Harriers trio lift county into sixth
THE Southwest of England was the place of choice for the English schools’ combined events for all those budding juniors hoping to become tomorrow’s decathletes and multi event specialists.
The event took place at the Exeter Arena where Stockport Harriers provided 75 per cent of the fire power for the Greater Manchester under 15’s team.
Along with Lois McTiffin of Sale (12th), the trio of Laura Hickey (19th), Megan Lasseter (38th) and Holly Benson (42nd) from Stockport Harriers which gave the county team a sixth position overall.
Abigail Pawlett of West Cheshire AC and assisted by Stockport’s lead coach Joe Frost gave a good account of herself representing Cheshire junior girls to finish as 17th individual while local Harrier Rob Stokoe, also representing Cheshire, finished 38th in the intermediate boys’ competition.
A run with a complete difference will take place on Wednesday November 16th at the Media City in Salford Quays where thousands of runners and walkers will be participating in the “Run in the dark” event to raise vital funds for the Mark Pollock trust.
The charity is providing support and research into those persons who have encountered spinal injuries. It’s an annual fundraising event and is linked into 25,000 people taking part in 50 cities worldwide. There is a choice of 5km or two laps of Salford Quays, making 10 kilometres in total, and with a start time of 8pm from the piazza.
Further details can be found at www. runinthedark.org and the event is sponsored by Smooth Radio and sister station XS Manchester throughout the proceedings and is also being held simultaneously in Belfast, London, Cork and Dublin which will add considerable international spice to the proceedings.
A disappointing day ensued at the Northern road relays with Stockport’s senior men’s team being one runner short and the ladies’ team receiving a disqualification but at the younger end of the spectrum, team Stockport finished mid table in most of the events at Sport city. They will have home advantage in 2017 when the event is hosted at Woodbank Park.
A date has now been arranged for the official re-opening of the Woodbank Stadium which will be at 9.45am on Saturday, 5th November.
It will precede the start of the annual primary schools’ cross country league where plenty of fireworks at the front of the field will ensue in this eagerly contested annual series of events. For further details on this and also regarding the stadium re-opening including a link to “just giving” to assist with funding the furnishings for the new purpose built complex go to www. stockportharriers.co.uk