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Lloyds TSB

Lloyds TSB sponsorship

Report: Dave Turnbull - 19/6/2008

We are very pleased to announce sponsorship of the Endurance Squad and Club by Lloyds TSB bank.

Lloyds TSB are one of the main sponsors of the 2012 London Olympic Games and it is great for the squad to be a part of that association.

The sponsorship of the squad this year is for £5,000 which also includes a £3,000 kit deal and a club marquee, plus many other benefits to the club.

There is a publicity launch with the Sponsors, and national and local media in attendance at the track next Tuesday June 24th at 6:45pm

It is very important that all parents and athletes of the squad attend and that we get the sponsorship off to a good start.

The squad kit will be available this week and must be worn on the night of the launch for photo shoot.

The £5,000 12 month deal is something I am confident we can build on next year, Lloyds TSB have agreed to review the sponsorship annually.

I am hoping we can continue with the sponsorship right up to the 2012 Olympics but this can only happen with your support.

Melanie Cooke who has kindly put the sponsorship together for the squad will explain further details on the launch night.

Weekend championship round-up

Report: Dave Turnbull - 17/6/2008

Mike Cooke took bronze in the Northern under-20 1,500 metre championships

Mike Cooke took bronze in the Northern under-20 1,500 metre championships

A busy weekend of athletics over the weekend for the Harriers with another club record and two English Schools’ qualifying distances set for junior athlete Greg Watkins.

Greg competing for the Stockport Schools’ team easily made the English Schools’ standards in the hammer with 42.04 metres and set a new junior club record in the shot putt with 13.78 metres, breaking the long standing club record of 12.40 which has stood since 1976.

Also at the meeting there were wins for Ben Lawton in the junior boys’ 200 metres in 24.6 and Jack Nixon in the 1,500 metres with 4-25.

Luci McLoughlin finished 2nd in the senior girls’ 1,500m in 4-48 and Harry Long was third in the inter boys’ 3,000 metres in 9-12. Hannah Coulson finished 5th in the junior girls’ 1,500 metres in a new best of 4-57 and Jack Morris was 5th in the inter boys’ 800 metres final in 2-03.

On Sunday at the Northern Under-20 championships Mike Cooke took the bronze medal in the 1,500 metres.

Amber Whewell competing for High Peak Schools won the inter girls’ 3,000 metre title for the second year running in the Derbyshire Schools’ Championships and will now compete for Derbyshire Schools in an Inter Counties match next weekend in Leamington Spa.

In the Mountains of Northern Italy Steve Vernon took part in the second race of the IAAF World Mountain series and finished 11th.

The series is over six races over the mountains of Europe and the competitors have to race 4.

This Sunday Steve competes at the European Mountain Trial for a place in the GB team at Sedburgh.

Three Peaks Yacht Race

Runner required

Team Indian Summer are competing in the Three Peaks Yacht Race and urgently need a replacement runner.

The event starts on 28th June and will last until about 4th July.

The event involves running from the coast to the top of Snowdon, Scafell and Ben Nevis, sailing between them and a bit of cycling thrown in for good measure.

You don’t need to be a sailor. The boat has an experienced crew.

Team Indian Summer have competed several times and to date have won 6 trophies for the event.

Anyone interested should contact email Keith Mander or call 01663 74011 (work) or 07785 280971.

BMC National Junior Academy Meeting

Report: Dave Turnbull - 11/6/2008

Harriers’ junior squad members were in fine form at the BMC National Junior Academy Meeting at Trafford on Saturday evening June 7th.

The format is the same as the Nike Grand Prix meetings for seniors, with the emphasis on helping athletes run fast times with pacemakers provided in each race and hopefully achieve qualifying standards for this summer’s major national junior championship, the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships in July, and the UK Under-17/15 Track Championships in August.

Squad member Harry Long, an under-17 who has been steadily improving with every race in the 3,000 metres ran intelligently to take another healthy chunk of his previous best of 9-21 at the distance.

“Harry looked easy as he ran 9-13 and should edge closer to the 9 minute mark by the end of the season” said squad coaches Mike and Pete Nixon.

In the 1,500 metre races there were more big advances in best times, under-15 Jack Nixon started the season with a best of 4-33.5 lowered this to 4-28.

