Inter-Counties and Young Athletes Grand Prix

Coventry

Saturday 17th March 2007

LEICESTERSHIRE female athletes were in top form at the Inter-Counties Race Walking Championships held at Coventry as the Men's teams claimed Silver medals.

Leicester Walking Club's Rachael Woolley led the county challenge in the Women's 5km event finishing in fifth place in a time of 28mins 01sec, with Harborough's Mairi MacClean, 12th in 33:42 and Leicester team mate Wendy Butler, 15th in 34:42.

Other finishers included Leicester's Lauren Gimson, 8th in 31:03, third Under-17, Sue Rey, 14th in 34:31 and Harborough's Molly Beard, 19th in 40:56, sixth Under-17.

The performances of Woolley, Gimson and Rey combined to take Leicester to team victory.

In the Men's 10km, Chris Berwick was the highest placed finisher in 9th place with a time of 56:32, with Nuneaton's Paul Hayden, 16th in 62:58 and Peter Stapleford, 19th in 66:10.

Other Leicester finishers included Leicester's Mark Wall, 13th in 59:43 and Martin Oldfield, 20th in 1:07.34. In the team race Leicester were edged out on countback to Birchfield Harriers with Berwick and Stapleford their individual counters.

In the young athlete age-groups Charles Gill was 7th in 17:17 and Chris Vesty finished 8th in 18:00 in the Under-15 Boys 3km race. Samantha Vesty was fifth in the Under-11 1km race in a time of 7:58. In the Inter-counties overall standings Leicestershire finished runners-up.

Midland 10km & 5km Race Walking Championships 2007

Perry Park, Birmingham

Saturday 10th March 2007

LEICESTER WALKING CLUB female squads dominated the Midland Championships in the 5km event at Birmingham’s Perry Park by claiming both winning the overall team prize and collecting the Bronze award.

2006 AAA Bronze medallist Fiona McGorum won the individual title with a time of 27mins 8secs, as she went clear of the ever-improving British Masters international Toni Boa representing Harborough AC on the final lap.

Boa won the standard title with a time of 27:26 with Rachael Woolley sealing the local clean sweep of the medals with Bronze in 27:50. The Leicester ’A’ team was completed by Jill Eve, who finished sixth in 28:56, and runner-up in the standard event.

In the Under-17 race Lauren Gimson finished 7th in 30:34 to lead in the Leicester ’B’ squad that also included top veteran Sue Rey, 11th in 34:39, and Wendy Butler, 12th in 34:52. Rey also finished fifth in the standard event, completing the Leicester team victory.

In the Men’s 10km Chris Berwick claimed Bronze in a time of 55:30 ahead of Harborough’s john Thompson, who was making his debut over the distance to take fourth place in 1:01.06 that also secured the standard trophy. Hinckley’s Paul Hayden was seventh in 64:42. Completing Leicester’s second placed team performance were Peter Stapleford, 9th in 66:38, and Martin Oldfield, 10th in 67:17, he also claimed second place in the standard race.

Chris Smith Race Walking League 2006/7

Saffron Lane Sports Centre, Leicester

Tuesday 27th February 2007

BLABY STOKES STRIDERS race walking squad successfully retained the Chris Smith race walking league team title for the sixth successive time. This postal league format continues to set new standards - a record 70 walkers from 30 schools competed in the 4 race series. Schools race walking standards continue to rise as a record 31 of them achieved the gold standard and 20 were awarded silver, George Smolinski L.P.S.A.A. Sports Development Officer reports.

Although Mark Pratt (All Saints, Sheffield) completed a hat trick of victories in the series it was his training partner, Ashley Riches (City School, Sheffield) who topped the overall boys’ league. Harrison Stephen (Blaby Stokes) just held off team mate Thomas Wagg for the runners-up spot.

In the final event of the 2006-7 league, Rebecca Mersh (Sheffield H.S.), a member of the National U20 squad, led home a Sheffield 1-2-3 ahead of Kathryn Granger and Natalie Myers (both Meadowhead, Sheffield).

