YOUTHS DID SO WELL – SENIORS NOT SO WELL

Fechin McCormick

The most successful of the club's teams at the weekend's National XC relays at Mansfield were the junior women! LUCY ARMITAGE, ISABELLA BURKE and AKIRA EDGSON finished a magnificent 7th from 43 competing teams. They missed becoming the first Northern team by just 7 seconds; becoming bronze medallists by 20 seconds and they recorded their section's best result since 2017 (when they were 4th ).

Superb running by BEATRIX SOPER, OONAGH McMANUS and LOLA RICHARDSON in the U13 section meant they were also a top placed 9th team. They recorded their section's best result since 2018 …..when Isabella Burke & Akira Edgson were then a part of the team! How great it was that CAITHLIN WETTERS, GRACE HILL and ISABELLE CONNOLLY represented the club as a 'B' team and did really well to finish 28th from the 75 competing teams.

Another championship highlight was the Junior and U17 men's teams. The SAVAGE twins – EVAN & ELLIOT and SAMUEL BRYAN flexed their formidable muscle and their 19th place was the section's best since 2016. The U17 also showed similar promise! OSCAR SCHOFIELD is amazing, easily winning his first leg against the nation's best as he did in the U15 race last year. He led his colleagues GEORGE NOBLE and JOSHUA COLQUNOUN-LYNN to 15th place and their section's best result since 2011 when they were 5th. If only these sections could be kept together in future years!

The senior women (MEGAN DAVIES, ALYSSA DAVEY and LUCY COOK) were an out of character 36th not fulfilling their potential by any means considering in recent years they were among the top five teams. A well done to SARAH GOULDEN and MIA GIBBONS who ran as individuals with middle distance runner Mia finishing like a steam train as she did so memorably in the 800m at the National Athletic League promotion match in the summer.

The senior men for the 3rd consecutive major national championship this year were again nowhere to be seen, a concern that has to be addressed. WILLIAM ONEK, PHIL ROBINSON and TOM STEPHENSON did well inside the top 50 running as individuals.

The U13 boy’s trio (DANIEL OAKES, OLIVER HOWELL and HENRY SHOESMITH) were 23rd, the U15 boys (ALEX FRAZER, JAMES O'BRIEN and FINLAY GODDARD) were 15th with a 'B' team 31st, the U15 girls also had two teams and so flew the club flag high. Their 'A' team (IMOGEN HILL, ISOBEL HALL & EMILY PURDY) were highly placed in 16th and their 'B' trio (MADISON HOLT, HANNAH SQUIBBS & MADELINE GILLAM) were 51st. Finally, representing the U17 girls, JASMINE REED, ISABELLA APPLEBY and CARMEN SAFRANAUSKAS were 26th.

All these younger teams deserve the greatest applause. In an intimidating major national championship like this when many might understandably shy away with excuses, they committed their whole day to representing their club and turned out a team in every age-group. Well done and thanks and that includes coaches, parents and team managers.

“A great day was had by all at the British Masters Cross Country Relays in Long Eaton on the 29^th October 2022. Two men's teams: M35 team an excellent 9th and our superb M45 team agonisingly close to medals in 4th.

Three ladies' teams:

Our W55 team were also close to a podium finish in 4th, W35 team finished 6th against very strong competition, and our W45 trio of Anne Chinoy, Suzanne Smith and Clare McCarron ran superbly to win silver medals.

Special thanks to Tim Rainey for driving the minibus and Paul Barrett for coordinating this and the post-race meal. Also thanks to Matt Spragg for drumming up some interest in this event amongst the men and assisting me in my efforts as Men's team manager. Well done to Anne Chinoy too for her fantastic management of the ladies' teams. Let's hope we can return next year and come back with even more medals. All in all, a truly great effort from everyone involved!”

Glenn Savage, men’s team manager.

Anne Chinoy said,

“A fabulous day out at the British Masters XC Relays in Long Eaton! My 6th year of running at this superb event and first medal - V45 team silver. Brilliant representation from Team Sale all round with 6th V35, 2nd V45 and 4th V55 teams in the ladies race. Full results here https://www.race-results.co.uk/.../2022/bmafxcr22race1.htm

Great to get 2 full male teams out too with an exciting V35 vs V45 inter-team battle. Men's V35 finished 9th and V45 finished 4th! Men's results can be viewed here https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2022/bmafxcr22race2.pdf

Well done everyone that came and represented/supported the club.”