For any up-and-coming middle distance athlete a sub-4 minute clocking is always a big landmark achievement and under-20 Michael Cooke achieved this aim on Saturday.

After narrowly missing out the previous weekend at Sportcity with 4 minutes dead, Mike ground out the necessary sub 64 second laps to finish 2nd in 3-57 securing the National under-20 entry standard and also the English Schools’ qualifying time.

Breaking the 2 minute barrier for 800 metres is another mark for junior men that earns the respect of fellow BMC members and Jack Morris is well on his way to achieving this aim with another healthy improvement from last season at 2-10 to 2-03.

It will only be a matter of time before he bags a sub 2 minute clocking.

Coaches Mike and Pete Nixon emphasised once again that consistency in training had been the key to the squad members success on Saturday night nothing else!

Manchester Urbanathlon

Anyone who is thinking of doing the Urbanathlon, a 10km adventure race around Sportcity, Medlock Valley and Philips Park which includes 13 urban obstacles along the route on Sunday July 13th, should contact Alan Dilkes before entering as we have several free entries.

It could save you £38!

Entry forms available in the Club House or visit www.urbanathlon.co.uk.

British Milers Club Nike Grand Prix

Report: Dave Turnbull - 2/6/2008

Steve Vernon in a club vest

Steve Vernon comfortably won the Ilkley Trail Race by over 2 minutes

More club records fell last Saturday evening at the British Milers Club Nike Grand Prix at SportCity.

Ross Millington lowered his best by over 2 seconds to 3-45.13 with a strong finish in the 1,500 metre A-race won by Australian Mitch Kealey.

Another record fell to Ben Styles who produced a 1-51.97 to come 4th in a close finish in the 800 metres.

Also at the meeting Mike Cooke set a personal best with 4-00.85 in the 1,500 metres.

Elsewhere Steve Vernon continued his preparartion for the European Mountain Trial Race in July coming out on top in the Ilkley Trail Race. He opened up a big lead to win comfortably in 40-26, over 2 minutes ahead of Bingley’s Tim Midgeley in 42-36.

Edinburgh Marathon

Eleven members of the Harriers made to trip up to Scotland for the Edinburgh Marathon.

Despite the strong winds most came away with personal bests although Jenny Kinnaird’s time included a 50 minute break to sportingly shout engagement to her club mates finishing in the opposite direction.

Position Name Time
58 Mike Shaw 2:50:42
80 Lee Wilkinson 2:54:16
95 Neil Thompson 2:56:40
347 Lee Barratt 3:12:23
530 Andy Fowler 3:18:58
1023 Alice Dagg 3:30:59
2286 Victoria Buckley 3:52:58
2326 Karen McCrackle 3:53:32
3304 Ann Silcock 4:09:36
3715 Anthony Ward 4:16:53
6050 Jenny Kinnaird 5:21:21

Super Mo steals the limelight in the St Annes Triathlon

Report: Tim Edwards - 21/5/2008

A healthy contingent of Stockport Harriers donned their triathlon gear to take part in the St Annes Triathlon on Sunday 18th May, success came by the bucket load with medals galore and a limelight stealing result from Maureen Wilkins.

Grace Garner produced a fantastic effort to be placed first in Tristar category for 8-year-olds. And given how she blasted out onto the run, there is a lot more to come from this talented athlete.

In the next age category, covering 9 and 10-year-olds, Katie Huane came an excellent 5th producing another great run time to move up the field.

The 11 and 12-year-olds also acquitted themselves very well. In the girls Carla Edwards was placed 3rd on the day with a very good run time, and Carla Aikin was placed 5th on the day with a great all round performance. In the boys category William Garner was unable to match his sisters performance coming in 4th – with a proper bike there is a huge amount of improvement to come from William. Thomas Huane also did very well to be placed 9th in the category.

In the 13 and 14-year-old age group, despite doing an unexpected bit of extra biking thanks to a marshalling error, Aimee Aikin showed her undoubted talent to be placed 7th and having the best run time by over 90 seconds on a 2.4km course. Hannah Wilkins also performed creditably to be placed 13th overall.

In the grown-up category Maureen Wilkins stole the show by winning the Veteran Women’s category with a great all round performance to beat her nearest competitor by over 2 minutes 30 seconds. All those tips from Kevan Garner seem to have really paid off! Julie Aikin, despite not wanting to do it, was placed a very creditable 6th in her age category, whilst Helen Garner came 10th overall despite deciding to do an extra bit of biking because she was enjoying it all so much. In the Men’s competition, Kevan Garner put all his hard training to good effect to finish 3rd in his age category leaving myself trailing behind in 6th place in the same age category.