In this competition the individual standings are based on a handicapping system that encourages all competitors to improve or get close to their best performances over the 4 races. In the battle at the top of the girl’s individual standings only 16 points separated first from fifth. With a final effort just 4 seconds off her personal best Sheffield’s Caitlyn Akers snatched the top honour from Holly Smith (Swanshurst) with Hannah Chetwynd-Morsley (Great Barr) in third place.
Overall Team Standings:
1 Blaby Stokes “A”, Leics-333; 2 Blaby Stokes “B”, Leics-299; 3 Blaby Stokes “C”, Leics-254; 4 City School, Sheffield-235; 5 Hereford School “A”, Grimsby-220; 6 Blaby Stokes “D”, Leics-209; 7 Meadowhead, Sheffield –175; 8 Blaby Stokes “E”, Leics-172; 9 Great Barr School, W. Midlands-153; 10 Blaby Stokes “F”, Leics-140; 11 Leysland, Leics-129; 12 HS Academy, Sheffield-123; 13 Swanshurst, W. Midlands-121; 14 Market Weighton, East Riding-113; 15 Hull Collegiate-110; 16 Blaby Stokes “G”-103; 17 Waltham Toll Bar, Grimsby-100; 18 King Ecgberts, Sheffield-99; 19 Cardeaux, Lough-90; 20 City Tech. Kingshurst-84; 21 Silverdale School, Sheffield-83; 22 Blaby Stokes “H”-79; 23 Wilberforce College, Hull-69; 24 Humphrey Perkins, Leics-66; 25 All Saints, Sheffield-64; 26 Hereford School “B”, Grimsby-59; 27 Blaby Stokes “I”-54; 28 Countesthorpe College, Leics –40; 29 Sheffield University-38; 30 Sheffield HS-37; 31 Longcroft, Hull-36; 32 Leicester Grammar-30; 33 Hall Orchard, Leics-29; 34 Blaby Stokes “J”-28; 35 Hymers, Hull-23; 36 Hereford School “C”, Grimsby-20; 37 Cottingham High, E. Riding-19; 38 Handsworth Grange, Sheffield-17; 39 Cottingham Hallgate, E. Riding-16; 40 Coventry University-15; 41 Unattached-11; 42 Blaby Stokes “K”-5

2007 British Masters Indoor Athletics Championships

Lee Valley Athletics Centre, London

3rd - 4th March 2007

TONI BOA secured her first British Masters indoor title when the 45-year-old Harborough athlete won Gold in the W45 category 3,000m Walk on the track of the new UK Athletics High Performance Centre at Lee Valley, adjacent to the site of the 2012 London Olympics.

Boa recorded a time of 16mins 58.46secs to finish clear of Woking’s Fiona Bishop, second in 18:51.3, with Leicester’s Sey Rey taking Bronze in 20:18.71.

This fine performance for Boa will give her confidence ahead of the 2007 European Masters Indoor Athletics Championships that take place In Helsinki, Finland, from March 22nd-25th where she will compete over the same distance indoors on the track and in the 5km road event that is incorporated in to the championships.

Further details and full results on the British Masters Athletics Federation web-site at: www.bvaf.org.uk/

The official web-site for the 2007 European Masters Indoor Championships is available on the following link: www.evaci2007.com/

Leicester Walking Club 15 mile Championships 2007

Haynes Road, Leicester

Saturday 24th February 2007

CHRIS BERWICK and Sue Rey were the winners of the Leicester Walking Club 15-mile Championships that were held at Haynes Road, Leicester.

Berwick successfully retain his Men’s title in a time of 2hrs 22min 22secs, Mark Wall was second in 2:40.58, in the Women’s race Sue Rey won in 3:01.18.

Wednesday 21st February 2007

LEEDS Met's Headingley Campus played host to the Great Britain Race Walking for a 3 day squad camp. The camp was made possible due to the support of UK Athletics, British Athletics Foundation and Leeds Metropolitan University. The focus for the squad camp was preparing for the European Cup Race Walking that takes place in the UK in Royal Leamington Spa on Sunday 20th May.

Various members of the Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education supported the camp by providing sports science, sports medicine and specialist coaching advice. This work built on the first of these camps and the UK Athletics Coaching Conference that were staged at Leeds Met in October. Staff contributing to the camp included Ian Richards, Malcolm Brown, Neil Holmes, Cathy Zanker, Brian Hanley and Aaron Thomas. The race walkers and coaches also had the pleasure of being visited by the Chancellor Brendan Foster and the delegation from the Carnegie UK Trust. A training race was also staged around the roads of the Headingley Campus and was filmed by Brian Hanley and his team.

Leeds Met has a proud tradition in race walking as amongst its Graduates are Lisa Kehler, the 2002 Commonwealth Silver medallist and double Bronze medallist and Sharon Tonks who also represented England alongside Lisa Kehler in the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

London Race-Walking Grand Prix

Victoria Park, London

Saturday 3rd February 2007

FIONA McGORUM smashed her lifetime best when winning the Junior Women's 10km event at the London Race-Walking Grand Prix held at Victoria Park.

