Davies sets the marathon pace
STOCKPORT’S international athlete Andrew Davies managed to lower his own time and the club record in the London marathon and stopped the clock in 2:15:11 for a fine overall 16th place.
He couldn’t quite take the first British finish position, which went to Robbie Simpson of Deeside who was just seven seconds in front of Davies to finish 15th in 2:15:04.
This sub 2:16 A grade result gives Davies the qualifying standard to represent his home country of Wales in next year’s Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast in Australia and he will be well satisfied with his achievements thus far.
Two or so decades ago the local club would have been fortunate to encompass any runners in a sub 2 hours and thirty minutes category but with Davies showing off some exemplary front running, this will now become more common place.
Also to the fore was locally coached Johnny Mellor of Liverpool Harriers, who benefits from the tutelage of Stockport’s senior coach Steve Vernon and finished in a splendid time of 2:18:48 to record a 25th position.
There were also sub three hour finishes for Gary Milligan (766th – 2:49:03), Charlie Batho (880th – 2:50:39) and Iain Murdoch who stopped the clock in 2:51:01 to record 904th whilst in the ladies event, first local Harrier home was Victoria Atess in 3:03:55 followed in by Jayne Lawton in 3:09:57.
Spare a thought for Stockport Harrier committee member Helen Todd who finished 29th in her 60/64 age category as she made valiantly for the finish line to record but one second on the up side of 4 hours in 4:00:01.
The supervet made it a personal best after seven marathons, of which five have been at London, and she will not be resting on her laurels and will carry on churning out the long distance miles over the coming summer season.
Todd continues to improve with age like good wine and defies the slowing down process and will no doubt wish eventually to beat that ever so close and elusive four hour barrier.
She will have a further tilt at the target time either later in the year of at next year’s London event and her colleagues within the Harriers’ group will be egging her on to achieve this before she hangs up her running shoes.
A glorious start to the outdoor track and field season saw team Stockport win the first match at Leigh Sports Centre with considerable ease at the youth development lower age group competition, amassing 567 match points to second placed Isle of Man youth on 507.
Substantial points were gained, especially in the relay events with both the girls’ and boys’ under 15s 4 x 300 metre teams securing the gold position in their respective events.
The girls took the honours in the 4 x 100 metre event also, consisting of Amy Battle, Mia-Rose Llewellyn, Holly Aitchison and Rebecca Roach.
Rebecca Cox did the double first in the under 13s 70 metre hurdles A event (12:70) and then transferred to the high jump to make it a second win on the day at 1:45 being a full five centimetres in front of the opposition.
Rebecca Leather came up with the goods in the equivalent B hurdles race to stop the clock in 13:40 to record a useful first place finish.
Fares Ibrahim showed who was boss in the under 15s boys’ 800 metres B event with a winning time of 2:166 and then went on to anchor the 4 x 300 metre relay team to a successful conclusion.
His middle distance colleague Jacob WoodDoyle made it a second finish in the equivalent 800 metre A event in a time of 2:162.
These junior athletes and many more will be transferring their efforts to Longford Park, Stretford hosted by Trafford AC for the second match taking place on Saturday the 20th May.
Meanwhile, the seventh event in the Stockport Harriers race series takes place on Wednesday 10th May, this being the “Mad Hatter’s” five mile trail race organised by Belle Vue racers with a start time of 7.30pm. Further details may be found at bellevueracers.com