Athletics 2009

City Parks Grand Prix

Longton park,  12th May.  The junior club members were out in force for the first of the four races and Lauren (left) set the standard with her superb win in the U13 category, finishing the fairly demanding 2km course in 7' 48".  She was third girl overal behind two under 15 runners, Molly Patrick the winner in 7'33" and C Dale (7' 40"), both from Newcastle. In the boys U13  race Matt Caton (7' 04") and Tom Brookes (7' 12") finished 4th and 5th behind 3 boys from Stoke AC; the winning time was 6' 43". In U15 Danny Need finished 8th in 7' 07" behind a very strong field from Stoke AC;  the winning time  6'23". Louise was running in the senior race. It was her first 5km road race and she didn't know what to expect, although her experience at Trafford had given her some feel for mixed races. In the event she ran a steady but cautious race to finish 3rd in 19' 02 behind a winning time of 18' 51". Her training mate Steph also took on the ladies and finished well up the field in 7th  position with a time of 20' 30".  It was a good night for the club with Alex Derricot a clear winner of the mens race.  Results and Photos from Bryan Dale. Tunstall park, 9th June.  The junior members were again well represented. Lauren held on to her narrow overall lead finishing 2nd, in 7'59, 3 seconds behind the U13 winner. Molly again took the u15 title crossing the line in 7' 32". In the boys race Matt improved his position to 3rd missing out on 2nd by inches. In the senior race Louise and Steph were joined by another junior, Danni Johnson, and Louise was sent off with instructions to stick as close to her as possible. After the 1st small lap Danni was in 3rd position and Louise 4th; at the end of the next large lap they were just moving into 1st and 2nd place. By half way around the 2nd large lap Louise had taken the lead and Danni, only recently back from injury, had slipped to fourth place. Louise extended her lead over the last lap to win in a time of 18' 10" much to the delight of Phil, her coach. Danni fought on to finish 5th and Steph 11th. Results and Photos and picture (right) of Danni and Louise from Bryan Dale. Fenton Park,  14th July. In the junior race, Matt once again improved his position to finish 2nd but Lauren due to a prior school engagement Lauren was not available to continue her challenge in the girls race. On a miserable night the rain held off just long enough for the junoirs but the seniors had to content with very wet, slippery and blustery conditions. Louise took an early lead which she slowly increased over each of the three laps to finish in 18' 58, 20 seconds ahead of the second lady. Steph recently back from holiday ran well to improve on her previous position finishing 6th in 21' 26. Results and photos available from Bryan Dale. Hanley Park, 18th August.  In the final race of the seaon Matt maintained his form to finish 2nd and take the overall 2nd place for the U13 boys series. In the senior race Louise moved into the lead after the first kilometer and held off a late challenge from the winner of the Longton race to take first place in 18' 36, 12 seconds ahead. Steph, after another post exam holiday and only light training, struggled on the final lap but. in a large field, still managed a creditable 11th place in 21' 46. Louise took the overal series title and Steph was 5th. Well done girls. Alex took the men's title having won all four races. Results and photos available from Bryan Dale.

Track Events

Stoke Open Meeting After reasonable success last year in her two track events at 1500m, Louise, now in Under 15s has decided to train for 3000m for which she is now eligible. She made her debut at the City of Stoke Open meeting on April 19th. There was one ladies 3km race and Louise was by far the youngest, being three years the junior of the next youngest competitor.  The conditions were ideal and within a lap it was clear that Louise's pace was well matched with one of the senior ladies whom she tucked in behind.  Unfortunately Louise didn't realise when the lady started to slow and she allowed her to dictate the pace for another couple of laps until realising she needed to pass.  Louise had been hoping for a time under 10' 40'' and she finished in 10' 34.7" 2nd behind Kate Holt who had had an easy win.  Once recovered Louise's verdict  was that she had been somewhat cautious because it was her first time and she could go faster next time. Results from Stoke AC. Trafford Grand Prix Eager to follow up and improve on her debut, Louise ran in the Trafford Grand Prix 3000m on 28th April having previously obtained permission (there isn't a 3000m in the U15s Medal series). This was an altogether different experience as the race was crowded and covered all categories including senior men. In contrast to her steady pace at Stoke, Louise had difficuly maintaining an even pace and after a far too fast start developed stitch for about three laps. Learning from Stoke she didn't stay tucked in behind when the runner she had been following slowed, but moved out to pass. He responded and for at least two laps she ended up running wide on his shoulder before finally passing. She was disappointed with her time of 10' 35.55" because it was slower than at Stoke and she thought she had run faster. She probably did, but it was offset by running wide and a crowded start - so something else for her to learn from. Results from Trafford AC. Staffordshire AAA Championships Held at Northwood Stadium on 9th May, Louise was running the 1500m, there being no 3000m event, and she was a little more apprehensive than usual.  After a steady start she took and retained the lead from about 300m into the race, finishing well clear in a time of 4' 54.5".  This is likely to be her only 1500m race of the season and it was disappointing not to see her put under more pressure to find out what she is actually capable of achieving. It was a good day out with some fine and some brave performances. Results from Stoke AC Midland Counties Track Championship After the rain last year this time the weather was very pleasant, ideal if not for the strong breeze, on day one of the Midland Counties Track and Field Championships (U15 & U17) on 23rd May. This was fortunate as the U15 girls 3000m race was more than 15 minutes late starting and the girls were kept waiting at the start. It wasn't the only problem for Louise. On arrival she had been issued with her bib number which turned out to be the wrong one and for several minutes there was confusion at the race reporting point before they decided that she could use it. As it turned out she would have had time to get it changed but at that point no one knew the race would be late starting. It was a small field but for the first time Louise was running only against girls in her own age group. After the first lap, which was very conservative, Louise decided to up the pace and she steadily opened an unassailable gap to take a comfortable win in 10' 38.23". The commentators fooled by the number announced the wrong name as Louise passed the 1500m mark but by the end had realised something was wrong and remained silent.  Results Day 1 Day 2 from Midlands Athletics.

