Guiseley School's girls beat all the odds

Having missed the first league meeting in May, the junior girls and intermediates girls teams went to the second league fixture in eighth place with zero points.

After an evening of outstanding individual performances and excellent wins by the relay teams, the junior girls finished the meeting in third place and the intermediate girls in fourth.

The challenge for the girls at the third and final meeting was to reach second place in their leagues to be assured of a place in the final. This they achieved, with all the girls giving their personal best and winning the majority of the events to finish four points behind Boston Spa School in both age groups.

The finals, which took place at the South Leeds Stadium, consisted of the eight best schools in Leeds in each of the age groups. With some of the school's best athletes unavailable, including Laura Kirk who was preparing for the English Schools Track and Field Championships, the teams had to call on some of the school's cross-country runners to compete in the distance events - which they did, brilliantly.

Outstanding performances came from the junior girls relay team of Nicola Kosinski, Emma Moutrie, Paula Forster and Sarah Whitehead, and the intermediate girls relay team of Emma Smith, Amy Cawthorne, Hayley Roberts and Nicola Whitehead with both teams setting new Leeds Schools' records; and from Hayley Roberts who equalled the Leeds Schools record in the intermediate girls 200m event.

Junior Girls individual results: 75m hurdles - Emma Moutrie - 1st; 100m - Paula Forster - 1st; 200m - Sarah Whitehead - 1st; 800m - Lucy Foxall - 1st; 1500m - Lindsey Clark - 4th; high jump - Emma Moutrie - 4th; long jump - Sarah Whitehead - 3rd; shot - Samantha Elliott - 4th; javelin - Anna Heaton - 3rd; discus - Rachel Connolly - 2nd; relay - 1st.

Intermediate Girls individual results: 80m hurdles - Hollie Swain - 3rd; 100m - Nicola Whitehead - 3rd; 200m - Hayley Roberts - 1st; 300m - Emma Smith - 1st; 800m - Alice Dowhyj - 2nd; 1500m - Rosanne Olley - 4th; high jump - Angela Eastwood - 1st; long jump - Emma Smith - 1st; triple jump - Alice Dowhyj - 3rd; shot - Hollie Swain - 2nd; javelin - Amy Cawthorne - 2nd; discus - Emily Bowmer - 1st; relay - 1st.

Junior Girls team results: 1, Guiseley School - 81 points: 2, Bruntcliffe School - 60.5 points: 3, Boston Spa School - 58 points.

Intermediate Girls team results: 1, Guiseley School - 100 points: 2, Morley School - 73.5 points: 3, Garforth School - 69 points.

To complete an excellent season after winning the Leeds Schools' Junior Girls' Athletics League Championships and the Leeds Schools' Intermediate Girls' Athletics League Championships, athletes from Guiseley School took part in the Leeds Schools' Sprint Challenge.

The Challenge was organised by Sara Birkinshaw, Leeds Athletics Development Officer, to find the fastest boy and girl, currently in Years Seven, Eight and Nine. To be invited to the finals, boys had to sprint 30 metres in a time of 4.1sec and girls in 4.4sec.

Guiseley had outstanding success from their nine finalists. Emma Moutrie became the Y8 girls' sprint champion; Frasier Davies, Y8 boys' sprint champion, and Hayley Roberts, Y9 girls' sprint champion. In the Y8 girls' final, Guiseley also took second and third place with Paula Forster and Sarah Whitehead. Other results: Y7 girls' final, Mary Stead, 5th; Lucy Foxall, 10th overall; Y8 girls' final, Nicola Kosinski, 10th overall; and Y9 boys, Kirk Arundale, ninth overall.

Earlier in the season five girls from Guiseley became city or county champions. Sarah Whitehead became Leeds Schools' Junior Girls' 100 metres champion and the other four, who went on to become West Yorkshire champions, were Laura Kirk, junior girls' 1,500 metres and selected for the All-England Track and Field Championships; Nichola Whitehead, intermediate girls' 100 metres; Victoria Richardson, intermediate girls 300 metres hurdles and Lauren Womersley, senior girls 100 metres.

