Rudd enjoys Masters win
AVISIT to the Vejlby Stadium in Aarhus, Denmark was just the tonic for intrepid track veteran Harrier Louise Rudd.
As in previous years she continued with her winning ways at the 20th European Masters’ Athletic Championships with a fine showing in her specialist event being the metric mile.
A blast out straight from the gun saw Rudd see off the rest of all the European opposition for the three and three quarters laps of the track to finish in a scintillating time of 4:41:92 for the 1500 metres distance and in the process eclipsed the field with second place going to Niamh Fitzgerald of the Irish republic in 4:46:32 and Rudd will be back for more of the same at the shorter distance of 800 metres prior to her returning to the UK.
Closer to home and at the other end of the age spectrum, no less than 140 athletes made the annual Stockport Harriers Quadrathlon sponsored by Life Leisure UK one of the largest events at Woodbank stadium for the year and the multi event competition was keenly fought over in four age groups for both boys and girls.
There were wins in the boy’s events for Isaac Reed (Stockport under 9s), a narrow as you can victory by one point for Alfie Carter (Crewe and Nantwich) in the under 11s, Jake Minshull made the journey for Coventry Godiva Harriers for a win in the under 13s and Sam Worthington from Sale made it a first place in the under 15s section of the competition.
The girls’ outnumbered the boys by at least a further 13 entrants with wins for Megan Hulse (under 9s – Southport and Waterloo).
Lola Unsworth came home in gold position for the host club for the under 11s, Amber Hughes of Southport and Waterloo took the honours for the under 13s and to round the afternoon proceedings off, Stockport’s own Abigail Pawlett made it a first position in the under 15s department.
Quadrathlon competition records were broken by no less than four athletes being Lola Unsworth, Abigail Pawlett for Stockport, Sam Worthington for Sale and Stockport’s very own junior long jump specialist Jack Doodson
All athletes had to participate in a throw, jump, sprint and middle distance event to complete the set and organiser Mike Frost, the Stockport Harriers chairman, was exceedingly grateful for the support from Life Leisure in hiring in a mobile grandstand for the day which along with lighting from the public car park to the stadium must be near the top of the wish list for items still to be accomplished at Woodbank Park in order to bring the facility up to a satisfactory level.
Considerable improvements have been made already at the park and especially with the equipment inventory which will now enable the Harriers to host regional events next summer.
Meanwhile, there is work still to be done for Stockport’s multi eventers this coming weekend with the England athletics junior combined events championships which takes place at Sport city, Manchester over a two day period.