News reports - September 2011

30 September 2011: Sefton 'Oldies' Olympics (by Norman & Sheila Marshall)

Yes it's true. A competition put on by Sefton Leisure, for us Oldies. When we arrived at Dunes Splash World we were put into teams of six. Ten teams. I look at our team and thought 'no chance of winning'!

First event was a basketball shootout, five mins, points for each basket. Norm got 4, Sheila hit the basket five times. The team scored 27. Next, a giant Jinga, points for each brick you took out. We weren't bad at that. Then a giant Connect 4. I won my turn,10 pin bowling next. Points for each one knocked down. You then rushed to put them back up. Quoits; OK there, then a bad event for us - Badminton. Played in pairs 2 mins. each, the most hits in a rally. Sheila didn't pick me to partner, and we were the only two in our team who had any idea. Then throwing a child's welly; target throw, 2,4.6,.8 or 10. We did good with that event, and the last field event was o and x. We could have done better. so after that we were in 3rd, position, 21 points behind the leaders, who had travelled from Litherland. Quiz time, 10pts for each correct answer. That meant Lithland would have to get three wrong and our team 100%. Well we did that, but lost by 1point. We were 2nd so were sorry we let SWAC down but 2nd is not good enough!

28 September 2011: Jack Salt 1928-2011

24/25 September: RAB Mountain Marathon (by Michelle Spencer and Steve McLean)

We had a great weekend and covered 30 miles and over 2000m of ascent during the 2 day event.

We started at Bethesta and roamed with tent and supplies, over several of the welsh 3000 peaks including Carnedd Gwenllian, Foel-fras and Foel Grach. For the RAB mountain marathon the aim is to navigate and collect as many checkpoints as possible in the 6 hours, before making it to the overnight camp, which was in the Llanfairfechan area. We saw wild ponies, amazing scenery and the weather varied from gale force winds and rain to glorious sunshine

It was a very sociable and sunny overnight camp which luckily defied the awful weather forecast.

The 5 hour second day covered similar terrain, and we also got a fantastic view of Aber Falls

We finished 23rd team for our category and collected 20 checkpoints, totalling 310 points

It was a well organised event with a brilliant atmosphere, lots of fun and some running!

25 September 2011: SWAC Juniors at last track & field meeting (by Norman Marshall)

The last open track & field meeting took place at Blackpool on Sunday 25th.The first one started at Litherland where there was a nice turn-out of Youngsters from Litherland and Southport training groups, taking the opportunity to try out their track skills. We then moved on to Wigan and the first of two meetings at Blackpool, but on these occasions you could count our young athletes on one hand. But at the 2nd.Blackpool meeting, the Southport part of our club at last got their act together with four taking medals!

Under 9 Boy Max Davis taking in the 600m with a time of 2.30, long jump of 2.49 and 80m in 15.2; Under 9 Girl.Lily Ann Grayson - a girl with speed who took 2nd place in the 80m (just got beaten for the Gold) in 13.2 and long jumped 2.66; Annabel Riding was 2:13.6 and took Bronze for the 600m, ran her sprint in 13.6 and 13.8 for the 80m and long jumped.2.99 for Silver; and Molly Morris in her 600 ran 2.18.4, long jumped 2.45 and in her 80m ran 14.7. Under 11 Girl Molly Riding ran 2:18 for 600, long jumped 2.39 and ran the 80m in 14.10.

Under 11 Boy Ben Apps took medals in the 80m in 12.4 and in the long jump 3.53. He ran 2:02 for 600m but no medal here.

Others taking part were Shaun McKiernan, Harry McKitrick, Eleanor Kenny, Holly Cliff, Anna Jordan (high jump 1.15 and 100m in 16.5), Isobel McSloy and Emily McSloy.

Under 15 Elie McKinley threw the javelin 14.31 and the discus 20.03.

Full results

24 September 2011: Senior Men qualify once again for National Road Relay Champs

For the 2nd time in 5 years, the Northern Athletics' Autumn Road Relay Champs were held at Birchwood, Warrington. Birchwood is a fairly fast venue for these relays, run over a simple, flat course, on a quiet industrial estate. This year, I believe some roads were closed for the duration of the event, making for an improved course.

After winning the Merseyside Championships the previous weekend in Sefton Park, Southport Waterloo fielded teams in the Under 15 Boys 3-stage and Senior Men's 6-stage races. At Birchwood, the Under 15 Boys finished a brilliant 5th of 30 teams completing the course. They were also the 1st Merseyside club to finish. Andrew Kershaw ran the first leg in 9:56, finishing 7th, then Luke Tyson took over running 10:33, dropping back to 9th, and Michael Panes ran the glory leg, pulling the team back to 5th with an individual run in 10:11.

For the Senior Men, the competition was intense with lots of very fast times. Southport Waterloo finished 11th overall - the 3rd Merseyside team with just two Liverpool Harrier teams ahead - and so qualify for the national champs in Sutton Park, Birmingham on Saturday 15th October.

James Tartt led off and was in 6th place, in 18:08, when he passed over to Ben Johnson, 10th in 19:05. Patrick Vis ran the 3rd leg in 19:40 for a 14th place, David Hamilton, ran 20:25 on the 4th leg, Richard Shearer pulled back 3 places for 15th, running 19:30, and Joe Vis finished the team in 11th place, picking off another 4 teams, with another good run in 19:27.

