th in the Senior Boys’ final in 4-01 from the 15 starters.

Summer Pub Crawl - Stockport town centre

In conjunction with the Monday night training groups. All club members and friends welcome.

Friday, 1st August from 7:30pm

7:30 - Meet at Wetherspoons (rear or beer garden)

8:10 - Down steps to Queens Head (Turners Vaults)

8:40 - Bear left to Three Shires Wine Bar

9:15 - Left along, right up hill to Market; Bakers Vaults

9:50 - Opposite to Boars Head

10:20 - Round back past Asda to Churchgate; Arden Arms

Club Championships

Will be held Wednesday/Thursday 10th/11th September at Woodbank Stadium. More details to follow.

The Cotswold Way Relay

Report: Isaac - 3/7/08

Cotswold Way Relay

Following on from his recent success in the British Mountain Running Championships Steve Vernon joined nine of his club mates to do battle with 67 other 10-man teams in the Cotswold Way Relay.

It wasn’t going to be the pace of the team, nor the severity of the climbs that would be our downfall, it was the inability to read a map, follow directions or even know left from right. With all the other 67 teams being located within spitting distance of the Cotswolds and being able to do recces of the course as part of their club training nights.

Stockport Harriers with a team consisting of 3 ladies and seven men and an age range from sixteen to sixty (happy birthday Brian!) eventually finishing some 45 minutes behind a very good Chepstow Harriers’ team who are local enough to know every blade of grass along the course.

The Cotswold Way Relay, organised by Team Bath Athletic Club, cuts an undulating trail from Chipping Campden to the centre of Bath in a 110 mile route taking in every hill and climb along the way, each leg is run as a separate race and times added up at the end of each leg - really well organised and finishing up in the centre of Bath outside The Abbey before moving on to the presentations and plentiful rehydration at the excellent facilities at Bath Rugby club.

Having performed so well already the team, or possibly teams are looking forward to next year’s event.

Stage Name Time Stage Position
1 Steve Maclean 01:24:00 4th
2 Steve Vernon 01:24:29 2nd
3 Jackie Newton 01:16:36 34th / F5th
4 James Corden 01:34:27 6th
5 Lee Barratt 01:33:30 26th
6 Sam Thomas 01:42:13 57th / F14th
7 Amber Whewell 01:06:21 31st / F5th
8 Bashir Hussian 01:24:25 2nd
9 Sean Whewell 01:10:41 10th
10 Brian Holland 01:13:31 13th
Final Positions
2nd Stockport Harriers 13:50:13
Steve Vernon

Steve won the British Mountain Running Championships by over forty seconds in gale force winds

Lloyds TSB Endurance Squad update

Report: Dave Turnbull - 1/7/2008

Two of the Lloyds TSB Endurance Squad were in action last weekend over two very different disciplines.  

At the UK Under-20/23 Track Championships in Bedford club 800 metre record holder Ben Styles narrowly missed out on making the under-23 final by one 10th of a second in his heat to finish third.

It went to the line as Ben just struggled to hold onto the lead in the last twenty metres.

Steve Vernon who was up in the fells at Sedburgh became the British Mountain Running Champion winning a place in the UK team for the European Mountain Championships to be held in Germany this month.

Steve won by over forty seconds in gale force winds from James Walsh of Leeds City.

Three of the younger members of the squad have been selected to represent the Greater Manchester County at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships in July at Gateshead Stadium, Michael Cooke senior boys’, Jack Nixon junior boys’ and former junior English Schools’ champion Luci McLoughlin all compete over the 1500 metres.

Chester Triathlon

Maureen and the team

Report: Neil Wilkins - 24/06/08

Some great performances were had this weekend in a very windy Chester, with some of our Stockport ladies and men battling through an Olympic size triathlon, with a 1,500 metre swim 40km bike ride and a very undulating 10km run.

The ladies were in the River Dee at 8.10am swimming up the river against the current, Julie Aikin having a fabulous swim in her best time of 30-30 minutes followed by Maureen Wilkins 35-00 also a PB then Jan Booker doing her first ever triathlon and 1st open water swim did an incredible 45 minutes. Kevan Garner and Steve Mac who started in a later wave both had a super swim, unfortunate for Steve he had to pull out on the cycle, having got a puncture.

Julie, Jan and Maureen completed their bike ride in very good times the wind was against them all the way, making it even harder, then the 10k run was a battle in itself up and down all the way round, all the ladies having a good finish, however I can imagine the air being quite blue with Julie Aikin running up the hills, (she loves them so much)!!

All-in-all a great day was had with Stockport Harriers now on the Chester map.

Name Swim Bike Run Total
Maureen Wilkins 35.00 1.25.29 52.39 2.56.20
Julie Aikin 30.30 1.30.48 62.55 3.07.40
Jan Booker 49.48 1.51.21 59.31 3.45.34
Kevan Garner 27.15 1.06.30 41.04 2.17 13
Brian landed in by parachute

The Kinder Trog

Report: Isaac - 24/06/08

Near perfect race day conditions for this grueling 25km fell race with over 4000ft of climb. Last minute preparations by everyone to check they had all the compulsory items with them (compass, map, whistle, emergency rations!)

A great turnout from Stockport Harriers, some even wearing Pennine vests (wash my mouth out!) for the day - but they know who they are and are forgiven.

The only Harrier to win a prize was Claire Wilson receiving a spot prize for having travelled from Northern Ireland for the race.

Place Name Time
26th Sean Whewell 2:10:42
54th Brian Holland 2:21:22
61st Len Best 2:21:54
109th Estelle McGuire 2:37:30
110th Andy Fowler 2:37:51
116th Andy Titley 2:40:05
135th Alexis Dinsmoor 2:45:55
166th Lee Barratt 3:02:26
174th Lucy Harris 3:08:33
179th Darren Burns 3:11:57
191st Claire Wilson 3:30:56

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