Lancashire Sportshall Athletics League, Blackpool Meeting 1 – 18th October 2009

A good turn out from our young Harriers at the first Sportshall of the season, with many athletes making their Sportshall debut!
Despite having lots of new, excited (and probably nervous!) faces, we picked up from where we left off last season, commanding a comfortable 3rd place behind the “Premiership” clubs of Blackpool and Preston, with a total of 172 points.

There where some excellent performances on the day, starting with the Under 11 Girls, who had the largest Horwich squad on the day. Isobel Dean came 2nd in the foam javelin, and overall, Sportshall “veteran” Ellie Dacre came 3rd with 15.5 points! In the boys Max Dacre won the target throw, and top scored for Horwich with 11 points!

In the Under 13 Girls, Grace Shelmerdine came 2nd in the 6 lap, while Gabrielle Whittle top scored for the club with 11 points, and James Lovell scored 15 points to top score for the Harriers in the Under 13 Boys!

Finally the Under 15’s, which saw Beth Miller and Matthew Ault as our only representatives, scored well in their events. Matthew only competed in the Shot, but it was worth it, winning the event with 8.91m. Beth stormed her events, winning the Speed Bounce and the Vertical Jump, and coming second in the 2 and 4 lap races, coming 2nd overall with 24 points.

In addition to the athletes, well done to all the parents who helped out to officiate, as we provided 12 officials, which we think is more than any other club! A big thank you to you all!

Congratulations to all the athletes on their performances and good luck to all the Under 11’s, who will all be in the running for a Lancashire call-up in the next few weeks!

Well Done and we hope to see you all again at the next event!

Mike Houghton
Tiffany Dacre
Mark Dacre
Horwich RMI Harriers & AC

Results.

sportshallathleticsreportoct09

Red Rose Cross Country League 7th Nov 2009

A big turnout at the Red Rose at Bury made a great day in the junior runners. For the 1st time we had a big team of U11’s. A dozen or so youngsters flocked to Pete Ramsdale to seek tips on the race. Like a shepherd with his flock he pointed and explained, run, just run.

Some fine performances from the boys, Matthew Brindle in 29th being the first boys in followed by Joseph Ball in 36th and then running together Jacob Barlow and Max Dacre 42nd & 43rd. Domenic Braund and Joshua Lomax did the same coming in 51st & 52nd. Boys U11’s finished 9th team.

The girls went 2 better and came home in 7th. This could have been better for Maisie Vernon having to pull up due to feeling sick. That didn’t stop Madeleine Littlewood in 12th and Isobel Dean in 16th having a fantastic first Cross country run. 38th place went to Kelly Wainwright, 43rd place to Emma Rayner. Still we had more to come Ellie Dacre in at 50th and O Bannister in at 58th.

In the U13’s Girls we had a strong team of 5 girls, unfortunately Phoebe Howe and Martha Gill not getting scored through the finish meant points robbed from us. That left Sophie Myer in at 20th, Grace Shelmerdine at 26th and Jodie McLaughlin in at 39th bringing the team home in 7th. The team would have been much higher had it not been for the misfortune of Phoebe and Martha.

In the u13’s boys the team came home in 2nd place with Nathan Townsend coming in 3rd having had a shocking start due to being spiked. Joseph Howe was home in 10th disappointed with his performance today, but he can be pleased to know without this place the team would have suffered. The race of the day in the Juniors had to go to Will Townsend who showed the pain in his face most of the race. This was rewarded with his best placing of the season in 13th a much improved performance. Reliable Cameron Critchley came in at 19th and a recovering Jonathan Powis a steady 31st.

Our only U17’s runner Zac Howe was please with his 13th placing after a quick pace was set early on. Nevertheless Zac always the upbeat happy to be the only representative for the club.

Andy Townsend

South East Lancs Cross Country Boggart Hole Clough

South East Lancs Cross Country Boggart Hole Clough, Salford
Saturday 31st October 2009

The second race in the South East Lancs cross country league took place at Boggart Hole in Salford on Saturday. It followed a week a good weather which resulted in the driest course for ages. These conditions resulted in times being a little quicker than usual as the routes stayed the same.

The first race of the day included Matthew Brindle in his first race with a club vest on. He worked very hard and enjoyed the experience. He ran very well and still had enough for a sprint finish to keep others behind. He completed the course in 6.16 in 8th place. The winner was Joe Kershaw from Oldham in 5.34.

We had a team of runners in the under 13 boys category and they all battled well for themselves and the team. Nathan Townsend produced a really solid performance against some ‘really big guys’ to finish an excellent 3rd in 8.26. Next was Cameron Critchley, who was a little disappointed with his run, but he shouldn’t be because, he came 9th in 9.26. To complete the team Will Townsend was 11th in 9.44. Jonathon Powis added extra red and black to the finishing funnel with a really gutsy display. Still struggling with the remains of a cough he finished 13th in 10.21 The team scored 20pts to finish 3rd but with the first team scoring 19pts and the second team also 20pts placed 2nd on count back – that’s really close. Well done guys.

