Hall youngsters show promise
IN addition to the indoor athletics action during the winter season, many a young athlete also takes part in sports hall athletics which comes into it’s own in space restricted indoor facilities.
Team Stockport has been involved through much of the winter season and has come out of the Manchester Sports Hall League matches in third team position in three of the four age groups – the under 11 girls and boys and also in the under 13 boys’ section of the overall competition.
Team manager David Jackson is justifiably proud of his youngsters’ achievements together with the assistance of Catherine Giller and with more medals on offer in the individual championship competition as well.
Giller made it a double gold finish in both the long and standing triple jump which latter event requires considerable technique.
Club mate Louis Briscall-Slack took full advantage to medal in three events, the speed bounce, standing triple jump – with a personal best in the process – together with further success in the four-lap run.
These and other results will bode well this summer for Team Stockport in the Youth development track and field league.
More team success for Stockport came the way of both the girls and boys under 11s relay teams, with both teams making it through the preliminary rounds to the final and finishing in fourth position apiece.
There was further individual medal success for Lauren Atkinson (triple jump), Sam Elliott (vertical jump), Mack Wileman (Shot Putt) and Luca Sheppard (standing triple jump).
Over the hills and to the English Institute of Sport where the hosting of the third of four South Yorkshire indoor athletic meetings where the training in combined events is starting to pay dividends with three Stockport athletes well in contention for medal finishes.
Lola Unsworth and Seren Redfern are in overall first and second places respectively for the under 11 girls, while Jack Doodson tops the leader board in the under 13 boys’ competition with all athletes having to complete a sprint, middle distance race, jump and throw with the four event Grand Prix series concluding on the 19th of March.
Stockport’s sub four minute miler and international Olympian Ross Millington made it first Briton home at the annual high quality Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza event in Elgoibar, Spain.
He finished in a useful 10th spot out of a finishing field of 77 competitors with an impressive time of 33 minutes and 4 seconds for the 10.8 kilometre undulating course and will have used this event as useful preparation for further high class outings in the coming season.
There’s no excuse now for not tying on the trainers with a useful “couch to five kilometres” course suitable for absolute beginners which will be commencing on Wednesday, 14th February from Woodbank Community centre, Turncroft Lane, Offerton at 7pm.
It will last for eight weeks after which time a suitable event will be found to put the course to the test.
Further details from Stockport coach Alexis Dinsmor at alexis.dinsmor@ntlworld.com or phone 0161 485 7897.