Derricott wins International Selection

Report by Tom Gayle

Alex Derricott produced the best performance of his young life to date when securing a place in the England Schools team at the English Schools championship. Straight to the fore from the opening stages of the Junior Boys race the George Cooper coached athlete mixed it with the best and over a tough undulating course which was eventually won by Matthew Clarke (Dorset) with Alex 5^th, just seven seconds shy of medal. More importantly though the Midland silver medallist was part of the first eight who booked a place in the England schools team for the Schools International over in Dublin at the end of the month.

Derricott's team mate and training partner Damian Gallagher, who together have dominated the North Staffs league this winter also produced his best form when placing 15^th in the same race, just twelve seconds shy of making the team himself.

Best performance from the girl’s side was Emma Jackson in the Intermediate girls race. Jackson who was part of the Junior Girls England team last year has endured mixed fortunes this winter but like Derricott and Galleagher she produced her best form at Brighton when placing 16^th. The Alan Morris coached athlete and was also part of the Staffordshire team Bronze medallists who had 4 in the top 20, and will still be eligible to contest the same race next year where she will hopefully pushing for a place in the England team again.

Brighton was also the stage for the Senior Men’s 4km trial for the World Cross Country Championships in Lausanne at the end of the month. Stoke AC’s defending champion Rob Whalley was out of sorts throughout the race and unfortunately he couldn’t mix it with the same athletes who he comfortably beat at the Great North Cross Country 4km back in January and wound up a disappointing 21^st.

Stoke AC Results

Junior Boys

1. Matthew Clarke (Dorset) 13.30
2. Sam Dalgleish (Gloucestershire) 13.41
3. Christian Brooker (Hereford & Worcestershire) 13.42
5. Alex Derricott (Staffordshire) 13.47
15. Damien Galleagher (Staffordshire) 14.07
177. Nathan Dring (Staffordshire) 15.15

Intermediate Boys

1. Ben Harding (Hampshire) 17.48
2. Adam Hickey (Essex) 17.50
3. Kevin Hardy (Suffolk) 18.00
118. Liam Jones-Mansueto (Staffordshire) 19.32
132. Carl Shubotham (Staffordshire) 19.41
302. Fred Mainwearing (Staffordshire) 21.16
309. Edward Brown (Staffordshire) 21.31

Senior Boys

1. Sam Jacobs (Suffolk) 21.20
2. Tom Humphries (Staffordshire) 21.21
3. Tom Lancashire (Greater Manchester) 21.21
61. Gavin Walters (Staffordshire) 23.32
191. Danny Barker (Staffordshire) 25.10
227. Chris Minor (Staffordshire) 25.34

Junior Girls

1. Emily Pidgeon (Gloucestershire) 10.58
2. Danielle Walker (Staffordshire) 11.31
3. Laura Dowsing (Suffolk) 11.41
97. Claire Shubotham (Staffordshire) 12.54
142. Chloe Banks (Staffordshire) 13.07

Intermediate Girls

1. Nicola Sykes (Bedfordshire) 12.46
2. Jo Harper (Staffordshire) 12.49
3. Megan Foley (Essex) 12.53
16. Emma Jackson (Staffordshire) 13.26

Senior Girls

1. Danielle Barnes (Devon) 14.15
2. Charlotte Moore (Dorset) 14.16
3. Laura Kenney (West Midlands) 14.23
88. Sophie Alcock (Staffordshire) 16.42
189. Rebecca Brown (Staffordshire) 18.03

Senior Men’s 4km

1. Steve Vernon (Stockport) 11.40
2. Chris Thompson (Aldershot) 11.41
3. Chris Bolt (Shaftesbury Barnet) 11.43
21. Robert Whalley 12.15
38. Richard Sinclair 12.32