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Spen AC hosted one of the last track and field events of the season on 20th September.
The event was efficiently organised by our own Sheila Bolland who found time to compete in all four throwing events as well as the triple jump. Sheila was second overall in her special event the hammer throw beating much younger athletes with a throw of 24m 59cm. The throws were the most popular events with 20 throwers taking part in the men's shot with ages ranging from 35 years to +85!
Frank Howgate competed in the over 70 event. Former club chairman Roy Bain finished midway in a field of 19 hammer throwers. New member and vet 70 Tom Craik also competed.
The most popular event for Spen athletes was the men's 5000m. Kevin Ogden gave chase to eventual winner John Convery from Bingley. Kevin was followed home by Anthony Bradford. Some way behind was John Henry in 10th and even further back was Frank Reddington in 12th of 14 runners.
John and Roger Tolson competed in the 1500m but the most competitive Spen athlete was Keith McGhie. Keith won his special event the 800 in 2m 8.1secs before running 2nd in the 400m in 56.2secs, fairly swift for a recently turned 50 years man.
However the busiest Spen track athlete was Amanda Pearson who competed in the women's 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m! In all 1500m in a total of about 6mins 52.3sec! |
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Congratulations to Keith McGhie on his top ranking. His, on the face of it, unspectacular fifth place out of seven in the 800m was the fastest run by an over-50 British athlete anywhere in the world this year.
It was my quickest for around five years, confessed the Wyke-based athlete who had been targeting Smiths time since moving into the new age group on his birthday five weeks beforehand.
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Fantastic Performances at the latest West Yorkshire league cross countries.
Spen winners in many categories but notably
U11 girls GREENWOOD, Ashton U13 Girls PARKINSON, Abby-Mae U15 boys STEDMAN, Liam U17 girls WALSH, Jenny
All these runners being WYL champions for their ages
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Calderdale Way relay. New captain Gareth Patchett was relieved to see the course completed and we finished a creditable 51st (83rd last year) out of 120.
Many Thanks for those who took part in this great team event.
Opening (and very early) leg was Dan Stewart and David Lane. They handed over the Chris Jones and new boy Gerard Skipping. Jon Gallagher was then dragged up the (mostly up) leg 3 and these two handed over the Gareth Patchett and Jeff Hornby. Paul Hudlass and Steve Hemmingway took leg 5 (with Paul returning from injury) and then the old boys Frank and Steve finished off with leg 6. The full results can be seen here and there are some contributions on the blog.
Target is top 50 next year so lets get training early
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The club's annual handicap took place on Sunday 20th December. Due to the workings on greenway a new course, a cross country was used. A thee mile course was designed by organiser Frank Reddington. The snow on Thursday followed by sleet on Saturday and a freeze on Sunday meant that some of the paths were very icy and dangerous to run on. Alterations on the day had to be made and the resulting course over frozen snowy fields behind the stadium was greeted favourably by the participants. Over half the runners were young athletes which makes handicapping difficult as they do not race the seniors. However seventeen runners, setting off up to five minutes apart, finished in a little over half that time. Senior Gerard Skipping set of with a group of the fastest of the young athletes including last year's winner Liam Steadman. They just failed to catch winner James Anthony who has been a regular in the West Yorkshire Cross Country League. Josh Woodcock Shaw ran the fastest time of 16 mins 42 for a course a little under three miles. Alan Whittaker made his annual trip from Barnsley and it seems his tale of an injured knee and lack of training, doubted by the handicapper, was true. The starter of many handicaps races, the late Ivan Stringer was sadly missed but he was ably replaced by a number of parents. who got all off on time. And Sheila, with her band of helpers, produced a tasty buffet to warm the runners returning from the snowy scene outside. |
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Fifteen Spenborough athletes arrived at Witton Park Blackburn on Saturday for the Northern Cross Country Championships.
Despite the numbers the club did not finish a team in any of the races. However we came away with one medal through an outstanding performance from Jenny Walsh in the under seventeen women's race. Jenny finished third to win a well deserved bronze medal. In the under thirteen girls Abby-Mae Parkinson was seventh with Elle Jo Bolton Hardy 95th and Keavey Ward 109th in the same race.
Beth Ellis was 12th in the under fifteen girl's race followed by Katie Byrne in 95th. Liam Steadman matched Beth's placing in the under fifteen boy's race and he was followed by Paul Davis in 30th place. Simon Bolland was our sole representative in the under seventeen men's race and he finished 85th.
