Wednesday 1st July 2009

EMMA ACHURCH representing England claimed a fine victory at the Dublin Grand Prix of Race Walking event at Phoenix Park on Sunday 28th June as athletes from 20 countries took part in very warm conditions.

Achurch from the Leicester Walking Club claimed victory in the girls Under-14 2km category race clocking a new lifetime best of 10mins 52secs ahead of Sweden’s Lena Tomas (11:00) and Danielle Oates of the Isle of Man (11:02).

In the Boys Under-16 race England’s Maks Orzel (Leicester) finished second in 16.04 to Ireland’s Evan Lynch (14:49), whilst team mate Jasmine Nicholls (England) also finished third in the girls event in 16:04 as Ireland’s Kate Weale won in 13:49.

Full results are available on the following link: www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dub-gp-09-results.pdf

Sunday 24th May 2009

THERE was a day of shock results at the 2009 European Cup Race Walking in scorching temperatures in Metz, France, on Sunday 24th May that resulted in a clean sweep for the Italians in the Men's 20km.

Here’s out the action unfolded in Metz.
20km Men:

There is nothing like a personal best to boost an athlete's confidence - and Gorgio Rubinho is not about to argue. A month after the 23-year-old Italian sailed under 1:20:00 for the first time he played a waiting game in the heat of Metz, and then set the course on fire to win by a proverbial street to bring joy to new coach, the legendary Sandro Damilano. One of the Roman's previous best marks was set at the European Cup two years ago in Leamington.

But this was no day for re-writing record books, the kind of heat hated by fair-headed endurance athletes was always going to have a major say on the streets of Metz. But along with Rubinho and the familiar face of former Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti in second, the third man on the podium came out of an Italian blue.

Jean-Jacques Nkouloukidi has been one of the journeymen of Italian walking for the last four years - but the 27-year-old came of age here. The walker born of a mixture of Congolese and Italian parents was never in contention for a medal until the last 2k lap from 10, and then sped past a tiring Robert Heffernan to steal the bronze medal.

It was the second time in a row the Irishman has suffered the fate after a final charge from others in 2007 also cost him dearly. But what Yohann Diniz was attempting when he set off at 77:50 pace in searing heat, only the Frenchman will know.

If it was to impress his countryman, the glory lasted a mere 26 minutes before a group of three that had been 23 seconds back on the first lap caught up with the 2006 European champion.

Heffernan, Brugnetti and Pyotr Trofimov from Russia shot through 8km in 32:18, with Diniz labouring but still some way ahead of Rubinho in fourth.

But a further 3km along the blistering road and the Italian reversed the position with some ease - and then as if to show Diniz what even pacing was all about, sped past the leading three just after the 13km mark.

While Rubinho opened up the gap with ease, the following trio tracked each other barely out of step all the way to 16k. And Trofimov was surely keeping an eye on the DQ board to notice his fellow travellers were living dangerously with only one life left each.

The Russian made a break for home and was quickly checked by Brugnetti, and in turn Heffernan reacted to move into third place. Nkouloukidi had other ideas and a one-sided team victory was equally secure. Rubinho said: "I have a completely new team of physio, psychologist, osteopath - and of course a new coach, the legendary Sandro Damilano."

Great Britain’s Luke Finch finished in 25th place in 1:36.30.
20km Women:

Mario Vasco was always the bridesmaid and never the bride - until now that is. The tiny Spaniard's visits to the podium have seen her collect three major bronzes including a fine third the 2000 Olympics - but never gold.

But, amazingly, after a decade of top 10 finishes the Barcelona-born athlete finally made it in Metz. Her time here was five minutes slower than her best set in Beijing's Olympiad last year - but there again so was just about everyone else's. Following a coolish, cloudy morning the sun showed no mercy to the women toeing the line at 1.30pm. The mercury was touching 33 degrees when the gun went and it didn't take long before there were casualties.

A group of 19 headed by Portugal's Susana Feitor cruised through 2k in just over 1:30:00 pace - but only a lap later the pack were split into two by a few seconds, with one of the favourites, Germany's Sabine Krantz, coming off the back.

A circuit later, Feitor was already going through a terrible time and starting to lag behind both groups. Up front, four Russians, two Portuguese, two Romanians, Vasco and assorted others kicked on. Krantz called it a day straight after. But Vasco dug in to head the field through halfway at 45:15 - seven seconds ahead of a line of six now strung out.

But from there, Vasco used all her 33-year-old know-how to hold steady - and although she slowed again, a string of sub 1:30:00 walkers behind were going even slower. Portugal were on their way to team gold when disaster struck at 16k. The chief judge showed the red disc to Vera Santos lying second and Ines Henriques in third.

It would have left Romania's Ana Maria Groza in silver medal position. But a DQ board as slow as some of the over-heated walkers removed her from the podium as well - and this after she had joyously crossed the line.

Anisa Kirdyapkina benefited to claim silver for Russia - and a real outsider, Kristina Saltanovic, was able to brandish Lithuania's first major walking medal at the age of 34 at an emotional victory ceremony. If anyone now figures Vasco wants more sweltering days in championship races - think again. She said: "The heat was terrible - but in that position - you just have to keep going."

Great Britain’s Olympic representative Jo Jackson finished in 27th place with a time of 1:45.05.
50km Men:

There might have been shocks in the two junior races when both Russian favourites were beaten - but the moment Denis Nizhegorodov took the lead at 30k there was only going to be one winner.

The world record holder was more than eight minutes outside the scintillating mark he set in Cheboksary last year in the World Walking Cup - but his face looked no different from 20k right to the end when he crossed the line totally in charge. There wasn't even a commiserating glance to the left as team-mate Sergey Bakulin started his last lap.

There was a thought that after Bakulin beat Nizhegorodov at the Russian Winter Championships in February over 35k, the two might have been closer at the finish of this race.

In fact, the one challenge came from the gutsy effort of Oleksiy Kazanin, who was dipping his toe into unchartered waters when he took on the Russian quartet and passed them just before halfway.

The Ukrainian's best of 3:50:30 suggested he was either in great form or had a rush of blood to the head when he moved into the lead. But his move prompted Nizhegorodov to break ranks, and when he caught Kazanin at exactly the start of the 16th lap, the Russian opened up a seven-second gap in less than a 100m on his way to an untroubled gold.

Meanwhile, the devastation he left behind had former world champion Sergey Kirdyapkin leaning on a barrier in despair a lap later, and likewise Yuriy Andronov was beginning to show the strain. But as those who chased Nizhegorodov slowed, a wise old head was making his way through the field - again.

Jesus Angel Garcia will be 40 in October but it hardly shows more than a minute back at 20k, the 1993 world champion and the World Walking Cup gold medallist as far back as 1997, steadily passed the sufferers to record a time two minutes down on his fourth at the Olympics in Beijing - but two places better.

He said: "At nearly 40 - it's getting tougher, but I will continue to walk for as long as possible, I went faster at the Olympics - but I'm a lot happier with today's position."

Andronov limped across the line for bronze, and the team gold was sealed when Bakulin made fourth spot together with the knowledge that an extra 15k can demote you from contender to casualty very quickly.
Junior Men 10km

Any thought Russian team-work would hold sway was blown part by 6k of the race as Stanislav Yemelyanov was clearly feeling good because he took an incredible 25 seconds out of the second Russian, and even Valeriy Filipchuk in second wasn't hanging around for Denis Strelkov.

The latter had form from last year's World Walking Cup where he got a bronze - but he was considerably more distant in this one than back home in Cheboksary.

Blasting through 8k in 32:18, a glance at the DQ board told the leader he was treading on thin ice. Two DQ red discs were opposite Yemelyanov's number on the "naughty board" as it's known in English-speaking circles, and he sensibly reined in a charge for the line.

He could afford to - his lead had grown yet again, and by the finish he had the luxury of sauntering the last few steps Filipchuk looked far happier to claim the silver medal, and the surprise bronze was greeted with a victorious punch in the air.