The 18-year-old 2006 AAA Bronze medallist representing Leicester broke her previous best for the distance by nearly a minute as she claimed victory in a time of 54mins 38secs finishing 25 seconds ahead of Sheffield's Kathryn Grainger.

Chris Smith Race Walking League 2006/7

Saffron Lane Sports Centre, Leicester

Tuesday 30th January 2007

THIS hugely successful postal event is heading for an exciting climax. Both individual leagues will only be decided in the final race of the series as just a handful of points separate the top three, George Smolinski L.P.S.A.A. Sports Development Officer reports.

Mark Pratt (All Saints, Sheffield) won his fifth ever Chris Smith league race. However runner up, Tom Soady (Waltham Toll Bar School, Hull) lies only 6 points behind joint leaders of the boys’ league, Ashley Riches (City School, Sheffield) and Harrison Stephen (Blaby Stokes).

Natalie Myers (Meadowhead, Sheffield) secured her first win in this competition. In the girls individual standings Hannah Chetwin-Mooresley (Great Barr) leads training partner Holly Smith (Swanshurst) by the slender margin of 2 points with promising Sheffield newcomer, Caitlyn Akers, putting pressure on them both with a fine series of walks in her first season.

In their bid to retain the team title, Blaby Stokes Striders have, at last, managed to put a little daylight between themselves and their rivals from Hereford School, Grimsby after the first two events had left both schools tied on the same score.
Full Results:
Boys
1-Mark Pratt-All Saints, Sheffield-10:13; 2-Tom Soady-Waltham Toll Bar, Hull-10:47;
3-Matthew Duncan-Hereford School, Grimsby-10:49; 4-Ashley Rutherford-Cardeaux School, Lough-11:02; 5-Tyler Bower-City School, Sheffield-11:46; 6-Ashley Riches-City School, Sheffield-12:20; 7-Peter Bilson-Unattached-13:45; 8-Chris Johnson-Blaby Stokes-13:48; 9-Blake Johnson-Blaby Stokes-14:23; 10-Callum Bloxham-Blaby Stokes-14:23; 11-Toby Howgill-Blaby Stokes-15:20; 12-Harrison Stephen-Blaby Stokes-15:42; 13-Fergus Jeffs-Blaby Stokes-15:51; 14-Joshua Amiss-Blaby Stokes-16:02; 15-Harry Sayers-Blaby Stokes-17:25; 16-Adam Timson-Blaby Stokes-17:50; 17-Ben Timson-Blaby Stokes-17:51
Boys League
1 Harrison Stephen (Blaby Stokes) – 106 points; = Ashley Riches (City School, Sheffield) – 106 points; 3 Tom Soady (Waltham Toll Bar, Grimsby) – 100 points; 4 Matthew Duncan (Hereford School, Grimsby) – 95 points; 5 Ashley Rutherford (Cardeaux) – 90 points; 6 Callum Bloxham (Blaby Stokes) – 89 points
Girls
1-Natalie Myers-Meadowhead, Sheffield-10:22; 2-Holly Smith-Swanshurst-10:26; 3-Rachael Woolley-Coventry University-10:44; 4-Lauren Gimson-Leicester Grammar-10:47; 5-Keira Raymont-City Tech College, Kingshurst-11:00; 6-Danya Sarayreh-Silverdale School, Sheffield-11:37; 7-Rebecca Mersh-Sheffield HS-11:46; 8-Rosie Mawer-Wilberforce College, Hull-12:08; 9-Hannah Chetwin-Mooresley-Great Barr School, West Midlands-11:26; 10-Clare Humphrey-Cottingham High School, E. Riding-13:13; 11-Emma Achurch-Blaby Stokes -13:44; 12-Caitlyn Akers-H.S. Academy-13:48; 13-Fiona Brown-Blaby Stokes -13:55; 14-Martha Gimson-Blaby Stokes -15:17; 15-Gwenan Jones-Blaby Stokes-15:52; 16-Aimee Holloway-Blaby Stokes-16:06; 17-Maria Walker-Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire-16:42; 18-Eve Thompson-Blaby Stokes-17:12; 19-Keira Madine-Blaby Stokes-17:56; 20-Lizzy Berry-Blaby Stokes-18:16
Girls League
1 Hannah Chetwin-Mooresley (Great Barr) – 102 points; 2 Holly Smith (Swanshurst) – 100 points; 3 Caitlyn Akers (HS Academy, Sheffield) – 96 points; 4 Megan Smith (Blaby Stokes) – 93 points; 5 Danya Sarayreth (Silverdale) – 83 points; = Martha Gimson (Blaby Stokes) – 82 points
Overall Team Standings:
1 Blaby Stokes “A”, Leics-262; 2 Blaby Stokes “B”, Leics-233; 3 Hereford School “A”, Grimsby-220; 4 Blaby Stokes “C”, Leics-197; 5 City School, Sheffield-166; 6 Blaby Stokes “D”, Leics-161; 7 Blaby Stokes “E”, Leics-132; 8 Meadowhead, Sheffield -122; 9 Leysland, Leics-117; 10 Market Weighton, East Riding-113; 11 Blaby Stokes “F”, Leics-104; 12 Great Barr School, W. Midlands-102; 13 Swanshurst, W. Midlands-100; 14 Waltham Toll Bar, Grimsby-100; 15 HS Academy, Sheffield-96; 16 Cardeaux, Lough-90; 17 Silverdale School, Sheffield-83; 18 Blaby Stokes “G”-78; 19 Hull Collegiate-71; 20 City Tech. Kingshurst-69; 21 Wilberforce College, Hull-69; 22 Humphrey Perkins, Leics-66; 23 King Egberts, Sheffield-66; 24 Hereford School “B”, Grimsby-59; 25 Blaby Stokes “H”-59; 26 Blaby Stokes “I”-41; 27 Countesthorpe College, Leics -40; 28 Longcroft, Hull-36; 29 All Saints, Sheffield-35; 30 Hall Orchard, Leics-29; 31 Sheffield HS-27; 32 Leicester Grammar-26; 33 Hymers, Hull-23; 34 Blaby Stokes “J”-20; 35 Hereford School “C”, Grimsby-20; 36 Cottingham High, E. Riding-19; 37 Sheffield University-18; 38 Cottingham Hallgate, E. Riding-16; 39 Handsworth Grange, Sheffield-15; 40Coventry University-15; 41 Unattached-10; 42 Blaby Stokes “K”-5