To the seniors and our best performance came from Amy Sharrad who finished 53rd out of over 200 runners in the women's race. Amanda Pearson courageously tackled what was a hilly and in places very muddy course and she finished 216th (not last). It was five past three by the start of the senior men's race and with 11.5 km and 8 significant hill climbs and plenty of muddy sections some of us wondered if head torches would be needed! Gerard Skipping and Frank Reddington were just putting our spikes on when Jeff Hornby arrived with about five minutes to prepare himself for the race ahead. Kevin Ogden was in attendance but after looking at the hills and mud decided to save himself for the Brass Monkey Half Marathon the following day. Despite his lack of preparation and complaining of lack of fitness Jeff had a good run to finish 284th in a time of 53 mins 32 secs. Gerard was attending his first big race and he set off to try to keep Jeff in his sights. However the hills and mud took its toll on him in the latter stages. He never-the -less finished a creditable 355th in 56-06. Frank achieved his aim of a top 400 place with 397th in 57-47. 600 finished the race which was won by Steve Vernon in 39-04. |
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The Dewsbury 10km road race took place on Sunday 7th Feb. Anthony Bradford was the first of four Spenborough runners to finish in 42nd place of 800 finishers. Gerard Skipping was 81st followed by ladies Claire Green 227th and Sarah Peacock 292th. The race was won by Mark Buckingham from Holmfirth
The Yorkshire Veteran Cross Country Championships took place at a damp misty Graves Park in Sheffield on Saturday. Spenborough ran a team in the over fifties race covering a 10km course. Keith McGhie led the team home in 11th place overall and 9th over 50 years. Frank Reddington finished 49th and 9th over 55 and Steve Moss was 59th and 14th over 60. The team were 6th of 11 teams. The race was won by Kevin Newman from Doncaster.
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SHEILA IS THE HERO AS CLUB BAGS CASH WINDFALL
Veteran Spenborough athlete Sheila Bolland was honoured by British athletics last Sunday following more than a quarter of a decade of devotion to the sport, often well above and beyond the cause of duty.
Sheila took centre stage at the Aviva World Trials and UK Championship at the Sheffield Institute of Sport last Sunday when she was given an award as an unsung hero of grass roots athletics and allowed to do a lap of honour of the 200m indoor track with Olympic sprint queen Emily Freeman.
In additon the 67-year old part-time sports shop sales assistant was given a cheque for £1,000 from meeting sponsors Aviva to donate to the club of charity of her choice.
Not surprisingly, she chose the Princess Mary Stadium, Cleckheaton-based Spenborough club that, ironically, also unearthed Freeman when she was at school and put her on the road that eventually led to Beijing and the now-Wakefield athlete finishing seventh in the Olympic 200m semi-final.
Sheila has been a member since 1983 and, having had an enjoyable if not earth-shattering running career that included three successful attempts at the London Marathon, she turned her hand to throwing events - specialising in the hammer, where she rose to number one in her age group in the UK in 2008.
But more significantly and, as the Sheffield IOS crowd were told over the public address system: "She has been the backbone of volunteer catering on clubnights for as long anyone can remember - running probably the best tuckshop in British athletics. She is a qualified official, mainly field events, and works at nearly all the local meetings. She'll participate in anything from 100m to cross country if the club is short handed or needs representing. Ask ANYONE involved in anything in West Yorkshire about Sheila Bolland!
In character Sheila, who still works two afternoons a week in SMK Sports in Cleckheaton, had already enlisted as a meeting steward at the Sheffield trials before she heard of her award. Afterwards she enthused:
"It was a fabulous day and gave me a chance to see things from the other side of the fence, being interviewed by televison as well as running on the track in front of the crowd.
"They interviewed Emily as well - who I've known since she was little - and was surprised that how nervous she still gets when the television cameras are on." http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/5018909.Sheila_takes_a_bow_with_lap_of_honour/ |
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Frank Reddington For those who have not heard Frank managed to injure himself coming out of church in the snow. He has torn a tendon in his thigh. Quite serious and he spent a few days in hospital. He is home now and in good spirits. We wish him a speedy recovery. |
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For the first time in five years Spenborough's senior men finished a team in the National Cross Country which was held a Roundhay Park, Leeds on 27th February. Of the 107 teams Spenborough were 79th. The team was lead home by Jeff Hornby who finished 630th of the 1428 finishers. Jeff has been an inspiration and leader of the team over cross country for many years and in the early 1990's inspired the team to top thirty positions with Jeff achieving top thirty individual placing. Jeff's experience showed as he made a cautious start in the very muddy conditions with most of the other Spen runners in front of him in the early stages. Keith McGhie and Dave Lane were close to Jeff at the end in 653th and 688th. Top ranked over 50 800m runner Keith had a very rare venture onto the country and thrived in the challenge of a true cross country course! Experienced cross country runner and some time fell runner Dan Stewart finished 758th. Dan has been nursing a back problem and was happy to complete the course. New member Gerard Skipping experienced his first National and finished in 763rd place. Gerard has flown the flag for the senior men throughout this cross country season competing in the league, county and area championships. All credit however should go to Edward Wilkinson. Although Edward finished near the back of the field without him we would not have completed a team. Edward is preparing for the London Marathon and he would have thrived in the stamina work this race provided for him! |