It's been a while since Finland had anything to cheer in walking circles. Sarah Essayah won the women's European championship 10k in 1994, their last gold at the sport, when Veli-Matti Partanen wasn't able to toddle very far. But the 17-year-old posted an impressive 41:52 back in September, and he sensibly allowed the Russian trio to get away at the start.

For all that, they were never out of his sight, and by 6k when the Russians went for it, Partanen sensed Strelkov was in trouble. The Finn moved ahead a few seconds later and as his confidence grew, his final time was a mere three seconds outside his best.

He said: "I wasn't interested in time - I just listened to my body and made it an even race, I didn't enjoy the conditions, because it was close and humid - but I felt good and the course suited me. Places fourth to seventh were only 25 seconds apart, but thereafter the procession to the line betrayed the early effort from the young field.

Team GB’s Mark O’Kane finished 24th in 46:04, Tom Bosworth was 39th in 52:01, however, Ben Wears was disqualified.
Junior Women's 10km

The gap at the end between first and second was the biggest in the history of the European Cup Race Walking.

Over eight editions there has never been more than two minutes before the silver medallist appeared - but there again, those holding down first and second at 6k have never been removed one after the other in the space of 20 seconds.

World Walking Cup winner Tatyana Kalmykova, and the favourite for this race, was trying to close the gap on leader Tatyana Mineeva, but came to a skidding halt when presented with the red disc.

Almost immediately, their Russian team-mate Kseniya Trifonova suffered the same fate, and the one remaining red vest was told in no uncertain terms by her coaches to make sure she finished at all costs. But even at that stage Mineeva had two minutes on the instantly promoted Adriana Turnea.

The Romanian could hardly believe her luck when supporters and officials told her she was now second, and likewise newcomer Antonella Palmisano had to be informed she held down the last individual medal for Italy. After that, it was a procession to the line for everybody, with Greek Panayiota Tsinopoulou another two minutes back for fourth.

However, the French pair of Laurene Delon and Emilie Menuet were being cheered all around the 2k loop for their solid fifth and sixth. But it got even better when they cemented a team silver behind Italy, with Romania third.
Leading Results:
Men
50km

1 NIZHEGORODOV Denis RUS 03:42:47
2 GARCIA Jesus Angel ESP 03:46:27 
3 ANDRONOV Yuriy RUS 03:49:09 
4 BAKULIN Sergey RUS 03:52:38 
5 ODRIOZOLA Mikel ESP 03:53:13 
6 CAMBIL Jose Alejandro ESP 03:53:31 
7 SKARNULIS Donatas LTU 03:53:43 
8 DE LUCA Marco ITA 03:54:35 DQ KING Dominic GBR DQ KING Dan GBR
20km

1 RUBINO Giorgio ITA 1:24:06
2 BRUGNETTI Ivano ITA 1:24:54 
3 NKOULOUKIDI Jean-Jacques ITA 1:25:07 
4 HEFFERNAN Robert IRL 1:25:21 
5 TROFIMOV Pyotr RUS 1:25:50 
6 MOLINA Juan Manuel ESP 1:25:58 
7 AUGUSTYN Rafal POL 1:26:06
8 DINIZ Yohann FRA 1:26:59 25 FINCH Luke GBR 1:36:30

Women
20km

1 VASCO Maria ESP 1:32:53
2 KIRDYAPKINA Anisya RUS 1:33:28 
3 SALTANOVIC Kristina LTU 1:34:17 
4 LOUGHNANE Olive IRL 1:34:51 
5 YEMELYANOVA Larisa RUS 1:35:16 
6 PASCUAL Beatriz ESP 1:35:28 
7 SHUMKINA Elena RUS 1:35:51 
8 YURCHANKA Sniazhana BLR 1:36:14 27 JACKSON Jo GBR 1:45:05

Report by the EAA.

www.metz2009.fr/

Thursday 21st May 2009

THE 8th European Cup Race Walking takes place in the French city of Metz on Sunday 24th May where Beijing Olympian Johanna Jackson will spearhead Great Britain's challenge.

Jackson, who came 22nd in the 20km Olympic final in Beijing - setting a new British record in the process, has been in superb form of late as the 23-year-old twice broke the national 5000m record over the winter, while training in Australia at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.

On returning to British soil, Jackson has continued her fine form and set a new 20km personal best and British record of 1:31.16 hours at the Gran Premio Citta di Lugano in Switzerland.
Event Previews:
Men's 20km

Cue the loudest cheer of the day when Yohann Diniz is announced to the crowd before the start of the 20k in Metz.
Actually, that might be the second-loudest if the native from Reims can repeat the heroics that saw him first over the line in Leamington two years ago.

Back then, Diniz also set his PB of 1:18:58 around the English spa town's course. The perfect tonic for France and the Frenchman would be a defence of his title after a disappointing DNF in the Olympic 50k last year.

Diniz has been little seen since he climbed over a Beijing barrier and disappeared into the crowd. And the man who chased him all the way in Leamington is also likely to give him a hard time up and down the loop besides Metz's railway station.

Ivano Brugnetti posted his PB at Leamington too, and the former world champion and Olympic gold medallist knows when to turn on the style.

However, he also posts his fair share of roadside drop-outs, and the 32-year-old didn't get past 6k at the Sesto San Giovanni Challenge on home turf at the beginning of the month.

If neither is in top shape, there's always a Russian who will be.

The giant in world racewalking hasn't sent its front-line attack to France, but the slowest of the four in has a PB only seven seconds outside 1:20:00.

As that's Andrey Ruzavin, who was third in the 35k at Adler in the Russian Winter Championships in February, you can bet he too will form part of a throng of red vests at the front.

Germany's Andre Hohne will be there or thereabouts after showing early season form, while presumably hoping to peak for the World Championships in Berlin later this year.

Right behind, and forming the backbone of the top 10 will be Spain's Juan Manuel Molina alongside Ireland's Rob Heffernan, who came agonisingly close to a medal in Leamington after a last lap sprint separated third to sixth place by just six seconds.
Men's 50km

The World record holder would have to be favourite for any event - and that most certainly applies to Denis Nizhegorodov at the European Cup of Race Walking in Metz.

The Russian, who smashed the existing 50k mark on home turf in the World Walking Cup just over a year ago to record a blistering 3:34:14, hasn't competed at the distance since he won bronze in the Olympics last August.

But he has posted a fast 2:24:56 for 35k at the Russian Winter Championships in Adler in February.

The races at the resort on the Black Sea have traditionally been denied the official thumbs-up on times posted - but anyone churning out kilometres at just over four minutes each is in good nick no matter what the circumstances.

However, the man who headed Nizhegorodov at Adler is also going to be toeing the line in north-east France as well.

Sergey Bakulin beat his team-mate by 31 seconds at the Russian seaside, and if the 20k specialist can wade in with the concentration needed for the longer distance, he will offer a challenge right up to the last 10k when he who wants it most decides matters.

Russia should coast to a team victory, although Sergey Kirdyapkin has been having a relatively lean spell of it since he won the 2005 World Championships.

Reduced to snail's pace in the penultimate World Cup and a DNF in Beijing, the 27-year-old has recovered to be up among the best in Adler while finishing fifth.

If Russia are a shoo-in for team gold, the other medals are anything but.

Spain has got a strong unit out headed by the indefatigable Jesus Angel-Garcia, who was a mere stripling when he won the World Championships in 1993.

Now heading towards his 40th birthday in October, Garcia has showed little of the wear-and-tear of 17 years of mixing it with the best.

Italy will want a say in team matters, and although the French PBs are some way behind the sharp end of the field, the home-grown quartet headed by Eddie Riva will hope to give their countrymen something to cheer about.
Women's 20km

The women's 20km might be the other race with a wide-open finish. While the men's event at the distance offers a French-Italian pair as favourites with Russians in tow, the ladies could see six or seven slugging it out in the latter stages, with Portugal as close they'll ever get to team gold.

Susana Feitor was often the sole Portuguese carrying the country's flag in previous major events. But now the former World Championship medallist has three others around her to share the burden.

Vera Santos has made strides to get in among the best - and was easily under 90:00 at the San Sesto Giovanni at the beginning of May.