Also running in the Under 13’s category was Martha Gill. She was our only female representative in his race and she battled really hard in her first cross country race this winter after a break in training and competition due to illness. She finished 8th in 10.27. Well done Martha.

SEL Boggart 2009

England Athletics 2009 Award Winners "Junior Club of the Year" - Horwich RMI Harriers & AC

YAHOOO!!!

Last night our Club received a highly prestigious award from England Athletics at the Hall of Fame Awards in Birmingham in front of many famous Athletes and Coaches.

We were awarded "Junior Club of the Year" for 2009 - putting this into context, as I am sure it was said last night, there are 1,300 athletic clubs in England! So this some achievement.

Photos for EA Awards Night 2009

Name Dropping!

Famous people present at the awards included : David Hemery, Steve Backley, Darren Campbell, Christian Malcolm, Jonathan Edwards, Noel Thatcher, George Bunner, Dorothy Tyler and even the daughter of the legendary Harold Abrahams! The chiefs of Engand Athletics and UKA Athletics were there too!

There were too many names to mention.

You can see a report on the website www.englandathletics.org

OUR THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS

We would not have received this prestigious award if it had not been for the fantastic support we receive from our "volunteers", i.e. coaches, officials, administrators, helpers and even "butty-makers" and our own committee.

We must not forget the help and support that is provided by the Horwich and District Primary & Secondary Schools and Bolton Arena for their services. Also, Horwich Rotary, as we must not forget they donated £ 4,000 4 years ago to buy the indoor sportshall equipment (and continue to support us every year!).

If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me as I am still in shock at our Club receiving such an award.

One thing I must say is that we have the most fantastic young athletes, none better, who continue to amaze us with their enthusiasm for training and great spirit for the sport of athletics. We have great sportsmanship and a willingness to help others as has been shown recently by some of the athletes even becoming Coaches too. Everyone wants to do their best and also wants to help each other which is truly amazing.

On behalf of the Club, a BIG thank you once again and if anyone is interested in our club continuing to get better and better, please let me know. In particular, we are now getting to the stage, where we need more coaches to support our young athletes. So if anyone is interested please let me know or any of our coaches.

Please continue your support. Thanks and well done to the whole of the Club!

Kind regards


Mark Dacre
Junior Coach
Horwich RMI Harriers & AC

PS Dont forget Indoor Sportshall starts next Sunday 18/10/2009 at Blackpool.

Horwich Juniors @ Mid Lancs

In near perfect conditions our junior team of only 3 found the pace of the U13’s race faster than last weeks Red Rose. The field was 50 boys strong and 35 girls strong in the same race of u15’s.

First home in 12th with 11:31 was Jo Howe who had a strong race beating some of last weeks competitors and satisfied he couldn’t have done more. Close on his heels and finishing 14th in 11:39 with 2 other runners across the line in same time was Nathan Townsend. After recognising he had beaten all his closest rivals was please with his performance. Another sterling run from Will Townsend brought him in at 32nd in 12:43 again beating some of last weeks runners from Witton Park.

The only cloud for the team is not having 4 runners meant they didn’t have a full team of four. After the team came 2nd Last week due to Jonathan or Cameron not being able to make it meant no results. A second would have been on the cards again if we have had a full squad.

Jo’s brother Zac Howe had a challenging day being our only U17’s runner. The race again was quick and Zac having had a good season on the Fells just couldn’t find the pace today. Nevertheless a respectable 22nd place wasn’t a true picture of what we are looking forward to from Zac this season.

English Schools Fell Champs

On the 27th September at Sedbergh in Cumbria a number of Horwich Juniors represented their schools and pride of place went to Phoebe Howe who won the U/11 Race which consisted of 2miles with 720 foot of ascent, after leading throughout she finished in a remarkable seventh place overall only beaten by six boys and broke the course record by 40 seconds. She was presented with her Gold Medal by Joss Naylor O.B.E. We had two other competitors in this race with Will Townsend 19th after taking a nasty fall and Johnathan Powis 10 seconds behind in 20th. In the U/13 race Joseph Howe ran well for 26th place and in the U/15 race a 3.5 mile race Zach Howe did well and finished 15th. All the children deserve credit for racing these tough courses considering this year is their first on the Fells.

Tony Hesketh

Another Award Win

Following on from winning the North West award for Junior Club of the Year, the club has had more success with Mike Houghton, Rebecca Keating, Rachel Pearson, Jack Thomas and Tiffany Dacre winning the North West award for Young Volunteers (U 23) of the Year.

Mike, Rebecca, Rachel, Jack and Tiffany won for all their work in Coaching across a range of ages and events and in developing the Track and Field section.

Well done to them all

Link.