Friday 30th November 2007

PREPARATIONS are well under way for one of the largest junior cross-country events to be staged in the East Midlands area.

The Ivanhoe Challenge is now in it’s 8th year and has become an unmissable date for many young athletes across the region. The 2008 event will take place on Sunday 10th February within the beautiful surroundings of the Foremark Reservoir at Milton in Derbyshire.

The racing programme (all off road) range from half-a-mile for year 1 & 2 children and up, to two-miles for year 9 and over.

Trophies will be awarded to the first three individuals in each race as well as medals for the first two club/school teams. All entrants applying before February 3rd will receive a commemorative event T-Shirt.

Entry forms are available on line at: www.ivanhoerunners.co.uk
For further information please contact 01530 411081 or email: ivanhoerobins@yahoo.co.uk

Thursday 22nd November 2007

THE 2007 Leicestershire Secondary Schools Cross-Country Relays were held at Shepshed High School on Saturday 17th November, the full team results of the event are now available on the results page.

www.athletics-leics.com/results.html
The next fixture on the racing calendar is the continuation of the 2007/08 Leicestershire Secondary Schools Cross Country League that takes place on Saturday 8th December at the Melton Country Park.

Thursday 15th November 2007

AS the popularity of junior cross country and running in general continues to spread across the county this weekend sees the launch of the latest initiative for young people on the Leicestershire athletics club scene.

Fleckney & Kibworth Running Club kick-start their junior section for 7 to 16-year-olds on Saturday at 11am at the Fleckney Sports Centre situated on Leicester Road in the village.

Plans are in place to alternate sessions with neighbouring Kibworth to ensure easy and equal access to young athletes from both villages.

Full details including coach profiles and the clubs athlete protection policy can be obtained from: www.fleckneyandkibworthrunners.co.uk

Wednesday 14th November 2007

LEICESTERSHIRE young athletes were in action over a busy weekend for both schools and club cross-country meetings around the United Kingdom, here is a round-up of their performances and results:
Sainsbury’s English Schools Cross Country Cup 2007

Longcroft School, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire

Saturday 10th November 2007

There were top of the class performances for Leicestershire & Rutland schools who were in action at the regional round of the Sainsbury’s English Schools Cross Country Cup held at Longcroft School Beverley, as a total of 29 schools were represented from Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

A total of four teams comprising of Oakham School's Junior and Intermediate Girls, Shepshed High Junior Boys and Loughborough High Junior Girls progressed through to the 2007 ESAA National Final at St Albans on Saturday December 1st

In the Junior Girls 2.4km race Oakham and Loughborough High secured the top two team places as Tilly Abraham representing Loughborough won the overall race over the flat fast course.

She was followed in second place by Amelia Milton, the younger sister of senior Great Britain international Felicity, running in the colours of Oakham. Loughborough's Joni Ashford finished in third place with Oakham's Somerby Horndorff fifth.

Oakham led the team standings on 29 points with Loughborough in second place on 34.

Oakham also dominated the Intermediate Girls 2.9km with Georgie Brookes taking victory and Sarah Dias third, as the team claimed second place in the standings on 34 points, just four behind the winners and hosts Longcroft.

Shepshed High’s squad, whose solid packing with four counters between the eighth and 13th places proved crucial, repeated Oakham’s performance in the Junior Boys 2.9km.

Luke Dugmore was Shepshed's highest placed athlete in eighth place as Longcroft claimed the team victory.

http://www.esaa.net

Arrow Valley Park, Redditch

Sunday 12th November 2007

Leicester Coritanian girl’s team gained five individual top-four placings at the second fixture of the West Midlands Cross-Country League season held at Arrow Valley Park, Redditch.

In the Under-11 race India Mitchell-Jarvis finished runner-up but leads the overall standings following her win in the opening meeting.

Under-13s Amy Griffiths and Megan Fairbrother finished third and fourth respectively in their race, and are currently second and fourth overall.

At the Under-15 level Freya Vincent finished second to lead the overall standings, whilst, Georgie Brookes was fourth.
Leading Results:
Under-11 Girls
2 India Mitchell-Jarvis 6:51, 30 Eleanor Long, 58 Rebecca Orton, 68 Molly McCallister, 75 Sophie Clayton
Team:
5 Leicester Cor
Under-13 Girls
3 Amy Griffiths 9:40, 4 Megan Fairbrother 9.45, 9 Tilly Abraham, 20 April Beeby, 26 Emily Orton, 30 Rachel Borrows, 49 Nettie Burd, 50 Livvy Tansey, 58 Bethan Elliott, 96 Rebecca Saunders
Team:
2 Leicester Cor
Under-15 Girls
2 Freya Vincent 13:29, 4 Georgie Brookes 13:34, 13 Sara Dias, 30 Catherine Robertson, 51 Jasmine Mellor
Team:
6 Leicester Cor
Under-17 Women
9 Louisa Monk

Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross Country League – Race No.2

Western Park, Leicester

Saturday 4th November 2007

THE enormous popularity of cross country in schools in Leicestershire and Rutland was reflected in the enormous fields that completed the second series of 8 age – group races at the Leicestershire Primary Schools Athletics Association’s Cross Country League.