Ines Henriques is also near her best, and Ana Cabecinha was the surprise showing at the Olympics in Beijing.
However, a new name might herald a new stage for Sabine Krantz.

The former Sabine Zimmer has always been top 10 material, but with the best Russians absent and her old nemesis Kjersti Platzer also giving Metz a miss, this is the ideal moment for the German to get a medal to celebrate her recent marriage.

Ireland's Olive Loughnane's 1:27:45 PB set in Beijing will see her up with the leaders, but inevitably Mother Russia will expect her walkers to deliver something in France.

Former junior champions Vera Soklova and Yelena Shumkina have graduated to the senior ranks and got the nod for this trip after following Olympic champion Olga Kaniskina home in Adler in February.

Anisya Kirdyapkina will be able to cheer husband Sergey on in the 50k before her afternoon start, and the one junior left of the three red vests improved on her PB to record a superfast 1:25:26 in Adler.

Claudia Stef from Romania is also high-placing material, and even at 33, Spain's Maria Vasco is a force to be reckoned with.

Intriguingly, there are no entries from the traditionally walking stronghold of Italy, so a team bronze after Russia and Portugal scrap for the top two could be just about anybody's.
Junior Women 10km

Aa a contest the junior women's 10k will last around 10 seconds - or about as long as it takes the Russian trio to disentangle themselves from the charge at the gun.

World Walking Cup winner from last year, Tatyana Kalmykova is here - although this time the 19-year-old has two others for company.

Tatyana Mineyeva and Kseniya Trifonova are making their debuts in the competition - but the Russian Winter Championships in Adler in February saw both head Kalmykova with all three dipping under 43:00.

The nearest PB to all three is more than three minutes behind - or to put it another way: the rest will be able to get a good luck at the Russians as they come back on the other side of the course in Metz, with no bets on a fair few getting lapped around the 2k loop.

The Romanian pair of Alexandra Gradinariu and Adriana Turnea are next best on paper, with the knowledge that both have set their PBs in the last two months.

Poland's Anna Mielcarek is something of a veteran at junior level, having set her best in Leamington at the last European Cup and has cosistently gone under 50:00 since then.

And experience is something of a bonus when novices at age 17 or under get sucked into a frantic first-lap stampede only to end up crawling home when the gas runs out in the latter stages.
Junior Men's 10km

What happened to Russian junior walkers at their Winter Championships in February determined their team for Metz.

Needless to say, the top three in Adler for the 10k is the same trio expecting to medal in Metz.

Denis Strelkov was beaten into second on the Black Sea coast, but he's the one with history having taken bronze in the World Walking Cup last year.

His 39:16 PB set a few months before that suggests he would have to stop for a coffee at a pavement bistro on Sunday to finish off the podium.

Newcomer Stanislav Yemelyanov won in Adler only a second slower than Strelkov's PB. But he will be under the scrutiny of an array of European judges for the first time, so anything approaching his superfast clocking will include careful inspection before he gets to the finish line.

Right behind should come an almighty throng if current standings are anything to go by.

There are 19 on the entry list of 44 who have times under 44:00, with Briton Ben Wears currently the man in form.

The 18-year-old from Yorkshire took a massive slice out of his PB to record 41:57 in Coventry at the beginning of April.
Britain won 15 Olympic medals in the 20th century - but have captured no major honour since Roger Mills gained a belated bronze in the European Championships 35 years ago.

All things being equal, Wears could be up there if the judges get to work on removing others who don't conform to rules.

Another first-timer, Vito Di Bari, also brings recent pedigree into the race, while 18-year-old Velli-Matti Partanen hopes his 41:52 from last September allows him to further the tradition that saw Finland gain walking golds in the 1980s and 90s.

Event previews by the EAA.

www.metz2009.fr

Hewitt Cup 2009 - Round 2

Humberstone Park, Leicester

Tuesday 19th May 2009

FRESH from their triumphs at their respective age-groups in the Midland track championships, Leysland students, Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) and Emma Achurch clocked excellent times in the second round of the Hewitt Cup series held over 2km. at Humberstone Park .

However it is Emma’s sister Laura (Blaby Stokes) who leads the girls’ league with Samantha Vesty (Humphrey Perkins) and Kezia Brown (Blaby Stokes) tied in second.

The hugely promising Joe Smith (Blaby Stokes) took another big chunk off his personal best to win his first ever race. Jack Callister beat Stokes team-mates Alfie Martin and Joseph Little in the battle for the other boy’s podium placings.

The final race of the boy’s competition also promises a close finish with Joe and Jack locked on equal points at the top of their league with Joseph just one point off the pace.

Report by George Smolinski.

Leading Results:
Girls
1 Jasmine Nicholls Leysland HS 10:41
2 Emma Achurch Leysland HS 11:13
3 Fiona Brown Blaby Stokes, Leics 13:29
4 Laura Achurch Blaby Stokes, Leics 14:21
5 Samantha Vesty Humphrey Perkins 15:00
6 Kezia Brown Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:25
7 Laura Jo Bazylinski Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:30
8 Eve Thompson Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:52
9 Nikita Bazylinski Blaby Stokes, Leics 16:02
Boys
1 Joe Smith Blaby Stokes, Leics 13:12
2 Jack Callister Blaby Stokes, Leics 13:46
3 Alfie Martin Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:07
3 Joseph Little Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:07
5 Edward Viney Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:50

Friday 15th May 2009

THE Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Athletics Team's race walkers received a boost ahead of the European Cup Race Walking event in Metz by spending a weekend at the new UKA National Race Walk Centre.

The Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Athletics Team's race walkers received a boost ahead of the European Cup Race Walking event in Metz by spending a weekend at the new UKA National Race Walk Centre.

The team of seven race walkers used the facilities and expertise on hand to fine-tune preparations ahead of the gathering of Europe's finest on Sunday 24th May in France. Among those present at the centre was Johanna Jackson, who has set three British Records already this season as she looks to build on her 21st place in the Beijing Olympics over 20km.

Newly appointed Carnegie Director of Race Walking Dr. Andi Drake led the recent weekend's activities and will also be the Team Leader and Head of Delegation in Metz.

Dr. Ian Richards, a Lecturer in the Carnegie Faculty, will also accompany the team in Metz in the capacity of Team Manager. Ian was Championship Director of the last edition of European Cup Race Walking, which was staged in Royal Leamington Spa in 2007. This event was supported by a number of Carnegie staff and students, with the university being a national partner in the event.

Also joining the team in France will be Carnegie Biomechanists Brian Hanley and Dr. Nassos Bissos, who have worked alongside the squad since 2006. They will be conducting a major study of the junior races in Metz and this follows up the two most comprehensive biomenchanical studies of major race walking events at the 2007 European Cup Race Walking and the 2008 IAAF World Cup of Race Walking in Cheboskary, Russia.

Hanley and Dr. Bissos have recently co-authored with Dr. Drake two articles which, along with Dr. Drake's work on the physiology of race walking, form the substantive part of the IAAF's latest edition of their journal "New Studies in Athletics," which has a special focus on race walking.

The team had at hand during the weekend the expertise of a number of Carnegie staff, including Carnegie Director of Athletics Mick Hill and physiotherapist Sarah McDowell from the Carnegie Centre for Sports Performance and Well Being. The preparation camp also enabled a number of students to gain valuable experience in working with a high performance squad ahead of a major championship.

Looking forward to the forthcoming event in Metz, Dr. Drake said, "This is the strongest team Great Britain has sent to the European Cup since 2000 and Carnegie has played a major role in the athletes preparation."

Saturday 9th May 2009

THREE Leicester race walkers have been selected to represent the RWA team following strong performances in last weekend's National age-group championships at London's Victoria Park.

Maks Orzel, Emma Achurch and Jasmine Nicholls will now compete against Ireland in the Dublin Grand Prix on June 27th. Orzel secured his call-up following an impressive second-placed finish in the Under-17 5km race.

He clocked 26mins 15secs, just one second outside his personal best. The race was won by defending champion Jonathan Hobbs in a time of 25:49. Leicester's Chris Vesty was third in 28.48 to ensure the team prize.

