Juniors at Stretford 26 July
In this volatile age group it is frequently hard to for most clubs field a complete team and so it turned out for LPS at Stretford. Although Harry Doran took the 200m(22.9), Wayne Ashall the 400m(50.9) and the men`s 4 x 100m(44.1) and 4 x 400m((3.28.6) duly triumphed once again there were simply not enough bodies around to stage even a modest challenge and LPS slumped to seventh out of eight teams.Questions will continue to hang over the viability of this league and it will no doubt be debated once again at the AGM in the autumn.
Michael Rimmer runs season’s best 24 July
Mike & Wally Michael Rimmer was again in action on Friday (24th July) at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace. Running in a world class field, he was always in contention and although fading over the final 30 metres he finished 4th in a new season best time of 1.46. He now moves on to compete in Monaco next Tuesday and Stockholm on Friday where he is confident of improving on this time.
Earlier in the week Michael led an Aviva Academy Master Class session at Edge Hill involving 25 youngsters aged from 8-15. After putting them through a number of drills, the youngsters also had coaching in sprints and jumps before Michael had an individual photograph taken with them and autographed their T- sheets; they all thoroughly Mike & John Bradshaw enjoyed the experience.
 Mike receives the Blaire trophy from former coach John Bradshaw for the outstanding performance by a Merseyside athlete at a National Championship |
 Mike Rimmer present s LPS Secretary Wally Bridson with the |
Jumpers soar to new heights 19 July
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton went to the final Northern Premier League match at Preston with some trepidation. They had to finish third in this match to ensure their continued status but agonisingly collected fourth, a mere 8 points behind arch-rivals Wirral AC. A big disappointment, of course, but there were some bright moments. Coach Dave McComb will have the biggest smile as two of his protégés excelled. Under 17 Billy Williams won the High Jump with an outstanding leap of 1.91m and U13 Amelia McLaughlin catapulted to victory with an equally impressive 1.48m. The rankings show them amongst the best in the country.
At U17 Adam Thomson doubled up with a useful 100m win in 11.40 and 200m in 23.00. Jai Vernon-McGuigan(9.33.6) partnered Adam Goldfarb(10.37.00) to a clean sweep of the 3000m while Mike Carmona-Jones(44.21) and Tom Johnson(35.18) were of a similar disposition in the Hammer. U15 Andrew Williams(54.30) and Joel Hutchinson(55.40) dominated the 400m while coach Dave Brown’s efforts came to fruition in the Shot as Craig Ennis(10.45m) and Danny Williams(9.17m) took control of the proceedings.
While there were heart-warming individual performances throughout only additionally did U15 Tawanda Lungu(200m in 27.1) triumph in this very tough match. Even the expected U17 relay wins in the 4 x 100m relay of 47.00(Adam Thomson, Mike Stam, John Meakin and Stuart Dolman) and 4 x 400m(Mike Stam, Adam Thomson, Jesse Roberts and Stuart Dolman) failed to break through in a league with little room for manoeuvre. LPS will be back though. They are simply too good to languish long in the lower reaches of the sport.
My most anxious race‘ 12 July
Michael Rimmer’s demeanour for the UK Championships and World Trials at Birmingham Mike Rimmer gave nothing away. Bedevilled with viruses for some time he nevertheless coasted through his 800m heat(1.51.04) and semi-final(1.48.37) and was clearly the man to beat. The final went to plan in spite of another athlete setting an over-ambitious first lap of 51.88. Michael covered this and took off smoothly with 300m to go and the result thereafter was academic. He coasted to victory in 1.46.47 with four fingers raised to indicate successive UK titles. Not bad for a 23 year old. It was only in subsequent interviews that his concerns became apparent. In a post-race text message to former coach, John Bradshaw, he declared that this had been his `most anxious race’. The relief was palpable but with his place to the World Championships in Berlin assured he now goes to the tough Grand Prix meeting in Paris this weekend in a more relaxed frame of mind. His season could well finish with a further 1.44 posting.
English Schools Championships, Sheffield
The club had nine athletes at the top quality English Schools Champions at Don Valley. Best performance came from Senior Harry Doran who ran an impressive 400m heat of 48.95 but faded slightly to finish sixth(48.99) in the final. Danny Higham exited at the semi-final stage(50.30) he and Harry picked up the bronze in the 4 x 100m relay as the Merseyside squad finished third.
David Forrester ran a 4.02.33 1500m in 13th spot and will be a little disconsolate at still not breaking the 4 minute barrier. There were four Intermediates, Adam Thompson who will be disappointed with only a 400m heat time of 50.91, similarly Mike Carmona-Jones (Discus 35.40m) and Billy Williams (High Jump of 1.77m) but Toby Loveridge will be reasonably happy with his 1500m time of 4.11.53 in a slow run race. The remaining two Juniors ran commendable heat times, Andrew Williams(400m in 53.42) and Brett Adamson(200m in 24.08).
LPS show fighting spirit 5 July
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton went to the third match of the Northern League (Division 2W) at Ellesmere Port in acute danger of relegation. However, the club once more demonstrated the capacity to turn things around when under pressure and in an afternoon stuffed full of personal bests and fighting performances came away third on the day and back in the frame for retaining their current status.
New PB for David Forrester in the 800mThree performances stood out. Billy Williams has spent all season trying to collect a new personal best in the High Jump of 1.90m and this time was successful, narrowly failing at 1.93m into the bargain. The best possible result for the week prior to the English Schools Championships. Likewise David Forrester was also second in the 800m to his illustrious namesake from the St Helens club but his 1.55.7 took a massive two seconds off his PB and set him up too for the Schools meet at Sheffield. Chris Fairclough was the third of the eye-catching acts with a magnificent winning throw of 56.34m in the Javelin and is fast closing in on the club record.
Kirsty Longley’s season is littered with personal achievements this time an 800m victory in the 800mNo stopping the impressive Kirsty Longley in 2.19.0 followed up with an equally impressive win in the 1500m in 4.43.5. There were double-headed wins in the 110m Hurdles (Jon Rice 15.9 and Paul Milburn 18.1) and Mark Line similarly partnering Chris Fairclough in the Javelin with 43.37m. The club’s other A winners included Michael Zaim(100m 11.5), Mark Line again in top form in the Discus with 35.72m, Dean Mathews now casually well over 13m in the triple jump(13.34) and the club’s 4 x 100m sprint relay sensations (Danny Higham, Wayne Ashall, Mark Grimshaw and Michael Zaim).
But really it was yet another day for the club’s unsung heroes who turned out in force and grafted away for points in some of the most unlikely events. The relegation issue is now one of the most exciting battles in recent times with St Helens, the Southport club and LPS all tied and poised to slug it out. The final match at Blackpool will be intriguing to say the least.
Charlotte misses out on a medal 2 July
Charlotte Christian, competing for the Isle of Man in the prestigious Island Game in Aland, Scandanavia, threw 37.46m for fourth place in the Hammer. This was a little off her season`s best but a commendable result nevertheless.
Comments are closed.