Full results

17 September 2011: Across-the-board success at North West Counties road relays

Despite some very wet weather, Southport Waterloo had one of its best days ever at the North West Counties 3- and 4-stage road relays, hosted this year by Merseyside in Sefton Park. We fielded teams in every age group except Under 13 Boys - where we did enter a team but it was decimated by winter viruses - and incredibly every team took a Merseyside medal! At the top of the honours, our Under 15 Boys and both our Senior Women and our Senior Men won the Merseyside Championships. I can't recall a better club performance in this event. Younger performances were particularly satisfying as the runners are just finishing their seasonal break from training.

Our Under 13 Girls were Emma Alderson, Nisha Kumari-Webster and Sally Laughton. Emma set the early pace on leg 1 finishing a great 9th in 13:19 - the 13th fastest time of 78 girls running today. Nisha ran our 2nd leg in 16:46 before handing on to Sally who ran 14:54 for her 3.3 kms. That brought the girls home to take silver, the first of our medal haul in the Merseyside Champs!

With races over-running the programme, the decision was taken to run the Under 15 Girls, Under 17 Women and Under 15 Boys all together; and the added competition spurred our runners on to even greater effort.

Our Under 15 Girls were Caroline Smith, Lizzie McKay and Ellie Roberts. Caroline was 30th overall on leg 1 with a run in 14:58, with Lizzie McKay pulling back a couple of places in her run in 15:27. But the best was saved for last with Ellie Roberts running 12:55 - the 6th fastest lap of 28 girls in her leg! - bringing the team back to 20th overall but more importantly 3rd Merseyside club to take the county bronze medals behind Wirral and Liverpool.

With a strong squad of Under 15 Boys, there was some pressure to take a medal here and the boys didn't disappoint. Michael Panes toed the line for the first leg, and finished 7th in 11:32 for the 3.3 kms - our fastest leg and the 13th fastest of the 58 runners. Luke Tyson held position in 8th with a good run in 12:24 and Andrew Kershaw brought the team home in 7th overall, 1st Merseyside team, in 11:45.

With traditionally fewer clubs able to field a team in the age group, our Under 17 Women were confident of doing well. Sophie Lewis was first out and ran well to finish 8th overall in 13:35 for her 3.3 kms on the paths of Sefton Park. Sophie handed over to Lauren Clarehugh who held 8th place in 13:39. The final leg runner was Charlotte Sinclair who ran a stunning leg, picking up 4 places to finish in 12:39! A 4th place overall at the finish was a great result, just outside the North West medals but giving the girls bronze Merseyside medals.

Our Under 17 Men were also Merseyside bronze medallists. Liam Ellis ran the first leg here in 19:52 for the longer 5.5 km course, Jonathan Foster ran 21:12 for the 2nd leg and Niall Cullen ran 19:33 for the 3rd leg.

Our Senior Women managed two teams at Sefton Park. The 'A' team of Amanda Crook, Tracey Peters and Rachel Jacks went on to finish 7th overall and first Merseyside team taking county gold. Amanda gave the team a great start, finishing the first leg in 2nd place overall in 19:23, the 3rd fastest time of 93 runners. Tracey finished strongly in 3rd place overall, just holding off a Leigh Harrier at the line, in 22:05 and Rachel brought the team home in 7th overall, 1st Merseyside team, with an individual run of 23:35.

In the 'B' team, Jen Axe led off with 22:51, a great first outing I think for Jen in a Southport Waterloo vest. Steph James had her first competitive run for the club this year, running the 2nd leg in 26:46 and Liz Stanfield brought the team home in 23rd, running a 26:20 last leg.

Our Senior Men have enjoyed road relay success in recent years and had three teams out at Sefton Park. In the 'A team, Jay Tartt led off with a fine run in 16:42 for 2nd place overall - the 4th fastest leg of the day! Joe Vis showed his strength endurance running 17:36 for the 2nd leg, finishing in 3rd place. Richard Shearer finished 4th in 17:54 and that position was held by Ben Johnson running the final leg in 17:45. Some excellent times there fully justify their 4th place overall finish, again just outside the NW medals but worthy Merseyside champions.

The 'B' team was led by Patrick Vis (18:00), followed by Gerry Lenehan (18:43), Matt Goddard (20:03) and Steve Wilkinson (19:00). The 'C' team were Tom Peacock (20:42), Phil Bailey (20:47), Gareth Williams (20:36) and Alex Holt (21:56). The 'B team were 18th overall and the 'C' team 43rd of the 54 complete teams.

Thanks to team managers Carole James, Steve Boreham, Richard Shearer and Steve James. Thanks too to Steve Boreham and Mark Kershaw for sending in photos of today's action.

Complete results

6 September 2011: Successful 1st Fell Running Grand Prix Series (By Brian Davey)

Although the series was run over the summer months most of the races were run in conditions which were not what you would expect during the summer. Despite the poor weather, 29 athletes from the club have taken part in one or more of the six races which have been held in locations from the Lake District to N Wales.

I hope all those who have taken part have enjoyed the different courses and locations and have found the races challenging and enjoyable. There was some good competition in both the men’s and ladies races, although the winners were both convincing it was close for the second and third places particularly in the men’s grand prix with the runners-up spot still not certain going into the final race. Simon Tobin managed to secure the runners-up place with another strong run at Moel Fammau, managing to secure 8 points that took him past Neil Adshead.

I would like to thank all the runners who have taken part in the Fell Running Grand Prix this year and that you will be returning to the fells next year and encourage others to join us on the hills.

Results.

Congratulations to all the above.  For the full results, see the final results table.