Harrison on right track in Gateshead

CONSIDERABLE representation at the English schools national track and field championships in Gateshead and in the inter girls competition saw Natasha Harrison come second in her 300 metres heat to qualify for the final.

She went on to finish in fourth spot in a very competitive field while fellow Harriers’ club mate Katey Whiteoak took 12th spot in the final of the 1,500 metres to finish in 4:51:10.

Horizontal jumps met with expectations in the same age group with Bethan Murray finishing ninth in the long jump (5:45m) and Emily Jarad and Katie Waterworth both going in the triple jump and at the lower age group Laura Hickey was seventh in the 75 metres hurdles final.

Holly Benson put the shot in a solid throw of 10:74m and to round the afternoon off both Grace Goodsell and Catherine Giller made it through to the long jump finals (eighth – 5:09m and 19th – 4:79m respectively).

A lull in the local track and field league competition season brought trail and fell running back to the fore during the early part of July with the Wizard 5 mile trail race being the 13th event and reaching the half way stage through the 24 event annual Stockport Harriers’ race series.

Star of the show at the trail race around the National Trust lands of Alderley Edge was Stockport’s own Ellen Downs who took both the under 20s and first ladies’ winning spoils to finish in a splendid time of 32 minutes and 46 seconds for the mainly off road event.

Downs made sure that there was no other competition anywhere near her in her class, with second place in the ladies race going to Sophie Kirk of Macclesfield Harriers who finished some 27 seconds behind in 34:13 and was helped

●●Ellen Downs along by a phalanx of other Stockport runners in the men`s race with Ben Snell just one place and four seconds ahead (25th overall – 32:42) and further up front still was the first Stockport runner being Nathan Mayoh (18th – 31:44). The weather was poor but the enthusiasm was great and so was the organisation by Wilmslow Running Club with the proceeds after costs being donated to the Stockport Cerebral Palsy Society. One man who regularly travels long distances was former committee member Ian Mulligan, making the journey from North Wales and finishing in a creditable 33rd place (33:28) out of a total finishing field of 246 competitors. The final track and field meeting for the Youth Development League takes place at Connahs Quay this coming Sunday with a start time for field events of 11.15am and for track at 11.40am. Considerable support will be needed by team Stockport to ensure a mid-table finish at the end of this season and unless there are any last minute amendments, stadium users are advised that the Woodbank facility is closed for a threemonth refurbishment commencing this coming Monday, the 25th July.