Achurch eased to victory in the Under-13 2km, winning by a margin of 31 seconds from Birchfield's Toni Webley in a time of 11:02, Samantha Vesty was 9th in 15.32.

In the Under-15 3km event, Nicholls sliced more than 20 seconds off her lifetiem best to finish 10 seconds behind Ashford's Kate Funnell. They were together for the first lap before Funnell won in 16:12 with Nicholls clocking 16:22.

There were also men's open races at Victoria Park, with Mark Wall 5th in the 5km in 25:51 and Chris Vesty 9th in 29:53.

Sue Rey was 5th in the women's race in 34:39 before teaming up with Wall and Vesty in the 3km veterans event. Wall was first in 15:21 and Vesty 9th in 18:18 and Rey was 6th in 20:04 in her race.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racewalkuk.com/Results.asp

Tuesday 28th April 2009

GOOD conditions meant that half of the competitors in the first race of the 2009 Hewitt Cup race Walking Series got inside their best times.

Racing over a 2km course at Humberstone Park, Jasmine Nicholls (Countesthorpe College) won her first race in this event. Leysland High School team-mate Emma Achurch was runner up while Fiona Brown (Blaby Stokes) returned after injury to take third place.

With his tenth successive Hewitt Cup victory Christopher Vesty (Rawlins College) was a clear winner in the corresponding boy’s event. The promising Blaby Stokes duo of Joe Smith and Jack Callister battled it out for second place with Smith just holding off Callister in the final few strides of the race.

In this competition the individual standings are based on a handicapping system which encourages all competitors to improve their best times over the 3 race series. At this early stage in this long standing Leicester Walking Club race walking competition both boys’ and girls’ tables are headed by Stokes Striders –Kezia Brown and Jack Callister.

Report by George Smolinski.

Leading Results:
Boys
1-Christopher Vesty-Rawlins School-10:25
2-Joe Smith-Blaby Stokes, Leics-13:31
3-Jack Callister-Blaby Stokes, Leics-13:33
4-Joseph Little-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:45
5-Benjamin Allen-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:09
6-Joseph Percy-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:10
Girls
1-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland HS-10:48
2-Emma Achurch-Leysland HS-11:30
3-Fiona Brown-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:00
4-Zana Wellicome-Ridgeway, Leics-14:17
5-Laura Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:47
6-Kezia Brown-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:14
7-Samantha Vesty-Humphrey Perkins-15:16
8-Laura Jo Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:12
8-Nikita Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:12

Wednesday 22nd April 2009

UK Athletics have announced that they have set-up a new National Race Walk Centre in the city of Leeds under the leadership of Andi Drake

Drake has been appointed as the Carnegie director of race walking at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Drake - who officially took up the post this month – is a UK Athletics level 4 performance coach in race walking and a UK Athletics level 3 performance coach in marathon and distance running.

He has a wealth of academic and practical experience of the discipline, including holding a related PhD on elite performance race walking, acting as personal coach to athletes who have competed at Olympic, world and Commonwealth level and 18 years competing for Britain, including at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

The role will encompass a number objectives, including providing coaching support to race walkers on the UK Athletics world-class performance programme, providing coach mentoring to designated coaches in agreement with England Athletics and UK Athletics and to manage and organise a future training programme for nominated race walking athletes.

Drake said: “I am delighted to be taking up this position and appreciate the foresight of Leeds Metropolitan University and UK Athletics in giving race walking a permanent centre in the UK.

"We have some very exciting talent coming though in race walking in the UK, both in terms of athletes and coaches.

“We have a strong foundation in place and I look forward to developing race walking in the lead up to 2012 and building a legacy to last beyond the London Olympic Games.”

Malcolm Brown, the director of sport at Leeds Metropolitan University said: “We are delighted to welcome UK Athletics and Andi Drake to the University.

"Our commitment to coaching is significant and Andi is a fine coach with an international reputation.

"He joins Mick Hill, our director of athletics, in building upon the Carnegie heritage in the global sport of track and field.

“Andi will be responsible for developing the sport further within the University and nationally in partnership with UK Athletics and we are grateful to the governing body in showing confidence in us.

“As the home of the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence we see this as a development of our critical mass of talented coaches on campus.

"Andi's academic credentials in sports science will strengthen our expertise in the understanding of endurance events and our research profile."

Press Release from UK Athetics www.uka.org.uk

Friday 17th April 2009

BEIJING Olympian Johanna Jackson will spearhead Great Britain's assault on the European Race Walking Cup in Metz next month.

Jackson, who came 22nd in the 20km Olympic final in Beijing - setting a new British record in the process, has been in superb form of late and will lead a seven-strong party to France on May 24.

The 23-year-old twice broke the national 5000m record over the winter, while training in Australia at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.

On returning to British soil, Jackson has continued her fine form and set a new 20km personal best and British record of 1:31.16 hours at the Gran Premio Citta di Lugano in Switzerland.

That performance was just one second shy of the A qualifying standard for August's World Championships in Berlin.

Joining Jackson will be twins Daniel and Dominic King, who will go in the 50km, while Luke Finch will compete in the 20km.

And there are also call ups for Tom Bosworth, Mark O'Kane and Ben Wears in the junior 10km event.

www.metz2009.fr/2nd_language/index.html

Saturday 12th April 2009

LUKE FINCH representing Colchester Harriers stormed to his first national senior title in the UKA/RWA 20km Championships this weekend staged at Shrewsbury Sports Village.

Held on a 1km cycle circuit, each lap consisted of a 250 metre climb, which athletes had endured on twenty occasions. Despite this Finch took 7 seconds off his previous best of 1.28.38 set last month in Lugano, Switzerland in clocking 1.28.31.

Finch set the early pace with Junior Ben Wears (Redcar RWC) stepping up in distance in close proximity. He went through 5km in 21.45, with Wears passing the same mark in 22.00, but the youngster was soon withdrawn by the judges.

Finch passed the halfway point in 43.30. The tough course began to take its toll in the second half as he passed 15km in 65.45 but hung on well over the last 5km to record a new personal best of 1.28.31. This puts him at the head of the Power of 10 rankings for 2009 and moved him up to 27th on the UK All Time list.

Finch backed up his performance over 10km of 41.51 in the previous week’s McCain UKA Race Walking Challenge opener in Coventry. Carl Thompson (Sarnia) took 2nd in 1.39.51 ahead of Paul Evenett (Redcar RWC) 1.40.57.

In the Women’s 20km British Record Holder Jo Jackson (Redcar RWC) put behind a disappointing performance the previous weekend in the IAAF Challenge in Rio Major, Portugal. Recovered from the hamstring injury – she took the title in 1.35.37.

Jackson passed halfway in 46.00, but as she had two cards on the board throttled back to cruise round the last 10km to secure the national title. In second place was triple Commonwealth medallist and former national record holder Lisa Kehler (Wolverhampton & Bilston) who clocked the second fastest time by a British athlete this year in clocking 1.44.18, ahead of Dianne Bradley (Tonbridge) 1.53.39.

In the Junior Men’s 10km, Ben Wears stepping up to the 20km race led to a showdown between Mark O’Kane (Coventry Godiva Harriers), Alex Wright (Belgrave Harriers) and Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge) for the two remaining places in the Aviva Great Britain and NI team for the forthcoming European Cup in Metz, France.

Boswoth set the early pace and Wright moved ahead of O’Kane. However, by the halfway point O’Kane had moved ahead of both of his rivals. Wright was soon to be removed by the judges, leaving the way clear for O’Kane to take his first national title in 47.46. Bosworth hung on for second place (49.18) ahead of his team mate Liam Baldwin (Tonbrige) in 3rd (49.18). The Junior Women’s 10km saw Birchfield’s Holly Smith rack up a comfortable victory in 56.16.

Leicester’s Fiona McGorum, weakened after a heavy cold, suffered disappointment having placed well in fourth position, but started to slow at the 12k stage and was forced to drop out.

However, Sue Rey and Sarah Lightman both posted top-10 finishes to clinch the team title for Leicester.