All-in-all the Harriers’ athletes showed their all round capability with the run times being exceptional across all categories, a real testament to the quality of coaching at the Club. There is clearly some great developing all round talent amidst the Harriers on show, but the great plaudits must be reserved for Maureen who continues to impress everyone with all her hard work and commitment.

Club records for Ross and Ben

Report: Dave Turnbull - 19/5/2008

The Harriers’ leading middle distance athletes Ross Millington and Ben Styles competed at two of the weekend’s big track & field meetings.

On Saturday evening at Watford Ben competed at the first of the British Milers Club’s Grand Prix meetings.

Racing in the 800 metres, Ben finished 4th in 1-52.49 equalling his own junior club, record breaking the long standing senior 800 metre record in the process, which was previously held by Nick Watkins whose son Greg has also been breaking club records recently.

On Sunday Ross Millington ran in the Loughborough 1,500 metres invitation race and won emphatically in a new junior club record of 3-47.64.

Slicing a healthy chunk off his own previous best of 3-49.47 which he set last year.

Ross won the race after sprinting away from Birchfield Harriers’ Tom Penfold in the last 120 metres winning by a clear 10 metres.

He will race for the England team at the St Mary’s Classic Meet in London on June the 4th along with Ben who is a student at St Mary’s the UK Endurance Centre.

Before that they will both compete at the 2nd of the British Milers Grand Prix events held at SportCity stadium in Manchester on May 31st.

They will be joined by group training partner Becky Lyne who has her first outing of the season at 1,500 metres along with other members of the squad.

Derbyshire Track & Field Championships

Report: Isaac - 12/5/2008

Only a handful of Stockport Harriers athletes are able to qualify for the Derbyshires or 'Hillbilly games' as I've heard them called recently (most club members take part in Cheshire or Greater Manchester equivalent).

This year’s Championships were no different with only four athletes braving the scorching sunshine over the two day event - the medal haul was impressive though with five golds and one silver.

Performance of the weekend with a double sprint gold went to Rory Evans with 10.9 in the 100m and a new Championship best of 21.9 in the 200m. Stuart Cameron also won gold in the Junior 800m in 1:58.4. Amber Whewell won silver on the Saturday in the 3000m and went one better on the Sunday with gold in the U20 2000m steeplechase - not to be outdone her dad Sean Whewell won the senior mens 3000m steeplechase in his first track race since he was 14.

Name Age group Event Time Position
Rory Evans JM 100m 10.9 1
Rory Evans JM 200m 21.9 1*
Stuart Cameron JM 800m 1:58.4 1
Amber Whewell U17 3000m 12:22 2
Amber Whewell U20 2000m s/c 8:54 1
Sean Whewell SEN 5000m 19:04 4
Sean Whewell SEN 3000m s/c 12:13 1
*New championship record

Another Club record to Greg Watkins

Another Club record to Greg Watkins

Greg Watkins notched up another Stockport Harriers’ senior record when winning the Discus at the Woodbank Park Northern Athletics’ League match. Greg threw the 2.0kg discus 41.82 metres breaking the old record by nearly a metre and setting the second longest throw with the senior weight in the UK so far this year by a junior.

This followed a good opening to the season the previous weekend when Greg competed in the National Junior League for his second claim club Sale Harriers. Greg won the U20 Discus with a throw of 43.60 metres to head the North West rankings on www.powerof10.info. He also won the U20 shot with a personal best of 13.39 metres. His main targets this year are the English Schools Championships and to get closer to 45 metres with the discus.

3rd Thursday 5 km Time Trials

This summer sees the return of these events in Woodbank Park starting at 7:30pm on the following dates:

» Thursday April 17th
» Thursday May 15th
» Thursday June 19th
» Thursday July 17th
» Thursday August 21st

Pay the normal stadium fee or show your track pass at the pay station and then obtain a number from inside the Club House.

Usual course from stadium gates, 3 times out and back round the stone by the far gates and back to finish on the pole vault run up by judges steps.

All welcome and any offers of help to Pete Powell appreciated.

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