| Courtney wins again! and the boys take two team victories at Lancashire ChampionshipsCourtney Birch swept all aside to collect yet another title albeit her first of 2002, when she won the under 17s ladies race at the Lancashire championships at Witton Park Blackburn. Her winning time of 20.43 was two minutes ahead of the second place athlete. In the other events LPS young athletes made a bright start to 2002 with two team wins in the Lancashire cross-country championships. Robert Bland led home the under 13 boys in 6th place followed by Adam Bowen 12th, Tom Dodd16th and Alan Livesey 17th. This gave us a points total of 51 which was not enough beat Blackpool who had 42 points, but was enough for silver medals. In the under 15s Robert Stocks led the LPS lads to a team win by finishing 3rd, backed up by David Wilkie7th, Thor Andersen 8th and Steve Blackhurst 17th. Not to be outdone by the under 15s the under 17s also won the team race with 19 points ahead of Manx AC who scored 27. LPS were led home by Alan Stewart 2nd followed by Chris Watson 7th and Robert Walmsley (just had an in-growing toe nail removed) 10th. Anna Caunce is showing signs of a return to form with a 16th place finish in the U15 event. Megan Singleton in her first championships worked hard to gain 23rd spot. The three U13 girls Steph Swift, 19th, Jane Walmsley, 20th and Helen Quirk 33rd all ran well in difficult conditions Helen was very impressive in the home straight 5 January 2002  Courtney Birch 1999
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| Formidable four sweep to victory at Merseyside Championships, Nicky Bear picks up a silver. LPS under 17 men packed the first four home in the County Championships at Sherdley Park to sweep to what is hoped to be the first of many titles for this talented team. Led home by Ben Jones who along with second man home Rory Smith who have both joined LPS, from Wirral AC. Michael Rimmer was third and Andrew Donaldson forth. This was the second County team title in this age group LPS have picked up in consecutive days after winning the Lancs at Blackburn yesterday. John Bradshaw and Dave Jeffs (who trains the Wirral lads) have got serious contenders for major honours with these lads. The senior men had a difficult time with a number of late withdrawals which left them exposed to a strong Liverpool Harriers outfit. Paul Cadwallader was unlucky not to pick up his first senior individual County cross-country title when he finished a close second to to Paul Walsh. Brian Currie was 4th and Bernie Murphy was 5th. Next home was new boy Joey Parkinson in 18th place with Luke Sanders 24 and Mark Bleasdale closing the team in at 31st spot one ahead of Graham Cairns. The junior men went one better than the seniors had won their event, led home by the much improved Henry Stewart in 2nd place Dan Taylor was 3rd and Tom Wade 6th. Dan Hutton was 7th and Alex Spencer15th. During the weekend LPS men contended six team titles in the two County Champs (Lancs & Mersey) winning four and coming second in the other two! In the under 13 girls Jenny Bear was our sole entrant finishing a very credible 9 and the first non-Liverpool Harrier home! Her big sister Nicky was the silver medal winner in the under 15s race with Erin Halsall 18 Laura Davenport cheered on by her Dad Paul picked up the bonze medal in the under 17 event. this added to her 3rd overall placing in the North West Women’s league. Amy Potter was 10th and Fiona Hunter 13. The senior ladies like the men had been effected by illness and we only had three finishers. Zena Ransome was first home in 14th place closely followed by Cherly Lucas in 15th and Barbara Wood in 16! Our most consistent turning out athlete this season Gill Derby was one of the athletes who missed this through illness. ResultsPhotos of County Chmpionships 6 January 2002 |
| Seniors second team at Liverpool & District Champs On a bright but cold January afternoon, Clarkes Gardens once again played host for the long established cross-country championships. After three consecutive team wins we played second this time to Liverpool Harriers. 14 seniors towed the start line, Joey Parkinson making his L&D debut for LPS was a non-finisher. Bernie Murphy led us home in 2nd place with Brian Currie 5th, Sammy Rashid 10th (Sammy travelled from Sheffield by train ran from Allerton station to the course, then straight after the race ran back to the station to catch his train home!! What a team man. It is not easy to find people like Sammy in the sport today who have such a loyalty to their Club) Greg Callaghan 21, Mark Bleadsale 27th and Des McLvor 28 a points total of 93 was a long way short of the winning score of 46. Also out was Graham Cairns 32nd, Mark Barrow 55th Robbie Wood 65th(Robbie failed to recognise that he was on the last lap until he reached the finish he still had a lap to go!!) John Dobie 74th, Richie Webster 102 and Reg Armstrong 102. Results Pictures Charles Gains 12 January 2002 |
| Three team victories at Mid-Lancs LPS young athletes picked up three team victories and one second place at Burnley in the Mid-Lancs. Our under 13 boys ran well to a strong Blackpool team with Rob Bland 7th, Ben Johnson 10th, Joe McKenna 11th, Andrew Bowden 14th, Tom Dodd 20th, Andrew Liversey 30th and Sam Hutchinson 36. A team score of 42 place them second to Blackpool who scored 23. The under 15 boy’s saw us sweep to victory with Tom McCarten 7th, Steve Blackhurst 8th, David Wilkie 9th, Thor Anderson 10th, and Ben Simons 17th. This ensured a victory with a score of 34, ahead of SWAC who scored 48. Alan Stewart was back to winning ways in the under 17 race and with backing from Chris Watson 4th, David Philips 8th, Robert Walmsley 9th and Martin Doleman 18th we scored yet another victory in this age group with 13 points ahead of Kendal with 30 points. Tom Wade led home the under 20s team in 2nd place with Dan Hutton 3rd, Steve Donegan 5th and Alex Spencer 6th we won this age group as well. LPS girls also made the trip to Burnley with a small group. Anna Caunce was 20th in the under 15’s. Laura Davenport was 7th in the under17s and Amy Potter 9th Results 12 January 2002 |
| Nicky under 60sec for first time Nicola Gunderson ran her first sub 60 sec 400 at the indoor meeting at Birmingham. This was the first time Nicky had gone under 60 seconds either indoor or out when she ran a PB of 58.8. Also running a PB was Danny Longman in the under 17s 200 with a best of 25.27. John Murray also in the under 17s ran a new PB with a time 52.42 in the 400. Mark Hagen (junior) went below 55 seconds for the first time with his PB of 54.88. Paul Edwards went in the under 20 60 metres and ran 7.50 for a PB. The ever consistent Phil Taylor was again under 50 seconds this time with an other PB of 49.27! Phil is still only 16 and is an athlete to watch. Not to be out done by the youngsters Gary Baines ran a 7.04 in the senior 60 metres. A lot of promise for the outdoor season there. all eyes will now be on the AAA under 20 Championships at Birmingham on 23rd & 24th of next month Report Ray Twentyman, Picture Karen Doyle 27 January 2002 |
| Under 17 men claim team victory at Derby At an interesting and muddy Allerstree Park Derby, LPS under 17 men picked up another team title by winning; this time the Northern. Led home by Rory Smith in 14th place, Ben Jones was next in 19th, Alan Stewart 20th and Chris Watson closed the team in 35th place. This gave us a 88point total enough to hold a strong Derby challenge with 93 points. Ian  Rory Smith Revell 45th, David Phillips 47, Robert Walmsley 50th, Mike Rimmer 72nd, Alan Donaldson 75 and Martin Dolman 111 all backed this victory with solid runs in the mud. Congratulations must go to Dave Jeffs and John Bradshaw who have brought these lads on. We must be optimistic for medals at Bristol. |
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