| 11th
November 2006 |
NORTH
STAFFORDSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE - PARKHALL |
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The second North Staffs Cross Country League meeting of the winter brought some excellent
individual and team performances out of a strong City of Stoke
representation at a typically cold and windy Parkhall Country Park.
In the first race of the day in the U11 girls Sarah Griffiths, Lydia Beech
and Jessica Heath all ran strong races to finish 3rd team. In the next race
the U11 boys were led home by Connor Bradbury and Greg Smalley in
brilliant first and second places. Macauley Snutch showed a big improvement
to finish next Stoke counter in 8th, giving the club an easy team victory on
the day. The U13 girls matched their U11 team-mates with 3rd team position.
Kirsty Batson was first home in 12th, in front of some excellent Stoke
team-running.
Stoke AC's second individual winner of the day was the U13 boys winner Tom
Guy, who yet again timed his race to perfection to achieve an even more
dominant win than on the first occasion. Kris Washington who has another
year to go in this age-group ran strongly again for 5th. Behind him Alex
Brecker and Luke Kinch had an almighty battle for 3rd team counter, and
although Alex (just) prevailed on this occasion, Luke showed perhaps the
biggest improvement out of any Stoke athlete present on the day. The U13
boys also pulled out a big team win.
The U15 boys saw a superb run from Jake Guest in 2nd, with great support
from Jake Hart and a revitalised Mark Shallcross gaining yet another boys
team victory. The turnout and packing of the rest of the team was also
extremely impressive, with Mike Harding, Sam Hart, Joe Broome and Liam
Hendricksen very close behind. The U17 men unfortunately failed to finish a
team on this occasion but both Rob Cook and Mike Shallcross put in strong
efforts on a very tough course.
The senior men's race was always going to be a tough one on the Park Hall
course. The Stoke AC team, all wearing blue ribbons in memory of Suzanne
Benyon, made their individual and team intentions known from the start. The
strong favourite was always going to be former Stoke junior star Lee Turner,
(who it is great to see running again, even if it is in the wrong colours!),
but top U20 Alex Derricott made him work for it over the first 3/4 of the
race. Alex also did extremely well to beat one of the best local cross
country runners in Newcastle's Phil Bradshaw, and lead home the best team
packing seen in many years in this league. In 4th, Andy Allen showed that he
has lost none of his legendary toughness in holding off an amazing run by
Gavin Walters. They were closely followed by Damian Gallagher, who it is
easy to forget is only 17, and although Damian was running a bit tired on
this occasion he will definitely bounce back in the next few weeks. Just
behind him Steve Bazell was showing what bouncing back is all about with by
far his best run of the season so far. International ultra-distance runner
Brian Cole was next in, our 6th counter in the top 8 places! Brian has just
returned from a Marathon in Washington DC, so he is also likely to be more
competitive next week.
In 10th place the strength of Pete Benyon was there for all to see. The past
2 weeks have been much, much harder than any one person should have to bear,
but Pete has shown courage and commitment way beyond the norm, and perhaps
Suzanne knew that too. The moments of remembrance before the senior
women's and men's races were also important to Pete - thanks.
Only a little further down the field Mark Kinch showed that he is coming
back to better form, as he finished just ahead of fellow veteran Adri
Hartveld. The competitive instinct is just as strong for these pair as it
was when they were internationals, even if the legs don't go quite as fast
these days. Ian Milner will live to fight another day as his fitness levels
return after a month off. Adrian Thiemicke and Richard Barrington also made
sure that we finished 12 runners for the first time in a long time, and with
Andy, Mark and Adri almost laid down the foundations for a veteran team
finish - they only need me to get my spikes on again... (No chance! - Dawn
Danahay).
John Danahay (Results typed in by Amy Danahay!)
Full results at: www.nsccl.co.uk
U11 Girls - Team 3rd - 29 points
8. Sarah Griffiths
10. Lydia Beech
11. Jessica Heath
19. Melissa Harding
20. Beth Beech
U13 Girls - Team 3rd - 39 points
12. Kirsty Batson
13. Jessica Griffiths
14. Chloe Hardy
15. Jade Heath
16. Lucy Cliffe
U11 Boys - Team 1st - 11 points
1. Connor Bradbury
2. Greg Smalley
8. Macauley Snutch
9. John Gosling
12. Callum Griffiths
22. Robbie Gregory
24. George Stevenson
U13 Boys - Team 1st - 13 points
1. Tom Guy
5. Kris Washington
7. Alex Brecker
8. Luke Kinch
14. Jake Corbishley
U15 Boys - Team 1st - 13 points
2. Jake Guest
5. Jake Hart
6. Mark Shallcross
7. Mike Harding
8. Sam Hart
11. Joe Broome
12. Liam Hendricken
16. Matt Scragg
18. Jack Ross
19. Rob Wilson
U17 Men - Team - No Score
10. Rob Cook
16. Mike Shallcross
Jun, Sen & Vet Men - Team 1st - 32 points
2. Alex Derricott (U20)
4. Andy Allen (M40)
5. Gavin Walters
6. Damian Gallagher (U20)
7. Steve Bazell
8. Brian Cole
10. Peter Benyon
19. Mark Kinch (M40)
22. Adri Hartveld (M45)
53. Ian Milner
114. Adrian Thiemicke (M40)
173. Richard Barrington (M60) |
6.13
6.15
6.15
7.00
7.00
10.29
10.39
10.44
10.51
10.53
8.54
8.57
9.32
9.40
10.04
11.09
12.03
9.09
9.32
10.13
10.15
11.13
9.58
10.17
10.23
10.27
10.31
10.37
10.44
11.04
11.09
11.21
20.54
23.45
34.50
36.25
36.31
36.38
36.52
37.12
37.30
38.36
38.50
41.45
45.50
50.43 |
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