The next race in the series takes place on Tuesday 27th February 2007. Further details are available on the following link: http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=13076&PageID=88641

Leicestershire & Rutland 10 Mile Championships 2007

Haynes Road, Leicester

Saturday 20th January 2007

FIONA McGORUM was a comfortable winner of the Leicestershire & Rutland 10 Mile Championships, as the 18-year-old 2006 AAA Bronze medallist claimed victory in a time of 1hr 32mins 28secs, finishing ahead of Harborough’s Toni Boa, second in 1:35.18, and fellow team mate from Leicester, third placed Jill Eve (1:45.31).

In the Men’s race victory went to guest athlete Steve Arnold representing Nuneaton AC who won in a time of 1:25.44, second placed Chris Berwick collected the county title in a time of 1:32.02, finishing ahead of third placed Mark Wall (1:36.28).

Tuesday 23rd January 2007

LEICESTER WALKING CLUB are embarking on a recruitment campaign to boost their membership, with local road runners their initial target group.

They are holding a free coaching course for prospective race-walkers at Saffron Lane Stadium on Sunday 28th January (11am-1pm). A beginners-only race over 3000metres will also be held.

If sufficient interest is shown, Leicester Walking Club will arrange further sessions to give everyone the chance to beat their previous time, with the option to prepare to compete in the Jim Sharlott 10k Walk at Leicester's Abbey Park on Saturday 1st September.

Although local road runners are being targeted, anyone else who is interested in taking up race-walking will be welcome.

For further details, contact Peter Markham on 0116 2413101 or turn up on the day.

City of Coventry

Monday 1st January 2007

LEICESTER WALKING CLUB members were in action at the New Year’s 5 mile event in Coventry, below are the leading results:
Overall:
1 M Williams (Tam, M40) 37:26; 2 S Arnold (Nun, M40) 37:58; 3 S Hambridge (Nun, U20) 41:52; 4 M Warr (Leics WC, M50) 47:43; 5 M Slevin (Cov, M40) 50:05; 6 G Jones (Cov, M60) 50:14; 7 E Horwill (D&S, M70) 56:59
Women
1 A Wheeler (Nun, W50) 51:06; 2 K Percival (D&S, U17) 54:16; 3 S Rey (Leics WC, W45) 58:35

Irish National 35k and Open 10k Race Walk

Phoenix Park, Dublin

Saturday 16th December 2006

SUE REY representing the Leicester Walking Club finished in sixth place at the Open 10km race that was held as part of the Irish National meeting at Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Rey, the 48-year-old Midlands Masters athlete crossed the line in a time of 72mins 12secs with race victory going to top junior international Laura Reynolds from Mohill AC who represented Ireland at the 2006 IAAF World Race Walking Cup in La Coruna, Spain, as she won in 53:56.

