Reaping reward
THE Woodbank Stadium facility is now bearing fruit, following on from the completion of the new buildings complex last autumn.
Concentration is now much more on the athletics prowess as it should be, rather than the “bricks and mortar” of the situation which has now been accomplished.
The best example of recent times is that the quality coaching regime at Woodbank Park has produced no less than twelve young athletes who have made the grade and have been chosen to represent their appropriate counties, mostly Greater Manchester and Cheshire, at the English schools track and field championships.
They took place recently at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham and, with both the youth development teams currently topping their respective summer leagues, things are looking promising at the moment for the future of the athletics stadium.
It was “Jacks alive” at the Golden Spike athletics meeting at Leiden in the Netherlands with two Stockport long distance prospects obtaining personal bests in the 10,000 metre event.
Jack Martin and Jack Morris both subbed the 30 minute barrier in the respective times of 29:15 and 29:41 which will vastly improve their prospects not only on the track but also during the current road racing season.
It was at this meet in Leiden where local Harrier Ross Millington obtained his Rio Olympic qualifying time in 2016 so it is proving to be a happy hunting ground for all matters long distance.
Local charities are benefiting substantially at the moment from athletics activities in the Stockport area and the high spot soon to come is the GO TRI Seashell duathlon and triathlon for all the community and especially for children with learning difficulties and additional special needs.
In fact, something for everybody will be taking place this coming Sunday the 16th of July at the Stanley Road complex in Cheadle Hulme.
Maureen Wilkins, a keen member of Stockport Harriers and a teacher at the trust said: “This triathlon is unique as it has been adapted to suit every individual’s needs in a safe environment around the trust’s grounds with special equipment such as adapted bikes and quad bikes.”
Wilkins knows a thing or two about bike riding and although she’s not up there with the Tour de France riders, she has ridden for charity recently from London to Paris in aid of The Christie hospital and Macmillan nurses in a sub twenty four hour time from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower with only the ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe for respite.
To enter the Seashell event go to www.crazylegsevents.co.uk and also see www.seashelltrust.org.uk for further details.
The Wellspring foundation is another athletics beneficiary being the local homeless charity and resource centre in conjunction with the Hatters Half Marathon which takes place on 3rd September with further details to be found at www.hattershalf.co.uk
Events come thick and fast this coming weekend, chief amongst them being the final Youth development track and field lower age group competition which commences at Longford Park, Stretford at 11.30am on Saturday.
For those who wish to make for the hills, the destination of choice will be the Charlesworth fell race, also on the same day in conjunction with the carnival with a start time of 2.30pm for the threemile slog up to Coombes rocks.
There are junior events to be had too, starting at 3.30pm.