British Masters Cross Country Relays.

Tom Stephenson

Long Eaton

Bm Cc Relays

Anne Start

Oli

Andy Curvis

Jason

Hh

Heather B

Cordingleys

Ladies Start

V35

Jackie Start

W55 Team

Matt Spragg

Matt

Jon

Eddie

S Mccarron

Paul Barrett

Timothy Rainey

Jackie

Vicky

Suz

Jac

Heather

Vic

Claire

Tim

Harriet Hamilton

Ladies Team

Steve

Olivier Gailemin

Jacqueline Cordingley

Richard

Jon Smalley

Victoria

Suzanne

Mike Hatch

Cc Start

Anne

Caroline

Lucy

Harriet

Claire Mccarron

Silver Medalists

Of special note from the important Northern XC Relay Championships at Graves Park Sheffield.

U15 GIRLS: IMOGEN HILL, ISOBEL HALL and EMILY PURDY won magnificent silver medals to record their section's best result since 2016 when they were also the Northern Silver medallists. Isobel ran the day's 4th fastest leg and Emily the 7th fastest. The section also flew the club's flag very high by turning out a B & C team.

U13 GIRLS: BEATRICE SOPER, OONAGH Mc MANUS and LOLA RICHARDSON also did themselves and the club very proud to win bronze medals. It was the section's best result since 2016 when they won silver medals. Oonagh & Beatrice also ran the 3rd and 5th fastest times of the day. The section also flew the club flag very high by turning out a B and C team. 

U15 BOYS: The A team of FINLAY GODDARD, JAMES O'BRIEN and LIAM O'BRIEN  just missed out on the bronze medals by 20 seconds to Trafford AC. Their 4th place was such a fantastic improvement from last year's 13th. Finlay was also the 7th fastest of the day.

U13 BOYS: They've won medals every year since 2017. This year's 7th is still a great result in this major championship. A big well done to DANIEL OAKES, OLIVER HOWELL & HENRY SHOESMITH.

The senior men, following their 2nd consecutive year of nonappearance in the national Road Relay Championships two weeks ago, also had no team entered for this major championship! The senior women, last year's National Champions this year had to rely on three youngsters - ALYSSIA DAVEY, ELIZABETH HILL and ISABELLE BURKE, despite having the senior resources to medal. The three girls did really well to finish 15th.

The continuing absence of an U17 boys and an U17girls team has to be a challenge for any club especially when neighbouring clubs turned out 'B' teams.Success comes through hard working, conscientious and collaborative team management combined with team commitment and club loyalty. Thanks to very much to all who were a part of the weekend's success.

What a weekend THEA BROWN has had at the ESAA England Schools Combined Events Championships at Bedford on the 17th and 18th September 2022. Not only did she become the England Schools National U17 Heptathlon Champion whilst still a year young but she did it in exceptional style.

At the end of the two days of competition she came away with five PB's from her seven events – PB's in the 80mhurdles (11.14), 800m (2:34.15), high jump (1.80m), Shot (11.23m), 200m (24.46) Her overall Heptathlon score of 5030 points was also a PB.

Her PB's in the 80m Hurdles; High Jump and Heptathlon are three new club records. She already owns and has improved her 80m Hurdles and Heptathlon club records and she's finally smashed Chloe Cozens long standing U17 high jump club record of 1.79m which has stood since 1996. What an exciting athlete!

To top it off, she's selected to represent England in November in the ESAA International Pentathlon.

To date, Thea is the 2022:-

• ESAA English Schools High Jump Champion
• ESAA English Schools Heptathlon Champion
• ESAA NW Heptathlon Champion
• SIAB International Schools High Jump Bronze medallist
• Schools Games 200m Silver medallist,
• England Athletics U17 200m silver medallist
• Cheshire and Greater Manchester High Jump champion
• Gtr. Manchester 200m champion.
• Holds five club records

A big well done also to FREYA DOCKERTY, who finished 17^th, and SEREN REDFERN 29th. These two multi-eventers, like all the club's multi-eventers, are gold-dust to Sale Harriers success in its summer T & F Leagues.

link to results