Tamworth Warwickshire

Saturday 25th November 2006

SEVERAL hundred Race Walkers and supporters gathered in Tamworth on November 25th to take part in the final Midland Winter League race.

This was combined with a celebration of the Midlands association's 75th birthday. Many past and present Midland Champions were present for a presentation and buffet, recalling many great races over many decades.

The opportunity was not missed to promote next year's European Cup of Race Walking that is being held in the Midlands, and involves many officials and volunteers from the Midland Race Walking clubs.

Mike Smith (Marketing Director - Leamington 2007) encouraged people to support and get involved in the volunteer programme.

Thursday 7th December 2006

FIONA McGORUM has been named the most improved female walker of the year by the Midlands Race-Walking Association.

The 18-year-old Leicester Walking Club athlete won the 5,000m Bronze medal at the Norwich Union AAA Championships at Manchester’s Sport City in July. Leicester also won the award as the top Men's team of the year.

2006 Telstra Australian 50km Road Walking Championships

Geelong, Australia

Saturday 2nd December 2006

FOUR-TIME Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nathan Deakes has broken the World record for the 50km Race Walk in Geelong, Australia, as he recorded a time of 3:35.47.

Competing at the Telstra Australian 50km Road Walking Championships in blustery conditions, Deakes took 16 seconds off the World record previously set by Poland's World and Olympic champion Robert Korzeniowski at the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Paris, France in 2003 (3:36.03).

In a big day for Australia’ walkers, Duane Cousins set a personal best and World Championships a-qualifier of 3:53.19 to finish second, as did Victorian Jared Tallent who walked a time of 3:55.08 to finish in third place.

Deake’s smashed his previous best and Australian record of 3:39.43 that he set in Melbourne in 2003.

Overcome by tears, an emotional Deakes fell to the ground after crossing the finish line, his wife Annette and parents rushing into congratulate him.

“It’s obviously quite a surprise. I didn’t think I was in that kind of shape. To break a World record is really special. To do at home is even nicer. The best prepared athletes walk fast anywhere,” explained Deakes after the race.

“I had a great training camp at altitude in US but the key has been the fact that I have been injury free for the last 6 months. My hamstring has been really good and I’ve been able to get through a lot of work. “I’m getting older and it’s getting harder, but right now I’m very very content.”

In a dominating performance, Deakes demonstrated his class above the field taking an early lead before destroying his opposition to take out the Telstra Australian 50km Road Walking Championships title.

In front of an ecstatic home crowd, the Geelong local was ahead of the World record pace by over 2 minutes at the 40km mark, however he tired over the concluding stages dropping the frenetic pace in the final 10km.

The 50km distance has not always been a favourite of the 29-year-old on the Olympic and World Championship stage, disqualified in 2001 in Edmonton and at the 34km mark in Athens when walking side-by-side with Kozeniowski. The duo were under World record pace at the time of the disqualification.

Based at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Deakes is coached by Craig Hilliard, whose credentials as one of Australia’s leading track and field coaches continues to grow. Hilliard was behind the success of super walker Kerry Saxby-Junna in the 1990’s.

It’s been nearly seven years since an IAAF World record has been broken by an Australian athlete in Australia. Emma George leaped 4.60m in Sydney to break the women’s Pole Vault World record in 1999.

Report by Michelle Cook and David Culbert for the IAAF.

Saffron Lane Sports Centre, Leicester

Tuesday 21st November 2006

THIS year’s league continues to break records as 60 young walkers from 29 schools in Leicester, Sheffield, Grimsby, Hull, and the West Midlands have already competed in the first two rounds of this postal event,
George Smolinski L.P.S.A.A. Sports Development Officer reports.

Tom Soady (Waltham Toll Bar School, Hull) and Mark Pratt (All Saints, Sheffield) clocked identical times in the boys event while Kathryn Granger (Meadowhead, Sheffield) was a comfortable winner in the girls trial ahead of team-mate, Natalie Myers and Fiona McGorum (Countesthorpe College, Leics).

At the half-way of the team competition, Blaby Stokes Striders are tied with Hereford School (Grimsby).

In the girls individual standings Megan Smith (Blaby Stokes) tops the table ahead of Hannah Chetwin-Mooresley (Great Barr) and Holly Smith (Swanshurst).