Skyrac's Alex is

selected for

England

As a result of some tremendous performances at the fortnightly Trafford A.C. Grand Prix evening meetings, Skyrac AC's Alex Merrill has been selected to represent England in the annual four home countries' schools' international.

This year this will be held in Dublin and 15 year-old Alex will compete in the Under-17 girls' hammer. Her ability in this highly technical event was once again demonstrated at the most recent Trafford meeting where she came second in the Under-17 hammer with 39.21m, behind fellow international team-mate A Lockley of the home club.

However, it was probably Alex's personal best of 40.93m, set two weeks before, which earned her England selection.

Also at Trafford, there was another fine middle distance performance from Horsforth's Robert Spencer (Holmfirth Harriers). Running in the Open 1500m A race, 17 year-old Robert came eighth with 4mins. 10.5secs. - the second fastest Under -20 on the night.

Meanwhile two Skyrac Under-15 athletes enjoyed a very successful day at Barnsley AC's Young Athletes' Open Meeting at the Dorothy Hyman Stadium, Cudworth. Andrew Staniland showed that he is now back to his multi-eventing top form, winning three trophies in three field events. His day started well with a victory in the Under-15 boys' long jump with 5.55m. However, he then excelled himself, for in his first high jump competition since September 2000, he took the gold award with a magnificent 1.70m.

Not only was this a personal best by 13cm but is a AAA Grade One National Standard and the entry qualification for the AAA Championships which will be held at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, in mid August.

Andrew then finished off, later in the afternoon, with 10.75m for second place in the Under-15 boys' shot (4kg).

Amy Howard also putted the shot (3.25kg) for third place in the Under-15 girls' competition with a creditable 8.57m. Amy, who is still recovering from a nasty ankle ligament injury, also undertook her first ever javelin competition and was pleased with sixth position in this new event for her.

While not being able to long jump or run the 200m, Amy was able to offer support to her nine year-old sister, Megan, of Rawdon Littlemoor School, who was making her debut for Parkside Harriers in the Under-11 girls' age group.

Megan thoroughly enjoyed her day and came fifth in her heat of the 80m (14.4s), long jumped 2.46m and threw the rounders ball 16.22m.

Skyrac AC men's team continue to do well in Division Four Central of the Northern Men's League. Competing in the third match of the four series meetings at the Princess Mary Stadium, Cleckheaton, the Guiseley club finished third behind Holmfirth and Parkside Harriers. This puts them in second place overall and all rests on success at the final fixture in Oldham in early August if they are to be promoted back into Division Three.

At Cleckheaton, decathlete Roger Hunter was once again a big points earner with victories in the A strings of the 110m hurdles (15.5s); pole vault (3.80m); long jump (6.80m); discus (41.31m); shot (12.93m) and the B string of the javelin (46.64m).

Adam Wiles won the A string of this latter event and Bill Wheeler took the B shot with 9.80m. Finally, the 4x400m relay squad was victorious in the last event of the day with 3mins. 39.4s.

Ilkley Harriers

on the Street

ILKLEY Harriers Margot Dale, Bernie Gibbons, Jane Coupe, and Heather Duke enjoyed Coronation Street last Sunday - running along it with nearly 1800 runners in the Tesco Great North Women's Run. The five mile race race was won by Sonia O'Sullivan in 28.08. Margot was 209th in 42.30 (4th in her age category); Bernie was

334rd in 44.39; Jane was 479th in 46.41; and Heather was 486th in 46.44

What a great atmosphere there was at Fellandale's Danefield Relay as a record 72 teams enjoyed competing on a sunny evening in this simple three-leg, three-mile relay. Ilkley Harriers were in the lead in the Vets' competition after great runs by Billy Kerr and Mike Baldwin, but Nick Pearce was overhauled by a strong run from Wharfedale's Bob Hamilton (it was only a small consolation to see Bob in a heap at the finish, completely wiped out by his effort).

Ilkley's 13th place overall in a strong field was a great result and all 11 Harriers teams put in strong performances.

