Promotion for juniors at Harriers
THE Stockport juniors have achieved the double and have managed to gain promotion in both the lower and upper age groups of the Youth development track and field league which has now been completed for another season.
In the lower age group at Longford park, Stretford the youngsters remained unbeaten for the whole of the season with a first team position in every match but at the last fixture only one point separated Stockport from the Isle of Man youth team being the slenderest of margins but now the they have earned their just reward and will be taking their seats at the top table in the premier league which starts again in the spring of 2018.
Meanwhile the upper age group also made it a cumulative first team place and will be promoted from division two to the first division for the 2018 season and much of the efforts at Stanley park, Blackpool were down to the field athletes and in particular to Euan Benson who managed one first finish and three thirds in the “A” pool for the under 20s in the Hammer (21:28), Shotput (8:93), Discus (17:25) and Javelin (31:10) respectively.
Considerable support also was forthcoming from Emily Jarad in the under 20s department with her usual double first in the long jump “A” (4:79) and triple jump “A” with a mighty leap of 10:46 while her colleague Alice Giller was throwing all manner of implements throughout the park which amounted to a first finish in the discus (17:48) and javelin (17:27) and a well deserved third finish in the shot put (5:88).
With good support also forthcoming in the remaining field events and in particular from Bethan Murray and Catherine Giller it was all hands to the pump which resulted in the overall team win for the season which at times was not easy with some already away for their summer breaks but the promotion was forthcoming to the next league up and that is what really mattered.
Stockport Harriers coaching co-ordinator Joe Frost has now completed his management duties at the Commonwealth youth games in Nassau, Bahamas with considerable success for England in the relay events and will be involved at `grass roots’ level commencing on Monday, August 7 with the re-start of the summer holiday athletics academy for children aged 7 to 14 at the Woodbank stadium being a three-day course comprising of run, jump and throw disciplines and further details may be found at www.shacstartrack. fikket.com
For those who wish to compete in high places there is the annual Tegg’s Nose fell race on Saturday, 5th August which departs from the sheepdog trials field at Bullocks lane, Sutton near Macclesfield at 2:30 p.m. which comprises an eight-mile course with no less than 525 metres of climb before competitors return to enjoy the rest of the day’s festivities.