Harrison Stephen (Blaby Stokes) holds a 10 point cushion ahead of team-mate Thomas Wagg in the boys league with Nathan Duncan (Hereford School, Grimsby) a handful of points further back.

Norwich Union AAA Championships Bronze medallist Fiona McGorum (Countesthorpe College) was presented with a special trophy by Chris Smith for competing in 50 of the 2km. races promoted by the Leicester Walking club in conjunction with the Leicestershire Primary Schools Athletics Association. Since her first race back in December 1997 as a member of Stokes Striders, Fiona has notched up 23 victories, 9 second places and 5 thirds - a terrific record which will be hard to beat!
Full Results:
Boys
1= Tom Soady-Waltham Toll Bar, Hull-11:04; 1= Mark Pratt-All Saints, Sheffield-11:04; 3-Matthew Duncan-Hereford School, Grimsby-11:09; 4-Charles Gill-Leysland , Leics-11:26; 5-Eddie Brebner-King Egberts, Sheffield-11:32; 6-Christopher Vesty-Humphrey Perkins, Leics -11:35; 7-Nathan Duncan-Hereford School, Grimsby-12:25; 8-Reece Precious-Hereford School, Grimsby-13:02; 9-Dominic Beal-Hereford School, Grimsby-13:02; 10-Ashley Riches-City School, Sheffield-13:07; 11-Joe Wilburn-Hereford School, Grimsby-13:20; 12-Ashley Rutherford-Cardeaux School, Lough-13:22; 13-Peter Bilson-Unattached-14:16; 14-Toby Howgill-Blaby Stokes , Leics-14:35; 15-Thomas Wagg-Blaby Stokes , Leics-14:37; 16-Jack Smith-Blaby Stokes , Leics-14:59; 17-Blake Johnson-Blaby Stokes-15:02; 18-Shaun Cohen-Handsworth Grange, Sheffield-15:04; 19-Harrison Stephen-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:07; 20-Callum Bloxham-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:14; 21-Callum Naylor-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:36; 22-Fergus Jeffs-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:47; 23-Ben Timson-Blaby Stokes , Leics-18:04; 24-Jake Franzen-Blaby Stokes , Leics-18:05; 25-Adam Timson-Blaby Stokes , Leics-19:10; 26-Harry Wagg-Blaby Stokes , Leics-20:09
Boys League
1 Harrison Stephen (Blaby Stokes) 93 points; 2 Thomas Wagg (Blaby Stokes) 83 points; 3 Nathan Duncan (Hereford School, Grimsby) 78 points; 4 Charles Gill (Leysland, Leics) 76 points; 5 Tom Soady (Waltham Toll Bar, Grimsby) 72 points; 6 Ashley Riches (City School, Sheffield) 71 points
Girls
1-Kathryn Granger-Meadowhead, Sheffield-9:57; 2-Natalie Myers-Meadowhead, Sheffield-10:13; 3 Fiona McGorum-Countesthorpe College, Leics-10:21; 4-Holly Smith-Swanshurst, West Midlands-10:22; 5-Hannah Chetwin-Mooresley-Great Barr School,, W. Mids-11:08; 6-Lauren Gimson-Leicester Grammar-11:22; 7-Danya Sarayreh-Silverdale School, Sheffield-11:40; 8-Rosie Mawer-Wilberforce College, Hull-12:54; 9-Clare Humphrey-Cottingham High, East Riding of Yorkshire-13:01; 10-Gabrielle Terry-Hull Collegiate-13:12; 11-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland , Leics-13:13; 12-Emma Achurch-Blaby Stokes , Leics-13:52; 13-Caitlyn Akers-H.S. Academy, Sheffield-14:30; 14-Maria Walker-Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire-14:52; 15-Fiona Brown-Blaby Stokes , Leics-14:33; 16-Martha Gimson-Blaby Stokes , Leics-14:59; 17-Megan Smith-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:06; 18-Elisha Stephen-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:06; 19-Gwenan Jones-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:30; 20-Stacy Smales-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:47; 21-Eve Thompson-Blaby Stokes , Leics-15:48; 22-Samantha Vesty-Hall Orchard, Leics-17:57
Girls League
1 Megan Smith (Blaby Stokes) 93 points; 2 Hannah Chetwin-Mooresley (Great Barr) 84 points; 3 Holly Smith (Swanshurst) 76 points; 4 Gabrielle Terry (Hull Collegiate) 71 points; 5 =Caitlyn Akers (HS Academy, Sheffield) 64 points; 5 Martha Gimson (Blaby Stokes) 64 points
Overall Team Standings:
1 Blaby Stokes, Leics-194, 2 Hereford School, Grimsby-194, 3 Blaby Stokes, Leics-177, 4 Blaby Stokes, Leics-155, 5 Blaby Stokes, Leics-124, 6 Leysland, Leics-117, 7 Market Weighton, East Riding-111, 8 City School, Sheffield-102, 9 Blaby Stokes, Leics-102, 10 Meadowhead, Sheffield –101, 11 Great Barr School, Midlands-84, 12 Blaby Stokes, Leics-80,13 Swanshurst, W. Midlands-76, 14 Waltham Toll Bar, Grimsby-72, 15 Hull Collegiate-71, 16 Humphrey Perkins, Leics-66, 17 King Egberts, Sheffield-66, 18 HS Academy, Sheffield-64 19 Hereford School, Grimsby-59, 20 Blaby Stokes-59, 21 Silverdale School, Sheffield-56, 22 Cardeaux, Lough-53, 23 Blaby Stokes-46, 24 Countesthorpe College, Leics –40, 25 Longcroft, Hull-36, 26 City Tech. Kingshurst-36, 27 Blaby Stokes-34, 28 Wilberforce College, Hull-34, 29 Hall Orchard, Leics-29, 30 Sheffield HS-26, 31 Hymers, Hull-23, 32 Blaby Stokes-20, 33 Hereford School, Grimsby-20, 34 Sheffield University-18, 35 Cottingham Hallgate, E. Riding-16, 36 Handsworth Grange, Sheffield-15, 37 Leicester Grammar-13, 38 Cottingham High, E. Riding-13, 39 All Saints, Sheffield-12, 40 Blaby Stokes-5, 41 Unattached-3

