| Phil Taylor foiled in title bid Liverpool Pembroke Sefton’s talented 400m star was at Sheffield for the televised Norwich Union European Trials and UK Indoor Championships. After coasting through his heat in 48.73 and posting a sharp 48.16 in the semi-final he looked odds on to gain a championship medal, even the gold. Fate played a different hand in the shape of two other athletes who ran out of their lanes and severely baulked the Ormskirk runner. They were both disqualified but that was little comfort to Taylor who had to settle for fourth in 48.47. Clearly disappointed he does come away with the knowledge that he is in the shape of his life and will be hunting personal bests outdoors this coming season. Another Ormskirk resident and student Stephanie Swift was with the bulk of the club`s cross country runners at Astley Park, Chorley for a Mid-Lancashire CC League. Having been left out of the Lancashire team for the Inter-Counties Championships she had a point to prove and ran well above herself to come home first Junior woman. Yet another Ormskirk runner, June Swift was in 4th place. Elsewhere the Under 15 Boys were in their usual rampant mood. Dave Forrester was again an assured winner but talented colleague Jake Helm has definitely begun to close the gap. With Chris Hesketh 3rd there was the usual strong supporting cast of Mike Bride(6), Edward Rimmer(7), Sean Dignam(13), John Meakin(21) and David Hough(22) to ensure the team result was a formality. The Under 13s were third with Adam Goldfarb(11), Joe Hanlon(20), Matthew Scragg(23). Adam Dible(28) and Sean Cain(29). Incomplete teams elsewhere were Under 17`s Rob McLaughlin(15) and Tom Hanlon(21), Under 15 Girls Emma Bowen(11) and Toria Swift(15) plus Senior Woman Kirsty Longley(15). Over at Clarke Gardens, Liverpool the Liverpool and District Cross Country Championships were being fought out. Over the 80 years history the club has had its name on this trophy more than anybody else but these are difficult times for the Senior Men. Sammy Rashid was as sound as ever finishing 10th including first Over 40, Graham Cairns at 17th was first Over 50. Greg Callaghan(26), Steve Donegan(30), Jeff Mason(59). Robbie Wood(106) and supporting Mark Bleasdale(119) ensured a team closure but only 6th. Gill Darby was third in the Senior Women but first Veteran home 11 February 2007 |
| t has been a dramatic week for Liverpool Pembroke Sefton sprint star, Phil Taylor. After being barged out of a medal place in the UK Indoor Championships he was at the Birmingham National Indoor Arena for a Grand Prix meeting. Sub 47 seconds is the moment when 400m runners go from being simply good to a much higher level. In a quick race Taylor finished fourth but it was his personal best time of 47.5 that caught the eye, worth at least half second quicker outdoors. The in form Loughbororough student then went on to Sheffield to represent Manchester in the final of an Inter-cities cup. He won, this time in 48.0 dead. Taylor has made a fantastic start to the year and will be hunting a full international vest outdoors later in the season. Meanwhile LPS had runners at the superbly organised Parbold Hill race on a beautiful spring day. Graham Cairns is thoroughly enjoying life as an Over 50 vet. In finishing 15th overall he collected this category prize emphasising his local dominance. Not too far adrift was club mate Greg Callaghan at 29th. In a field of 450 both Robbie Wood(160) and Dave Fairclough(263) had useful runs. Gill Darby ran as strong as ever to finish 180 but 3rd in her age group. Skelmersdale Boundary Harriers are to be congratulated on continuing to promote such a classic cross country encounter. |
| Double silver for LPS Such is the current strength of Liverpool Pembroke Sefton that national medals seem a matter of course. In the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships at Nottingham David Forrester, running for Merseyside in the Under 15 race, put in yet another scorching finish to go from fifth to second in the last few hundred yards. He lost the gold by a mere one second to a Scots lad but had the satisfaction of being the first English runner home. This will boost his confidence for the imminent National Cross Country Championships at Sunderland. Meanwhile another one of the club’s sprint sensations, Under 17 Harry Doran, was at the National Indoor Championships at Birmingham. In a heat he set a personal best of 49.32 seconds. He was in no position to challenge the eventual winner in the Final and was the subject of some barging but retained his composure to take the silver with 49.71. He joins a galaxy of LPS runners who now find the classy sub-50 seconds almost a routine event. 25 February 2007 |
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