Intercounties Championships - Wollaton Park - 7th March

Louise arrived full of hopes. She had been running well and was in good condition, with reasonable expectation of a top 10 finish, but it was not to be her day. Held a little longer at the start than she was expecting she lost concentration and was slow off the mark. Panicing to make up lost ground she ran far too fast for the first half the race, speeding through to the front after less than 1km. On a high an feeling good she didn't realise her mistake until after the 2km mark when she started to lose co-ordination over her arms and legs. By then it was too late. Although she was strong and forced herself to continue she was losing ground, eventually finishing in 27th place with a disappointing time. With the exception of Lucy Holt who saved the day coming through strongly at the end to finish in 13th place, the Staffordshire team performed below par.

Staffs Schools Championship - Staffordshire University - 7th February

We had been hoping for an exciting race between Jade and Louise. In school events they are both juniors (years 8 and 9), but unfortunately Jade was not available on the day. Due to the snow and ice the usual course had, for safety reasons, been changed to avoid the hill and the rough, still frozen track. Instead the runners had to complete several laps round the flat playing fields. While possibly less challenging to the runners it gave for excellent spectating as the runners could be seen round almost the entire course. Louise took and early lead which she extended each lap to finish comfortably ahead of Ellie (Cannock), Molly and Lucy (both Newcastle). In the Year 7 race Louise's club mate Becky ran an excellent race to finish a strong 3rd and in the intermediate girls race (years 10 and 11), Steph, recovering from a heavy cold finished also finished 3rd.

Midland Region XC Championship - Berry Hill Park - 24th January

Louise ran one of her best races this season to finish 2nd to Amy Griffiths of Leicester Coritainians. She of course was enormously disappointed, especially as at one point she had a 10 metre lead, and she was the only one on the podium with a long face. But it was a good race, exciting to watch with both girls giving it their all on the undulating and, in parts, muddy course.  Louise knew that Amy was fast and had expected a fast finish so she put in all her effort  trying to develop her lead, but she left too little for the final pull up to the finish.  Well done girls and congratulations to Amy and Nicole (3rd). Steph ran later, in her first year in the under 17 women's race.  As usual she ran a strong steady pace gradually moving through the field, comforably in front of a number of her rivals who earlier in the season had been a good match for her.  As she approached the finish we counted her in 18th position easily inside her target of a top 20 place and only a short distance and two places behind her main rival, but she misjudged the finish line and slowed before she crossed the timing mat allowing the two girls behind to pass. Although given the same time as one she was awarded 20th position. Three of Moorland's under 20 men turned in fine performances with all three finishing in the top 20 and two of them in the top 10. It was a pity that illness and injury had depleted the team or surely they would have returned with a medal.  Louise's rival in alternating years, Jade, now running in the first year of under 15, appeared to be suffering breathing difficulties in the first half of her race but recovered very strongly in the second half to finish 7th and lead her Stafford and Cannock team to bronze medal position.

Staffs County XC Championship -  Sandwell Valley - 10th January

It was frosty and cold and the ground frozen for the first race of 2009. Louise needed some persuading that her spikes would dig in and not bounce off the hard surface. The first race of the day was the under 13s mixed boys and girls. Louise went off with the leading pack of boys and got herself a little boxed in. Although she lead the girls by a clear margin for most of the time, she didn't run a particularly good race, losing concentration in the middle stages and not picking up until nearly the end. The longer (3.5k) course suited her and over the last 500m she widened her lead to a decisive 28 seconds.  Her team mate Rebecca finished 9th after a strong run and, still in her first year, showed she is a contender for the county team next year. The cold weather took its toll on a number of runners and cold induced breathing difficulties forced some with reasonable hopes of a county team place to retire. Let's hope the selectors will be watching the Midland Championships in two weeks time. In the next race, the under 15s her rival of last year, Jade, also turned in an impressive win to finish almost a minute ahead of her nearest challenger, and this in only her first year in the age group. Steph ran her usual measured race. All the ladies from under 17 to vets went off together and Steph was the first Moorland's finisher ; 4th in the under17 category she secured her place in the county team. A great achivement - and she was only a few seconds behind a rival she has set her sights on and is determined to beat during the year. Joy had a strong tun in the same race and it was unfortunate that their two team mates were unavailable which prevented them contending for the team prize. The ladies vets team was also out in strength and was delighted to take home the team bronze. All the Moorlands the runners in under 17, under 20 and senior men's teams turned in solid performances with closely packed, highly placed finishers rewarding them all with first placed team and a number of individual medals. However, the main interest was Phil the coach. Persuaded out of retirement at the last minute to make up the men's vets team depleted by illness, he slogged around the four laps in the still cold conditions, which didn't help his breathing of which he has long complained, and closed the counting in sufficient style to win them the bronze medal. Results from Tipton Harriers

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