Further races take place on Tuesday 30th January & Tuesday 27th February 2007. Full details are available on the following web-site: http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=13076&PageID=88641

Friday 1st December 2006

UK ATHLETICS next attempt to add to the UKA National Squad for Race Walking will take place at the Coventry Athletics Track on Saturday 9th December.

And all interested endurance athletes have an open invitation to the Talent Transfer Day from Andi Drake, UK Event Coach for Race Walking.
He has produced a challenging flier asking:
Do you want to compete for the Great Britain Athletics Team?
Do you know someone who could compete at international championship level?

If so, UK Athletics wants to know: Are you aged between 15 and 25 years old? Have you represented your county, region/area or country in distance running events (track, road or cross country)?

If you are a talented, committed athlete competing in distance running events and feel you could test your skills and abilities in the Great Britain Race Walk Squad – where the pathway to major championships teams may be faster – then we want to know!

We are delivering a series of Talent Transfer Days and there will be one in your region at Coventry Athletics Track on Saturday 9th December 2006. If you wish to take part please contact the UK Event Coach for Race Walking, Andi Drake by sending an e-mail to: a.drake@coventry.ac.uk

Drake, himself a former international race walker, explains: “We have some quality performers but little depth so there is real opportunity for talented distance runners to try out for GB teams.

“The European Cup of Race Walking is in Leamington Spa in May 2007 and I need senior and U20 athletes. There's also London 2012 to consider and the current GB squad will not fill all nine available places in the Olympic Team (20km men and women, 50km men). “Athletes who are up for this will get coaching support from me at least twice a week and I will look to move them rapidly into the West Mids Regional Squad set up.”

Athletes, coaches or club officials can contact Andi Drake on 07720393609 for further information.

Midland Winter Race Walking League 2006

Tamworth

Saturday 25th November 2006

TONI BOA from Harborough in Leicestershire made a superb winning start over the 10km distance clocking a time of 58mins 43secs at the final Midland Winter Race Walking League fixture at Tamworth in Warwickshire.

In the men’s race British international Luke Finch completed an unbeaten series with another 10km victory in 44:34 and completed the double with a win over the 5km distance in 21:32.

Chris and Samantha Vesty representing the Leicester Walking Club and Hall Orchard School respectively, won their 3km and 1km races in 17:43 and 7:31. Charles Gill second in the 3km in 17:45. won the series.
Other Leading Results:
Men’s 10km
7 Mark Wall (Leics) 55:39; 10 Paul Hayden (Nun) 62:03; 18 Martin Oldfield (Leics) 68:40
Women’s 10km
3 Sue Rey (Leics) 73:32
Men’s 5km
5 Mark Wall (Leics) 27:12; 8 Colin Vesty (Leics) 29:02
Women’s 5km
5 Lauren Gimson (Leics) 30:41; 12 Sue Rey (Leics) 35:34; 13 Wendy Butler (Leics) 35:35
Overall Handicap Team Mixed 5km:
1 Birchfield Harriers 175.48pts, 2 Nuneaton Harriers 177.07, 3 Tamworth 177.23pts, 4 Leicester Walkng Club 180pts

Leeds Metropolitan University

26th - 29th October 2006

THE UK Athletics Event Conference for Race Walking, was held on the final day of the British Race Walking Squad Training Camp staged at Leeds Metropolitan University.

