Relays highlight for super Harriers
THERE was a fantastic turn out by Stockport athletes for the first round of the Cheshire Track and Field league at Longford Park, Stretford.
A total of 88 athletes represented the club from the Under 11 age groups up to seniors in a variety of events.
The first event of the day was the 3,000m with the winner being Stockport’s Luke Farrant in a UK ranking time of 9:38, supported by several other excellent Stockport athletes in the rest of the field.
There were several other great performances across the board with a 100m win for Abi Pawlett with 12.9 seconds.
There was a personal best for Arthur Kennedy in the Under 13 Boys 200m with 29.3seconds and a strong performance by both the male and female teams in the Under 17 and Senior age groups in the 100m races.
In the field events there were also noteworthy performances from Holly Benson in the Under 17 Javelin with 35.70m, a personal best of 11.36m in the U17 women’s Triple Jump by Holly Aitchison and also a first place for Lola Unsworth in the Under 13 girls Long Jump with 4.01m.
Undoubtedly, however, the highlight of the day was the relays. Stockport pitched up and entered 13 scoring and none scoring relay teams with some of the teams putting in season’s best performances.
The more notable performances from the 4x100m Under 11 Girls’ team with 65.0 seconds for first place and the Under 17 Women ‘s team with 49.6, who seem to keep breaking records every time they run.
The match finished with a head to head for Stockport’s Under 17 Men’s and Senior Men’s relay teams.
Made up by a mixture of distance runners and sprinters the two teams finished with exciting nose dives for the finish with the difference being a 0.4 of a second apart. The times for the teams were 49.6 seconds for the Under 17 Men and 50.0 seconds for the senior men, earning both teams first place respectively in their age groups.
James Pratt, the Under 17 and senior manager, commented on the club’s performances, saying: “The club have shown a fantastic team spirit and strength in numbers in only the first match of the season. I can’t wait to see where the club finishes in September.”
Congratulations are also due to Abi Pawlett and Emily Misantoni who have both received invites to compete at the Pruebas Combinadas 2018 International Heptathlon in Tenerife next Month.
Another three events in the Stockport Harrier 2018 Race series saw the return of a few familiar faces and some great results for Stockport Vets and Seniors.
The Buxworth 5 Road Race took place on a balmy evening. This is a five mile single lap route around the country lanes of High Peak with a few testing climbs and an elevation of 988ft.
Although the last mile is flat, this is certainly not a PB course although Stockport’s Elle Baker still holds the women’s course record from 2017 with her win in 31:30.
With lots of prizes up for grabs in this race, Adam Thompson led the Harriers home in 5th place and a time of 31:42. Hot on his heels were James Corden and Phil Burns in 8th and 9th positions and 32:08 and 32:29 respectively.
These three are all serious contenders for the winning the race series and the competition is getting fierce! Andy Melvin and Heather Corden finished together in 42nd and 43rd place which meant that Heather was also the 4th female over the line. Jayne Lawton had a great race, finishing 5th female and 48 overall.
The Yarrow River Bluebell Trail took place on Sunday 6 May 2018 and from all accounts truly lived it up to its name with a beautiful scenic 10km run through bluebell carpeted woodland.
Until the dip in the river at the end that is. Taking first prize this time was Paul Jibson from Middleton Harriers in a very impressive time of 42:54 considering the undulating and varied terrain. James Corden was the first Stockport back in a cool 6th place with a time of 44:55.
Stockport did not have a very high turn-out in this race but stalwarts Andy Melvin and Heather Corden flew the yellow vest and finished together yet again in 23rd and 24th places out of 284 runners, both clocking a time of 50:33!
Next came the Mad Hatters Trail Race, a five-mile off road saunter around Reddish Vale Country Park.
The race was won by Kristan McKenna of Avalanche Endurance RC in a blistering time of 29:41. First Stockport Harrier was Adam Thompson, returning from injury with a bang and claiming 6th place in 31.28.
Other great performances came from Phil Burns who took 11th place in 32:20 and Mathew Brown in 16th in 33:48. This meant that Stockport was awarded second in the Men’s Team prizes.
Overall, 19 Harriers took part with the women also notching up some important points for the races; Samantha Thomas was the first Stockport lady over the line, 7th female and 39th overall in 36:46. Jennie Pickard had a great run and was 2nd Stockport female, 12th female and 51st overall in 37:32.
Peta Walsh’s finish as 73rd female secured bronze for Stockport in the Women’s Team prizes.
Today is another race in the Stockport Harrier Race Series; Shining Tor Fell Race, a nice 10km trot around the Goyt Valley!