Harriers’ trio of Jacks take home bounty
THE offer was on the table at the Decathlon Sale Sizzlers 5 kilometres road race series and it was duly accomplished by the “three Jacks” of Stockport.
Three club athletes finished in less than 15 minutes each for the fast and flat course around Wythenshawe Park and the trio thus gained the £100 bounty which was on offer, in fact just five competitors subbed 15 minutes of which three were from Stockport.
The prial of Jacks consisted of Jack Martin who secured 2nd place in 14:30, Jack Morris in 4th enjoying a timing of 14:45 and anchor man Jack Nixon who stopped the clock in 14:54 for 5th spot and all bets are off that this intrepid trio can’t do this more than once on the same course.
For the Stockport ladies, ever improving Hannah Griffiths made it 8th in the ladies’ section in 17:53 to enjoy an 84th overall finish position.
From the shortest of road distances to one of the longest being the marathon distance of 26+ miles saw Stockport’s first ever selected athlete for the world championships in the form of Andrew Davies who plied his trade over a four lap circuit from Tower bridge, along the Victoria embankment to Westminster and back again with an included grand tour of the city via St Pauls and the Bank of England.
No time for banking or sightseeing services with Davies completing the event and posting a finishing time of 2:17:59 for 31st place with colleague Callum Hawkins of Kilbarchan AAC making it a personal best in 2:10:17 (4th) and the third British competitor was Josh Griffiths of Swansea Harriers who crossed the line in 2:20:06 for 39th spot but surprisingly of the original field of approximately 98 competitors there were as many as 27 who never finished the course.
Davies should be reasonably satisfied with his marathon excursion and in April he secured his personal best in the Virgin London marathon with a 2:15 posting which many a club athlete could only dream about and this competitor is as equal on the mountains, ultra running in deserts as well as long distance road running so nothing will faze him in the future.
Stockport’s Louis Rudd continued her winning ways in Aarhus, Denmark at the European Masters’ track and field championships and having already taken the over 40’s 1500 metre title she made it the double by taking the 800 metres event in a time of 2:16:68.
“I’ve never been in such a close finish” she exclaimed “and it was a mere vest’s width between myself and the second placed competitor” and that was Maren Schott of Germany just 7/100’s of a second behind in 2:16:75.
It was chip muffin time all round at the annual Millbrook Monster 10 kms event and 4 kms junior event promoted by Hyde village striders which took in the sites of Stalybridge country park with the highest point being Harridge Pike at 370 metres.
Several redoubtable juniors from Stockport Harriers made the effort with Jacob Wood – Doyle finishing 2nd for the under 15’s category whilst Josh Garonne took the winning title for the under 11’s and finished in an overall 4th position and he was ably supported by William Bailey (6th), Harry Ahearn (7th) and Matteo Garonne (9th) and Freddie Bailey (17th) and after the prize giving it was hot foot to the local chippy for the included local offering.
This coming weekend sees the Northern junior track and field championships taking place at the Leigh Sports Village over two days whilst those who wish for their running in high up places, there is the annual Crowden Horseshoe fell race on Sunday which departs from the camp site at 11am over an eight mile course and 518 metres of total climb.
For children, there are two further athletics holiday camps at Woodbank Stadium commencing on Mondays the 21st and 28th of August and for further details, go to www. shacstartrack.fikket.com