Rey was seventh in 2hr 24min 40sec, and Lightman followed behind in eighth with a time of 2.26.28. Chris Berwick finished seventh in the men’s race in 1.57.14.

Saturday 21st March 2009

A remarkable five athletes representing the Leicester Walking Club secured gold medals at the 2009 Midland Championships staged at Abbey Park.

Chris Berwick led the way breaking the two-hour barrier to win the men's 20km race in a time of 1hr 59mins 37secs.

Team-mates Phil Smillie claimed fifth in 2:15.31, whilst, Tony Kent was 9th in 2:43.59, as Leicester finished on 286 points, runners-up to Birchfield (291). Paul Hayden, representing Hinckley, was sixth in 2:16.32.

In the women's race, Sarah Lightman won the title in 2:21.10 ahead of Leicester club-mate Sue Rey (2:23.23).

Highlight of the Young Athletes Grand Prix was produced by Maks Orzel with a superb victory in the Under-17 5km race crossing the line in a time of 26:14, a lifetime best by over two minutes. Chris Vesty claimed silver in 29:17 as Leicester won the team competition.

In the Under-15 girls competition Jasmine Nicholls won in a time of 17:11, her fastest time of 2009, whilst, Emma Achurch followed this in the Under-13 girls 2km by winning in a personal best of 11:07.
Gwenen Jones was fourth in 13:10 with Samantha Vesty 8th in 16:00 as Leicester finished runners-up to Birchfield.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racewalkuk.com/Results.asp

Tuesday 10th March 2009

JO JACKSON (Redcar RWC) broke yet another British Record in taking victory in the EAA Permit Meeting, Gran Prenio Citta di Lugano.

In perfect conditions on the flat picturesque lakeside course Jackson competing for Team England, set the early pace alongside Russian Olga Povalyanyeva. Just before 5km Povalyanyeva began to pull away passing 5km in 22.32 to Jackson's 22.42, however, a storming last 4.12 kilometre saw Jackson storm past the Russian to take victory to set a new British Record of 1.31.16 removing the 1.31.33 she set in Beijing from the record.

Jackson's victory also puts her top of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge standings on 8 points. Jackson is now a second away from the A standard required for the World Championships in Berlin this year.

Jackson's performance was the highlight for an excellent day for British race walking. In the Junior Men's 10 Kilometres Ben Wears took over a minute for his personal best in finishing 2nd place in 43.11 to German Carl Dohmman (42.49).

Behind him Mark O'Kane (Coventry Godiva Harriers) smashed his personal best in to record 44.53 in 5th place. He was followed up by Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge AC) who removed almost 3 minutes from his personal best in clocking 45.29 in 8th. They were followed by Alex Wright (Belgrave Harriers) 46.27. All 4 were well inside the UKA guideline time for the European Cup of 47.00.

Team England were represented by the Colchester Harriers trio of Dominic King, Luke Finch and Daniel King in the senior men’s 20km. Daniel set the early pace amongst the trio, but Dominic passed 5km in 21.33 ahead of twin brother Daniel 21.38 and Luke Finch in his first international race since his comeback to the event last year. By the halfway mark Dominic was still leading the trio in 43.30, whilst Daniel was just behind in 43.41 and Finch 43.51.

In the second half despite tiring over the last few laps Dominic hung on to record his fastest time since 2003 clocking 1.28.33 (for 10th place) to go to the top of the Power of 10 Rankings for 2009. Finch passed Daniel King with 5km left to record a huge new personal best of 1.28.38 in 11th and Daniel bought the team home in 1.28.51. Team England were 2nd to Belarus in the team event.

Article by UK Athletics.

Saturday 7th March 2009

A record number of young athletes took part in this season’s Chris Smith Race Walking League Series. 92 walkers from 48 schools (another record) competed in this innovative, and highly successful, league format which promotes race walking.

It was a second successive 1-2 for Leysland High School as Jasmine Nicholls led home Emma Achurch with Gabrielle Terry (St Mary’s Sports College, Hull) in third place. In a great display of consistent high class performances over the 4 race series, Rebecca Chambers (Greenhill, Sheffield) topped the girls individual league and retained the title she won last year ahead of promising newcomer Zana Wellicome (Ridgeway Primary, Leics). Just five points separated the trio of Georgina Hollinshead (Hurley Primary, Atherstone), Laura Achurch (Blaby Stokes) and Hannah Winship (Plantsbrook, Sutton) in the battle for the next three positions.

Matthew Duncan (Franklin College, Grimsby) won his second race of the season with Maks Orzel (Leicester Grammar) and Ben Woolis (Hereford School, Grimsby) in the other podium placings. The boy’s title overall title was only decided in the final race. With another personal best time, Dan Chaib (High Storrs, Sheffield) pushed Orzel back into second place with Joe Smith (Blaby Stokes) just four points further back. Jakob Hazlewood (Ridgeway) and Joseph Little (Blaby Stokes) completed the top five list.