The Key note address was given by Andy Paul, the UK Athletics Head of Athletics Development, who outlined and discussed the 5 Ring Athlete Development Model.

Other speakers included Andi Drake the UK Athletics National Event Coach for Race Walking, who’s presentation examined whether the 4 time Olympic Champion Robert Korzenowski was ‘One in a Million?’

Ian McCombie, the British record holder for the 20km walk, talked about the preparation for his performance at the 1988 Olympics. Malcolm Brown, who is the Director of Sport at Leeds Metropolitan University and is a former national endurance coach who recently played a significant role in Alistair Brownlee taking the Junior World Triathlon Title, completed the panel of speakers.

The first of UK Athletics 2012 Race Walk Talent Transfer Programme was also launched at Leeds. The programme is designed to identify talented athletes from other disciplines and sports who have the potential to transfer into race walking. This is the first of a nationwide series of talent identification days, which resulted in two athletes being invited to receive coaching support with a view to fast-tracking them into the GB Squad.

Leeds Met will be supporting this programme by providing coaching, sports since, specialist advice and physiotherapy support for those involved in this scheme. The University is also committed to developing and supporting race walking. Recently 60 PE students have undertaken a teaching qualification in race walking. Race Walking will also be a regular part of the Carnegie Athletics Club’s Kids Programme. Leeds Met has a proud tradition in race walking as amongst its Graduates are Lisa Kehler, the 2002 Commonwealth Silver medallist and double bronze medallist and Sharon Tonks who also represented England alongside Lisa Kehler in the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

At the squad camp, athletes underwent a battery of sport science and sport medicine assessment with a mix of UKA and Leeds Met expert practitioners. Support from the Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education included biomechanical analysis, functional movement and strength and conditioning. The athletes used the new facilities in the Carnegie Research Institute, which includes one of the few treadmills in the country that has force plates embedded in it. The walkers also visited the Bod Pod, which measures body mass index. UK Event Coach for Race Walking Andi Drake describes the Camp at Leeds Metropolitan Carnegie University as “four productive and enjoyable days”. The support from Leeds Met organised by Malcolm Brown and Ian Richards allowed me to provide a level of service not previously possible to the squad but essential to move the event forward and empower young athletes to fulfil their potential, which for some means being medal shots in 2012.

The athletes and coaches also passed on their expertise to over 60 children attending the Carnegie Athletics Club Community Programme. The camp finished with a trip to Headingley Carnegie Stadium to watch the Leeds Tykes team that featured many Leeds Met students defeat Moseley.

Leeds Met has a strong heritage in sport and has recently been at the forefront of some groundbreaking and innovative partnerships. The Chancellor and former student is Brendan Foster, the 1976 Olympic bronze medallist and founder of the Great North Run. Leeds Met have partnerships with Leeds Rugby and Yorkshire County Cricket Club, as well as recently purchasing the naming rights to Headingley Stadium, which is known as Headingley Carnegie Stadium. Leeds Met and Leeds Rugby have recently constructed the Carnegie Stand which features teaching space, classrooms and a Café Bar. In April Leeds Met hosted the first ever Great Student Run, which started at Headingley Carnegie Stadium and finished on the Headingley Campus.

Haynes Road, Leicester

Saturday 18th November 2006

ALLAN KING, the former British international made a second winning guest appearance at the Leicester Walking Club.

Having previously won the Norton 10k Handicap Race in October, King, representing Road Hoggs repeated that performance with victory at the Topham 7 mile handicap event staged at Haynes Road in Leicester.

King finished in a time of 67mins 17secs, just a minute behind the highly talented AAA Bronze medallist Fiona McGorum who won the scratch cup in 66:03.
Leading Results:
Overall (handicap order with actual times)
1 A King (Road H, M50, gst) 67:14; 2 L Humphries (Unatt, M55) 72:14; 3 F McGorum (Leics WC, U20W) 66:03; 4 C Berwick (Leics WC, M55) 66:08; 5 J Sturgess (Leics WC, M65) 82:12; 6 S Rey (Leics WC, W45) 83:46