In 29th place they had Phil Atkinson, Neil Chapman, and Clive Smith; 30th was Mark Iley, Keith Wood, and James Lind; and 37th was Steve Cockerham, Alex Hirst, and dad Phil. In 42nd place our team of Pete Shields, Dennis Ackeroyd, and Andy Wolfenden was the first Vet 50 team (sadly, there was no Vet-50 prize this year).

Alison Weston, Suzanne Akeroyd, and Emma Barclay finished 44th, and were the 4th ladies' team to finish. In 51st Ilkley had Jeff Paget, Phil Chappell, and Andy Webster; and in 54th were Alison Crane, Alison Bennett, and Susie Jollie. Joyce Marshall, Di Kitchen, Rachael Gooch were 55th team and the first Lady Vets team. In 62nd we had Anna Liuba, Janet Hebbert, and Cath Wolfenden; and in 69th place was the team of Shirley Wood, Pauline Watts, and Mandy Parnaby.

The Pudsey 10km Challenge turned out to be a multi-terrain race, with course changes due to Foot and Mouth restrictions, but was still a very enjoyable event. Andy Wade was 13th in 38.17; and Chris Porritt in 56.56 was third Lady Vet-50, with over 100 runners behind her.

Next Monday (July 23) is the last in the current Circuit Training programme.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, running from Ben Rhydding Sports Club at 7pm on Tuesdays. Contact the captain Ken Souyave on 01943 609597, or visit www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk, to find out more about the club.

Otley AC

DAVID Cattanach had a scintillating run on Saturday morning to win the latest monthly race of Otley Athletic Club's Handicap Series. On a new course based around Spring woods and crossing the townships of Guiseley, Esholt and Yeadon, nobody was able to catch David, who finished in a net time of 34.29 over the 4.5-mile course.

Phil Robinson, despite closing down on David towards the end, finished second in a net time of 31.54. Third place went to Graham Stead, who finished in 29.59. Graham now leads the series ahead of team-mate Antonio Cardinale, who finished fifth overall on the day in 35.07. Fastest time of the day of 23.49 was recorded by ian Fisher who found the woodland mixture of track, trail and road to his liking.

On the preceding Sunday, Ian had travelled with Andrew Robertshaw to participate in the Leyland 10-mile road race. The race was won by Nick Jones, of Tipton Harriers, in under 50 minutes and although Ian had been in touch with Nick at the halfway mark in 24.30, he fell back slightly in the second half to finish well clear in second place in 50.50. Andrew also continued his recent good vein of form by finishing seventh overall in 54.50.

Last night (Wednesday), Ripon Runners were presenting the annual Harrogate League Handicap and Presentation Evening to participating clubs. Tonight members are meeting at Headingley's Beckett Park track for the Runner of the Year 800-metre race at 7.30 for 7.45 start.

Usual training returns to Cross Green next week at 7.15pm on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings at which runners of all standards are invited to join in with a range of sessions which generally include road, trail and sprints.

Aire Centre

Pacers

Aire Centre Pacers have ventured far and wide in search of competition as foot-and-mouth continues to prevent many races taking place nearer home. Most travelled are the world-weary Yvonne Hampshaw and Malcolm Smart who made it as far as East Kilbride for a Half-Marathon.

Yvonne was considerably assisted by a two lap course that enabled her to visit each water station twice. She recorded a splendid 1:48, while Malcolm threaded his way through the subways in a quicksilver 1:41.

Mike Hildyard is still suffering from injuries brought on by his London Marathon experience. Newton Aycliffe's 10K race proved a step too far for Mike, as he could only hobble home in a poor time. Steve Horne fared little better, despite having his favourite demijohn to hand, but it was left to Chris Hill to turn in a good performance.

Mike and Steve fared much better in the Thirsk Ten mile race. The leafy lanes and level terrain, certainly in comparison to the Otley Ten mile race, were much more to Mike's liking as he recorded a personal best. Steve also returned to form and rumbled in to finish in just over 70 minutes.

Next on the calendar was a 10k race in Skipton. Steve Horne continued his good form, but it was the masterly Peter Philips who produced the star Pacer performance. Taking it easy down the bypass he was able to accelerate in the later stages to record a very significant personal best of 49 minutes. Good to see a new name leading the way.