Blaby Stokes Striders race walking squad successfully retained the Chris Smith race walking league team title. With their “B” team finishing as runners up, Ridgeway Primary in third and Leicester Grammar in fourth, schools race walking in Leicestershire looks to be in its healthiest state for a number of years.
Full Results:
Girls
1-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland HS, Leics -11:40,2-Emma Achurch-Leysland HS, Leics -11:54,3-Gabrielle Terry-St Mary’s Sports College, Hull-12:28,4-Eleanor Mills-Grace Academy, Chelmsley Wood-12:32,5-Toni Webley-Kingstanding, Birmingham-12:41,6-Rebecca Chambers-Greenhill, Sheffield-12:50,7-Hannah Winship-Plantsbrook , Sutton-13:27,8-Kara Sanders-Hartshill, Nuneaton-13:32,9-Gwenan Jones-Leicester Grammar-13:54,10-Cassandra Tingey-Sharlands Collegiate Academia, Smethwick-14:02,11-Lisa Costelow-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:09,12-Maria Walker-Market Weighton Sec-14:13,13-Zana Wellicome-Ridgeway, Leics-14:40,14-Georgina Hollinshead-Hurley Primary, Atherstone-15:10,15-Kimberley Marston-George Elliott, Nuneaton-15:21,16-Laura Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:34,17-Olivia Parkinson-Barton Seagrave Primary School, Kettering-15:38,17-Tabby Walford-Isham Primary, Kettering-15:38,19-India Robinson-Barton Seagrave Primary School, Kettering-15:56,20-Amy Sanders-Croft Junior School-16:20,,21-Lydia Cole-St. Edwards Primary, Kettering-16:23,22-Jessica Mills-Grace Academy, Chelmsley Wood-16:37,23-Nikita Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:42,24-Daisy Elmore-St. Edwards Primary, Kettering-16:43,25-Grace Campbell-Little Harrowden School, Wellingborough-16:44,26-Anya Gallette-St Mary’s, Burton Latimer-16:45,27-Hannah Winstone-Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering-16:46,27-Sim Bhandal-Brambleside PS, Kettering-16:46,27-Evie Horsley-Moulton Primary School-16:46,27-Annie Gilbert-Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering-16:46,31-Laura Jo Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:48,32-Sophie Naylor-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:58,33-Jade Hatch-Manor Park, Coventry-17:01,34-Amelia Rebhan-St. Edwards Primary, Kettering-17:33,34-Chloe Treacy-Barton Seagrave Primary School, Kettering-17:33,36-Ellie Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-18:45
Boys
1-Matthew Duncan-Franklin College, Grimsby-9:48,2-Maks Orzal-Leicester Grammar-10:57,3-Ben Woolis-Hereford School, Grimsby-11:38,4-Nathan Duncan-Hereford School, Grimsby-12:02,5-Dan Chaib-High Storrs, Sheffield-12:21,6-Daniel Waples-Guilsborough H S, Northants-12:24,7-Matthew Redfern-Overseal Junior School-13:08,8-Ethan Mehmet-Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering-13:58,9-Toby Howgill-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:10,10-Jakob Hazelwood-Ridgeway, Leics-14:16,11-Joe Smith-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:18,12-Charlie Jones-Barton Seagrave School, Kettering-14:23,13-Jack Callister-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:50,14-Alfie Martin-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:15,15-Joseph Little-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:34,16-Edward Viney-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:52,17-Ewan Murcroft-Mill Brook School-16:01,18-Sebastian Winstone-Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering-16:06,19-Matthew Allan-Mill Brook School-16:41,20-Peter Bilson-SHEAF-16:49,21-George Watson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:00,22-Joseph O’Toole-Danesholme, Corby-17:32,23-Benjamin Allen-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:46,24-Joseph Percy-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:48
Final Girls League
1-Rebecca Chambers-189,2-Zana Wellicome-168,2-Georgina Hollinshead-149,4-Laura Achurch-147,5-Hannah Winship-144,6-Eleanor Mills-133,7-Gwenan Jones-131,8-Emma Achurch-124,9-Jasmine Nicholls-116,10-Jessica Mills, 11-Kara Sanders-110
Final Boys League
1-Dan Chaib-197,2-Maks Orzel-175,3-Joe Smith-171,4-Jakob Hazelwood-162,5-Joseph Little-154,6-Daniel Waples-151,7-Jack Callister-146,8-Matthew Duncan-1259-Nathan Duncan -122,10-Alfie Martin-109
Team Standings:
1 Blaby Stokes “A”, Leics-401,2 Blaby Stokes “B”-338,3 Ridgeway Primary, Market Harborough-330,4 Leicester Grammar-306,5 Blaby Stokes “C”-287,6 High Storrs, Sheffield-277,7 Greenhill “A”, Sheffield-247,8 Grace Academy, Chelsley Wood-243,9 Leysland High School, Leics-240,10 Hall Meadow A, Kettering-237,11 Blaby Stokes “D”-231,12 Hereford School, Grimsby-230,13 Blaby Stokes “E”-182,14 Barton Seagrave A, Kettering-181,15 Overseal Junior-160,16 Guilsborough H S, Northants-151,17 Hurley Primary, Atherstone-149,18 St. Edwards Primary A , Kettering-146,19 Plantsbrook, Sutton-144,20 Michael Drayton, Nuneaton-139,21 Mill Brook-132,22 Blaby Stokes “F”-127,23 Franklin College, Grimsby-125,24 Moulton Primary, Northants-120,25 Hartshill High, Nuneaton-110,26 Sharlands Collegiate, Smethwick-107,27 Burbage Junior-93,28 Barton Seagrave B, Kettering-93,29 Nicholas Chamberlaine Bedworth-85,30 Croft Junior-85,31 Rawlins College, Leics-80,32 Blaby Stokes “G”-68,33 Cadbury College-64,34 Isham Primary, Kettering-57,35 St. Mary's Burton Latimer, Kettering-56,36 Kingstanding, Birminghsm-55,37 Little Harrowden Primary, Wellingborough-47,38 Hall Meadow Primary B, Kettering-47,39 Broughton School-46,40 Barwell Junior-40,41 Brambleside Primary, Kettering-39,42 Market Weighton, E. Yorks-36,43 HS Academy, Sheffield-27,44 Blaby Stokes “H”-27,45 Danesholme, Corby-26,46 St Mary’s Sports College, Hull-25,48 St. Edwards Primary B , Kettering-21,49 President Kennedy School, Coventry-19,50 George Elliott-15,51 Hawthorn Community Primary, Kettering-14,52 Greenhill “B”, Sheffield-12,53 Hall Meadow Primary B, Kettering-10,54 Queen Elizabeth School, Atherstone-9,55 Ise Community College, Kettering-9,56 Etone School, Nuneaton-9,57 Meadowhead, Sheffield-7,58 SHEAF-5,59 Manor Park-6,60 Blaby Stokes “I”-5,61 Wyke College, Hull-3

Saturday 21st February 2009

CHRIS VESTY representing the Leicester Walking Club made a brilliant debut in his first senior championships.

The 16-year-old teenager sliced two minutes off his personal best over 10k to finish in fourth place with a time of 58mins 33secs at the 2009 Midland Championships held at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium.

This fine performance earned him a further accolade as he edged out 50-year-old Birchfield competitor Peter Boszko to the standard award.

"It's a classification for athletes who have not won anything in a senior championship and, in Chris's case, he was making his debut at this level," said his father, Colin, who was eighth in 60:09.

"Chris and Peter had a real battle for the award as they were neck and neck with half a kilometre to go, but Chris pulled away in the final 400 metres."

Leicester walkers also filled the second and third places, with Mark Wall taking the runners-up position in 55:34 and Chris Berwick finishing third in 57:09, whilst, Hinckley's Peter Hayden, who represents for Nuneaton, was 10th in 62:37.

In the women's 5k, Leicester's Sarah Lightman was fifth in 32:21 and Sue Rey sixth in 33:55.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racewalkuk.com/Results.asp

Saturday 7th February 2009

JOANNE JACKSON has smashed the British 5,000 metres track walking record at the 2009 Australian Cup in Brisbane with a time of 21 minutes 01.24 seconds.

The 24-year-old Redcar athlete had an easy victory ahead of the host nation's Jessica Rothwell and Cheryl Webb who posted marks of 21:12.63 and 21:38.57.

Jackson's performance improved massively on the clocking of 21:30.75 which she set at last July's Olympic trials, which however has still to be ratified.

Lisa Kehler was the previous fastest Briton with a time of 21:42.51 achieved seven years ago.

Saturday 7th February 2009

JASMINE NICHOLLS (Leysland High School) and Maks Orzel (Leicester Grammar) strode home to their first ever league victories in the Chris Smith 2km. Race Walking League held on Tuesday 27th January.

A record 62 athletes took part in the third round of this highly successful postal event.

Nicholls finished ahead of team-mate Emma Achurch while Maria Fielder (Nicholas Chamberlaine, Bedworth) took almost a minute off her previous best time to finish third in the listings. In the girls individual league Rebecca Chambers (Greenhill, Sheffield) has a healthy lead going into the final race of the series. Local girls, Gwenan Jones (Leicester Grammar) and Zana Wellicome (Ridgeway) are tied in second place.

Maks’ time was another personal best and put him well clear of Matthew Duncan (Franklin College, Grimsby) and Christopher Vesty (Rawlins School, Leicester). However the overall boys league remains tightly contested with Orzel’s lead a slender 4 points ahead of Dan Chaib (High Storrs, Sheffield) with Joe Smith (Blaby Stokes) just two points further back.

