No catching star Luciani ATHLETICS PETER POWELL

LEIGH Sports Village was a hive of activity for the annual North of England Junior Track and Field Championships with star billing going once again to Stockport’s Emily Luciani in the 800 metres event.

No one can catch the middle distance specialist this year at the two-lap event and she finished the 800 metres in the under 15s section with a huge margin of over six seconds (2:15:19) to second placed Ava Taperell of Gateshead who crossed the line to complete the two lap circuit in 2:21:45.

Stockport’s Jack Doodson tried his best in the under 13s long jump to record the runner’s up spot in 4:63 but had to be content for James Ince of Preston Harriers to take to the top of the podium with a 4:74 recording.

Doodson will no doubt have hoped for a better day having cleared over five metres at his best in recent time at the Youth Development League at Stretford, but hats off to him for his efforts in a none too easy competition.

Colleague Cameron Unsworth took to the shot put circle and recorded a massive winning put in the under 13s championship to record 9:13 against second placed Jack Stanway of Leeds City A.C. who posted a best throw of 8:55.

In the high jump discipline, Abigail Pawlett continued with her winning ways with a gold medal in the high jump discipline and followed it up with a first place in the 75 metres hurdles (11:34) and there were also medals won by Natasha Harrison and Bethany Murray to round off a good weekend’s sport for club Stockport.

The athletics holiday courses have now been completed at Woodbank Stadium with more than thirty youngsters having had their first taste of athletics. The course was led by Harriers’ coaching coordinator Joe Frost who received a rapturous reception for his efforts, especially from club kit officer Barbara Doodson.

“My granddaughter went to the summer school and I was enthused with the time and trouble taken by all the organisers and to see the smiles on the children’s faces was wonderful, more of the same please next year!” she said.

Stockport’s Louise Rudd, along with Altrincham’s Andy Norman took on an event with a difference. While most were attending to the penultimate session of the world athletics championships at Stratford, London, strange things were going on up the road at the Allianz Arena in Northwest London, the home of Saracens rugby union football club.

The intrepid athletes entered the annual international beer mile world classic where all competitors had to alternately consume a 12 fluid ounce five per cent beer followed by a lap of the track and this had to be accomplished just over four times to make up the statute mile.

Rudd, fresh from her European Masters track exploits in Aarhus, Denmark, showed that she was no wimp when combining the two “disciplines” and came away with the bronze medal in the elite women’s race in a time of 8:12.

Norman went one better in the elite men’s “B” event to stop the clock in 5:44 for a well earned second place but no one could beat the competitors from the USA and Canada in the men’s “A” event. It seems unreal how quickly the four beers and four laps are accomplished!

Both Rudd and Norman, having had their fun, will now be contemplating the forthcoming road relay and cross country seasons and will be putting away all unusual pastimes for another year and those club athletes who wish to enter the forthcoming road relays should make themselves known to their respective managers as soon as possible, the first of which will be a trip to the seaside on September 9th for the Northwest road relays at Stanley park, Blackpool.

Finally, next Sunday, the 3rd of September, sees the annual Hatters Half Marathon trail race taking place and starting from Hardcastle Road, Edgeley at 9.30am in conjunction with the County Supporters Cooperative.

It consists of a scenic 13+ mile course which wends it’s way along the Mersey trail to Northenden and back. Further details may be found at www.hattershalf.co.uk