Handforth Wilmslow Alderley Athletics Club

N.W. Sportshall League Result - Round 4 – Widnes, 18/1/09

It was good to see so many new faces at our final Sportshall event of the season. Out of the ten athletes seven had not been to any of the earlier events of the season, even better, for the first time we were able to field a relay team in one age group.

 

In the Under 11 Girls age group we have to congratulate Cloe Atkins & Sophie Emsley who on their very first outing for the club produced some excellent results, Sophie recording the forth highest overall score in her age group.

 

Ewan McWalter had newcomer Daniel Bundred for company on this occasion and both had a good afternoon with Ewan taking second place in the 4 Lap Race and whilst he could not manage to equal his club record in the Chest Push (CP), he did beat the opposition to take first place with an excellent throw of 6.25m.   Daniel who has only been with the club for a few weeks also did very well and was placed forth in both the 2 Lap Race and the Standing Long Jump (SLJ).

 

The five strong Under 15 Girls team had a super day with Abigail Acton and Katie Wharton both setting two P.B.s, Abigail with 2.05m in the SLJ and 5.72m in the Standing Triple Jump (STJ), and Katie with 2.00m in the SLJ and 7.00m in the Shot Putt (SP).  Imogen and Emily Taylor (not related) both tried new events setting good marks for the future, Imogen recording 65 in the speed bounce to take 3^rd place.  However one of the best performances of the day came from April Gardner being the only member of the squad to take on the 6 Lap Race who after a real gutsy run in a very competitive race was placed 3^rd with a time of 1:44.2, so great was her effort and determination that she finished too exhausted to take her place in the relay team (the team did however manage a 3^rd place in the race).  On the day the Girls were the second highest scoring team in the league.

 

Not to be out done by the girls, James Grannan (U.15 Boy) once again put in a terrific performance taking first place in the 6 Lap Race and the Speed Bounce (equalling his club record) and third place in both the Standing Long Jump and Vertical Jump to finish off a cracking Sportshall season.

 

Our congratulations to all our athletes for supporting the club and on an excellent performance.

 

Mike Bullock

North of England XC Championships

With a couple of thousand runners and as many supporters cheering on, this was a major XC event. It attracts all of the best runners from all the top Athletics Clubs over the whole of Northern England. So no pressure then!

At 12:15, Hannah Cusworth was lining up with 163 other entries in the u13Gs. A 3km course over two laps on soft ground but at least the weather was kind. Hannah had made sure she was near the front at the start and at the gun they sprinted off the start line. The pace soon settled down and it was down to hard work. Concentrating throughout, she held her ground finishing with a sprint to pass 5 runners at the end to secure in 92nd place. A great performance.

Next was James Grannan, u15B amongst 159 other athletes. A 4km course again over a small and then large lap with a couple of extra hills thrown in. James again ensured he was at the front of the pack and after 50m was winning! A more sensible pace was established and James was comfortably in the middle of the pack. At halfway he looked relaxed but now in the upper half of the race. He cleverly used the extra down hill to grab another place. His final position was 89th and I think it was his best performance this season. James looked pleased with it too!

Finally, at 1:50 it was Kevin Acton, u13B with 184 other athletes. The 3km course now thoroughly cut up by 2 ¹/₂ hours of racing was very soft and heavy. Kevin ran strongly but sensibly. He gained ground throughout the race and finished in a terrific 58th place.

It is a great experience to run in these large major XC events. Our 3 club runners worked hard and were rewarded with superb positions. They should be very proud of their achievements.

Results can be found here: Results and a few photographs here: Photos or on the Northern Athletics Web Site: NOEAA

Cheshire XC Championships - Winsford, 10th Jan 2009

It was bitterly cold and with a breeze, doubly so. But our runners lined up keen and ready to go. Now the County Championships is all the Cheshire Athletic Clubs best runners competing against each other. Every County in the country was holding an event that day, so it was a strong field.

The u13G & u13B were running in the same race, 2,900m over flat frozen fields. We had Joel to boost our regular 3 and he duly set off with Kevin and Hannah on a fast downhill start. With 1/2 a mile to go Kevin was vying with a Vale Royle runner for 4th or 5th place. With 20m to go it was still neck and neck but Kevin was pipped at the line. However with a 5th place Kevin has been picked to run for his County at the Inter-county Championships in Nottingham, a televised event! Kevin had worked really hard to secure that place, a fantastic effort. Next in was Hannah, with 1/2 a mile to go she was in 13th place but her strong finish gave her 12th and again selected as a reserve for her County. Another superb result. Joel, not having been able to race all season nevertheless showed his great ability coming in 21st, well up the field.

James was up against another strong field but over 4,800m. A third of the way round he was in 13th place just outside a reserve county position. But there were a lot of keen runners out there and with 1/2 mile to go he was in 19th place. James pulled back a place and was only beaten by 1 u17G so again demonstrated his improved performance this year. James needs some more training mileage so that he can maintain his undoubted speed in the second half of races.

So great results all round for our club runners. Official results can be found here: AWAITED, and a few photos here: Photos

Graham

MAXCL - Match 4, Woodbank Park, Stockport - 4th Jan 2009

Another disappointing turnout in terms of numbers but excellent runs by our three regulars this year. Again no u11s!!

This is a tough course for those who don't like hills, woods and twisting courses but superb for those who do! The ground was very hard after all the frost so the going was quick. Hannah was up first in the u13Gs. After a fast start she started feeling a pain in her knee so sensibly had a cautious run coming in, in 29th position. She is a much much better runner than this position, so will hopefully bounce back for next weeks County race.

Next was Kevin u13B. Kevin has been having a great season benefiting from his regular attendance at the 5K race in Bramhall. With top ten placements on his previous races he was down a bit on this race. With half a mile to go he was in 8th place with no threat from behind but a huge 50m gap to the next runner in front. I don't know if it was because I had told him he was in 8th but this clearly wasn't enough and by the finish Kevin had caught and comfortably passed the Sale Harries runner in front. This shows great belief, determination and starting to understand what he can achieve. With 3 non-counters (guest runners) from Bury AC his final position is actually 4th!

Finally it was James, u15B. James again has been benefiting from the Bramhall 5Ks and has been improving all season. Disappointed in his last race this is his "least favourite venue...I don't like hills" Well he didn't start off like he thought that, being in 6th place at the first bend! With two laps and therefore 2 hills to climb he was in 8th place about a third of the way through the race but with a bunch of runners on his tail. By the finish, the second hill had taken its toll and he was back in 14th place. This is an excellent result. As James missed Match 1, a good run at Wythenshaw will ensure a great final placement.

Full results can be found here: Results and photos here: Photos

Graham