In the closest team competition in memory Blaby Stokes Striders “A” team (100 points) just held off Ridgeway (99 points), St Edwards in Kettering (95 points), Barton Seagrave (94 points) and Michael Drayton (92 points). As a result of this performance, current team champions Stokes extended their lead over Leicester Grammar in the overall standings.
Full Results:
Boys
1-Maks Orzel-Leicester Grammar-10:07;2-Matthew Duncan-Franklin College, Grimsby-10:58;3-Christopher Vesty-Rawlins School, Leics-10:59;4-Nathan Duncan-Hereford School, Grimsby-11:18;5-Daniel Waples-Guilsborough H S, Northants-12:18;6-Dan Chaib-High Storrs, Sheffield-13:07;7-Joe Smith-Blaby Stokes, Leics-13:40;8-Jakob Hazelwood-Ridgeway, Leics-13:41;9-Matthew Redfern-Overseal School-14:02;10-Charlie Jones-Barton Seagrave School, Kettering-14:11;11-Jack Callister-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:18;11-Alfie Martin-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:18;13-Billy Oakes-St. Edwards Primary, Kettering-15:24;13-Ewan Murcroft-Mill Brook School-15:24;15-Joseph Little-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:31;16-Edward Viney-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:32;17-Evan Bridgstock-Broughton School-15:33;;18-Peter Bilson-SHEAF-16:07;19-Matthew Allan-Mill Brook School-16:10;20-Ryan Horne-President Kennedy Comm. School, Coventry-16:17;21-Sebastian Winstone-Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering-16:49;22-Benjamin Allen-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:02;22-George Watson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:02;24-Joseph Percy-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:20
Girls
1-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland HS, Leics -11:06;2-Emma Achurch-Leysland HS, Leics -11:36;3-Maria Fielder-Nicholas Chamberlaine, Bedworth-12:18;4-Hannah Winship-Plantsbrook , Sutton-12:43;5-Eleanor Mills-Grace Academy, Chelmsley Wood-12:46;6-Gwenan Jones-Leicester Grammar-12:47;7-Rebecca Chambers-Greenhill, Sheffield-13:13;8-Gabrielle Terry-St Mary’s Sports College, Hull-13:28;9-Cassandra Tingey-Sharlands Collegiate Academia, Smethwick-13:35;10-Georgina Hollinshead-Hurley Primary, Atherstone-14:52;11-Zana Wellicome-Ridgeway, Leics-14:55;12-Kara Sanders-Hartshill, Nuneaton-14:56;13-Eden Backhouse-Michael Drayton Junior-15:14;13-Jessica Warren-Burbage Junior School-15:14;15-Nikita Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:32;15-Jessica Mills-Grace Academy, Chelmsley Wood-15:32;17-Amelia Rebhan-St. Edwards Primary, Kettering-15:36;17-Bethany Dennis-Michael Drayton Junior-15:36;19-Laura Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:42;20-Katie Simons-Moulton Primary School-15:48;20-Evie Horsley-Moulton Primary School-15:48;22-Olivia Parkinson-Barton Seagrave Primary School, Kettering-16:00;22-India Robinson-Barton Seagrave Primary School, Kettering-16:0024-Laura Jo Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:0625-Hannah Winstone-Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering-16:3225-Annie Gilbert-Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering-16:3227-Chloe Treacy-Barton Seagrave Primary School, Kettering-16:3327-Daisy Elmore-St. Edwards Primary, Kettering-16:3329-Ellie Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:4130-Amy Sanders-Croft Junior School-16:4431-Kezia Brown-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:5632-Violet Clayton-Hawthorn Community Primary, Kettering-17:3432-Grace Campbell-Little Harrowden School, Wellingborough-17:3434-Rosie Parsons-Etone School, Nuneaton-17:4535-Sim Bhandal-Brambleside PS, Kettering-18:0436-Kiran Somal-Ise Community College, Kettering-18:0637-Nasra Abdulsamad-Hawthorn Community Primary, Kettering-18:5438-Azaria Mott-St Mary’s, Burton Latimer-18:56
Girls League (points after third race)
1-Rebecca Chambers-135;2-Gwenan Jones-118;2-Zana Wellicome-118;4-Hannah Winship-109;5-Georgina Hollinshead-108;6-Laura Achurch-96;7-Jessica Mills-94;8-Eleanor Mills-93;8-Jessica Warren-93;8-Emma Achurch-93
Boys League (points after third race)
1-Maks Orzel-145;2-Dan Chaib-141;3-Joe Smith-139;4-Jakob Hazelwood-127;5-Joseph Little-105;6-Daniel Waples-104;7-Nathan Duncan -102;8-Jack Callister-98
Team:
1 Blaby Stokes “A”, Leics-301;2 Leicester Grammar-263;3 Ridgeway Primary, Market Harborough-245;4 Blaby Stokes “B”-245;5 High Storrs, Sheffield-221;6 Blaby Stokes “C”-205;7 Greenhill “A”, Sheffield-193;8 Grace Academy, Chelsley Wood-187;9 Leysland High School, Leics-173;10 Blaby Stokes “D”-170;11 Hereford School, Grimsby-157;12 Michael Drayton, Nuneaton-139;13 Blaby Stokes “E”-133;14 Hall Meadow, Kettering-130;15 Plantsbrook, Sutton-109;16 Guilsborough H S, Northants-104;17 Overseal Junior-102;18 Moulton Primary, Northants-102;19 Blaby Stokes “F”-101;20 Hurley Primary, Atherstone-95;21 St. Edwards Primary A , Kettering-95;22 Barton Seagrave A, Kettering-94;23 Burbage Junior-93;24 Nicholas Chamberlaine Bedworth-85;25 Rawlins College, Leics-80;26 Sharlands Collegiate, Smethwick-80;27 Mill Brook-76;28 Franklin College, Grimsby-73;29 Hurley Primary, Atherstone-71;30 Cadbury College-64;31 Croft Junior-58;32 Blaby Stokes “G”-55;33 Hartshill High, Nuneaton-51;34 Barton Seagrave B, Kettering-49;35 St. Mary's Burton Latimer, Kettering-47;36 Broughton School-46;37 Barwell Junior-40;38 Hall Meadow Primary A, Kettering-31;39 HS Academy, Sheffield-27;40 Little Harrowden Primary, Wellingborough-26;41 Blaby Stokes “H”-24;42 Lancaster Boys, Leicester-22;43 Brambleside Primary, Kettering-21;44 President Kennedy School, Coventry-19;45 Market Weighton, E. Yorks-16;46 St. Edwards Primary B , Kettering-16;47 St Mary’s Sports College, Hull-14;48 Hawthorn Community Primary, Kettering-14;49 Greenhill “B”, Sheffield-12;50 Hall Meadow Primary B, Kettering-10;51 Queen Elizabeth School, Atherstone-9;52 Ise Community College, Kettering-9;53 Etone School, Nuneaton-9;54 Meadowhead, Sheffield-7;55 Blaby Stokes “I”-5;56 SHEAF-5;57 Wyke College, Hull-3

Report by George Smolinski - L.P.S.A.A. Sports Development Officer.

Saturday 24th January 2009

LEICESTER Race Walking Club captain Mark Wall retained his club 10-mile title from Haynes Road.

Wall broke away from Chris Berwick in the second half of the race but runner-up Berwick took the County championship.

In the women's race, Sue Rey overturned a 14-second deficit at halfway to beat Sarah Lightman by 16 seconds.
Leading Results:
1 Mark Wall 1hr 35min 27sec, 2 Chris Berwick 1.37.40, 3 Phil Smillie 1.45.10, 4 Colin Vesty 1.48.48, 5 Sue Rey 1.53.22, 6 Sarah Lightman 1.53.38, 7 Tony Kent 2.09.46

Chris Smith Race Walking League 2008/09

Saffron Lane Sports Centre, Leicester

Tuesday 18th November 2008

BOOSTED by a contingent of new walkers from the Kettering area, this innovative postal event witnessed a near record 56 athletes competing in the second round of the Chris Smith 2km Race Walking League.

Once again Holly Smith (Cadbury College, W.Midlands) clocked the fastest time in the girls event with Jasmine Nicholls and Emma Achurch (both Leysland High School) in second and third.

In the corresponding boys race, leading times were clocked by Matthew Duncan (Franklin College, Grimsby) and Maks Orzel (Leicester Grammar) who both knocked huge chunks off their personal bests. Christopher Vesty (Rawlins School, Leicester) was third.

In a tight team competition on the night, Blaby Stokes Striders “A” team (106 points) just held off Hereford School, Grimsby (103) with Hall Meadow, Kettering in third (99 points) a solitary point ahead of Leicester Grammar and Stokes “B”. After two races in the series Stokes have stretched their lead over Leicester Grammar and High Storrs in Sheffield.

Both individual leagues are currently led by walkers from Leicester Grammar. Gwenan Jones’ improvement by over a minute on her previous best time leapfrogged her into top spot in her league with Sheffield training partners, Rebecca Chambers (Greenhill) Sarah Sheasby (High Storrs) tied in second place on 80 points.

Maks Orzel leads the promising Joe Smith (Blaby Stokes, Leics) and Dan Chaib (High Storrs) in the boys league.
Full Results:
Boys
1 Matthew Duncan Franklin College, Grimsby 10:05
2 Maks Orzel Leicester Grammar 10:17
3 Christopher Vesty RawlinsSchool, Leics 10:19
4 Nathan Duncan Hereford School, Grimsby 10:47
5 Ben Woolis Hereford School, Grimsby 11:59
6 Dan Chaib High Storrs, Sheffield 13:38
7 Joe Smith Blaby Stokes, Leics 13:47
8 Daniel Waples Guilsborough H S, Northants 13:53
9 Jakob Hazelwood Ridgeway, Leics 14:15
10 Jack Callister Blaby Stokes, Leics 14:45
11 Matthew Kibble Barwell, Leics 15:19
12 Edward Viney Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:24
13 Charlie Green Greenhill, Sheffield 15:29
14 Joseph Little Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:32
14 Harry Birch Lancaster Boys, Leicester 15:32
16 Benjamin Allen Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:48
17 George Watson Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:51
18 Jake Smith Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:53
19 Jack Salmen Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:58
20 Charlie Arnold Queen Elizabeth, Atherstone 16:29
21 Joseph Percy Blaby Stokes, Leics 16:40
Overall:
1 Maks Orzel 91
2 Joe Smith 87
3 Dan Chaib 84
4 Jake Smith 77
5 Jack Salmen 74
6 Benjamin Allen 72
= Nathan Duncan 72
8 Jakob Hazelwood 45
Girls
1 Holly Smith Cadbury College 9:52
2 Jasmine Nicholls Leysland HS, Leics 11:07
3 Emma Achurch Leysland HS, Leics 11:26
4 Kathryn Granger Meadowhead 11:44
5 Eleanor Mills Grace Academy,
Chelmsley Wood 12:11
6 Gwenan Jones Leicester Grammar 12:17
7 Hannah Winship Plantsbrook , Sutton 12:52
8 Cassandra Tingey Sharlands Collegiate Academia, Smethwick 13:25
9 Rebecca Chambers Greenhill, Sheffield 13:33
10 Sarah Sheasby High Storrs, Sheffield 13:47
11 Jessica Warren Burbage Junior School 14:21
12 Zana Wellicome Ridgeway, Leics 14:38
13 Anya Gallette St. Mary's Burton Latimer, Kettering 14:54
13 Annie Gilbert Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering 14:54
15 Hannah Winstone Hall Meadow Primary, Kettering 14:55
16 Caitlyn Akers H.S. Academy, Sheffield 15:00
17 Sophie Naylor Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:19
18 Jessica Mills Grace Academy,
Chelmsley Wood 15:20
19 Laura Achurch Blaby Stokes, Leics 15:34
20 Nikita Bazylinski Blaby Stokes, Leics 16:00
21 Laura Jo Bazylinski Blaby Stokes, Leics 16:23
22 Grace Campbell Little Harrowden Primary, Wellingborough 16:29
23 Sim Bhandal Brambleside Primary, Kettering 16:33
24 Katie Simons Moulton Primary, Northants 16:37
24 Evie Horsley Moulton Primary, Northants 16:37
24 Georgina Hollinshead Hurley Primary, Atherstone 16:37
27 Kezia Brown Blaby Stokes, Leics 16:41
28 Kiran Somal Ise Community College, Kettering 16:51
29 Eleanor Maloy Blaby Stokes, Leics 17:09
30 Ellie Birch Blaby Stokes, Leics 17:45
31 Kara Sanders Hartshill, Nuneaton 18:37
32 Alice Crowdell Blaby Stokes, Leics 18:58
33 Nasra Abdulsamad Hawthorn Community Primary, Kettering 19:03
34 Amy Sanders Croft Junior School 19:04
35 Rosie Parsons St Josephs Junior, Nuneaton 19:15
Overall:
1 Gwenan Jones 85
2 Rebecca Chambers 80
2 Sarah Sheasby 80
4 Zana Wellicome 75
5 Jessica Warren 74
6 Eleanor Mills 67
7 Holly Smith 64
8 Emma Achurch 58
Team:
1 Blaby Stokes “A”, Leics 201
2 Leicester Grammar 176
3 High Storrs, Sheffield 164
4 Blaby Stokes “B” 162
5 Ridgeway Primary, Market Harborough 146
6 Blaby Stokes “C” 141
7 Greenhill “A”, Sheffield 138
8 Hereford School, Grimsby 127
9 Grace Academy, Chelsley Wood 121
10 Blaby Stokes “D” 114
11 Hall Meadow, Kettering 99
12 Leysland High School, Leics 89
13 Blaby Stokes “E” 86
14 Burbage Junior 74
15 Blaby Stokes “F” 66
16 Cadbury College 64
17 Plantsbrook, Sutton 56
18 Rawlins College, Leics 55
19 Franklin College, Grimsby 54
20 Michael Drayton, Nuneaton 47
21 Sharlands Collegiate, Smethwick 44
22 Blaby Stokes “G” 43
23 Overseal Junior 42
24 Guilsborough H S, Northants 42
25 Croft Junior 41
26 St. Mary's Burton Latimer, Kettering 41
27 Barwell Junior 40
28 Hurley Primary, Atherstone 37
29 HS Academy, Sheffield 27
30 Nicholas Chamberlaine School, Bedworth 26
31 Blaby Stokes “H” 24
32 Moulton Primary, Northants 24
33 Lancaster Boys, Leicester 22
34 Little Harrowden Primary, Wellingborough 17
35 Brambleside Primary, Kettering 16
36 Market Weighton, E. Yorks 16
37 Hartshill High, Nuneaton 14
38 Hurley Primary, Atherstone 13
39 Greenhill “B”, Sheffield 12
40 Hull Collegiate 10
41 Queen Elizabeth School, Atherstone 9
42 Meadowhead, Sheffield 7
43 Ise Community College, Kettering 6
44 President Kennedy Comm. School, Coventry 6
45 Blaby Stokes “I” 5
46 SHEAF 4
47 Wyke College, Hull 3
48 Hawthorn Community Primary, Kettering 3
49 St Josephs Junior, Nuneaton 2

Tuesday 25th November 2008

CHRIS BERWICK took Leicester Walking Club’s Fortune Cup over 10km at Saffron Lane Stadium. He eased away from club mates Mark Wall and Colin Vesty over the final third of the race to clock a winning time of 58 minutes one second.

Sarah Lightman won the women’s category in 68mins 48secs.
Results:
Men
1 Chris Berwick 58:01
2 Mark Wall 58:20
3 Colin Vesty 59:24
4 Phil Smiley 62:50
5 Hardeep Minhas 65:23
6 Dennis Myers 67:21
Women
1 Sarah Lightman 68:48
2 Sue Rey 71:20

Saturday 15th November 2008

LEICESTER WALKING CLUB had a superb day at the second Midland Winter League meeting of the season at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium on Saturday 8th November - claiming three individual victories and one team success.

UWIC student Fiona McGorum led the way in the Women's 10k by taking first place in 55mins 38secs, three minutes faster than her winning time in the first meeting of the series at Tamworth.

With support from team-mate Sue Rey, who was third in 1:10.54, and strong performances from the men in their 10k race, Leicester secured the overall team victory.

In the Men's event – which was won in a fast 43:33 by former Leicester athlete Luke Finch, the British international who now competes for Colchester – Leicester's Dwayne Butterly claimed the runner-up position in 51:01.

Other Leicester victories came in the Under-13 and Under-15 Girls races over 2k and 3k respectively. Emma Achurch led home the Under-13s in 11:11, a personal-best by just one second, whilst, Jasmine Nicholls took the Under-15 honours in 16:48, a big lifetime-best by 22 seconds.
Leading Results:
U13 Girls 2km
1 Emma Achurch 11:11, 5 Gwenan Jones 12:52 (pb by 12secs), 12 Samantha Vesty 16:27
Teams:
2 Leicester
U15 Girls 3km
1 Jasmine Nicholls 16:48
Men's 5km
7 Chris Vesty 28:37 (1st U17), 9 Colin Vesty 29:27, 19 Hardeep Minas 31:59
Women's 5km
9 Sue Rey 33:33, 11 Sarah Lightman 33:39
Teams:
2 Leicester
Men's 10km
2 Dwayne Butterly 51:01, 4 Chris Berwick 56:23, 8 Paul Hayden (Nun) 61:52, 9 Colin Vesty 63:43, 14 Hardeep Minas 67:26
Women's 10km
1 Fiona McGorum 55:38, 3 Sue Rey 1:10.54

www.racewalkuk.com/Results.asp