Best ever fields in the Year 3 and Year 5 girl categories coupled with near record fields in the other races meant that 1,899 young athletes crossed the finishing line to set a new standard for a November meeting. The overall figure of 1,904 was almost surpassed leaving organisers George Smolinski and David Dewdney elated by the enduring success of the league in promoting grass roots competition.

A delighted Joseph Wright from Bishop Ellis school was presented with a special trophy for becoming the league’s 70,000th finisher since it began it’s highly successful 8 race format in 1993. Sarah Anderson of Brownlow (8,000th Year 3 girl finisher) and George Bell (Little Hill – 10,000th Year 5) were also recognised for their places in the league’s proud history.

As ever, competition is intense in all the individual league categories and most titles will only be decided by the results of the final race.

Incredibly the winners at the October opener in all eight races triumphed again although the winning margin were generally closer.

Grace Scott (Year 3 - St John the Baptist) was chased home by Annie McAllister (Claybrook) who improved from third place last time out. Andrew Forbes (Ridgeway) also had a good battle with Simran Thandi (Martinshaw) and Marcus Rowland (Brownlow).

Year 4s Elizabeth Mulvaney (Holywell) and Ben Dijkstra (Burton on the Wolds) maintained their unbeaten runs in the league in their quest to add to last year’s league titles.

Hannah Cox (Year 5 – Mercenfeld) put in another strong performance ahead of Eleanor Long (Claybrook) and Rosie Stone (Mountfields Lodge) who swapped positions from the opening fixture. Sam Elliott (Burbage) had to be content with a share of last year’s league title but, with two victories so far this year, is in a clear lead at the top of the Year 5 Boys table. Rival, and past league Champion, Joshua Knight (Fleckney) was second and Sam Edwards (Ridgeway) third.

Year 6 boys, James Hatton (Church Hill Junior) and Sam Mabey (Gilmorton Chandler), were well clear of the rest of the field in their race. India Mitchell (Burbage) was challenged by Georgia and Holly Bevins (both Manor High School) throughout her Year 6 race. However Georgia and Holly, together with team-mate, Hannah Perry (4th.) notched up the lowest score ever recorded for any team in this highly competitive league. Barring an epic fall off in form in the last race the Manor High Year 6 girls are guaranteed to win their High School category.

However the destinations of most of the other team trophies will only be resolved at the final series of races in December. In the Year 5 girls small schools league Glenmere hold a 21 point lead over Claybrook. The girls of Greenfield are just eighteen points ahead of Fleckney in their Year 5 large schools category. The closest team competition lies within the Year 6 medium schools league where just 21 points covers the boys from Rothley, Millfield and Leicester Grammar.

The Joey Masterson Challenge Trophy which is based on the aggregate score of all Year 5 and 6 results throughout the season sees Burbage holding a narrow lead over the chasing pack of Shepshed High School, Leicester Grammar and Fleckney.
Leading Results:
Year 3 - Girls (256 finishers)
1 Grace Scott (St John the Baptist); 2 Annie McAllister (Claybrook); 3 Sophie Domingo (St. Cuthberts)
Boys - (312 finishers)
1 Andrew Forbes (Ridgeway); 2 Simranjit Thandi (Martinshaw); 3 Marcus Rowland (Brownlow)
Year 4 - Girls (215 finishers)
1 Elizabeth Mulvaney (Holywell); 2 Rachel Fisher (Claybrook); 3 Not declared
Boys - (306 finishers)
1 Ben Dijkstra (Burton on the Wolds); 2 Alfie Thomson (Seagrave); 3 Bryn Williams (Church Langton)
Year 5 - Girls (232 finishers)
1 Hannah Cox (Mercenfeld); 2 Eleanor Long (Claybrook); 3 Rosie Stone (Mountfields Lodge)
Boys - (235 finishers)
1 Sam Elliott (Burbage); 2 Joshua Knight (Fleckney); 3 Sam Edwards (Ridgeway)
Year 6 - Girls (151 finishers)
1 India Mitchell (Burbage); 2 Georgia Bevins (Manor High); 3 Holly Bevins (Manor High)
Boys - (192 finishers)
1 James Hatton (Church Hill Junior); 2 Sam Mabey (Gilmorton); 3 George Thomas (Bushloe)
Leading Teams:
Year 5 Girls: Small schools Glenmere, medium Rothley, large Greenfield. Year 5 Boys: Small schools Burton on the Wolds, medium Blaby Stokes, large Fleckney. Year 6 Girls: Small schools St Andrews North Kilworth, medium John Wycliffe, large Burbage Junior, high Manor. Year 6 Boys: Small schools St Nicholas, medium Rothley, large Brownlow, High Sth Charnwood

The next Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross Country League race takes place on Saturday 1st December at Western Park, Leicester.

Thursday 8th November 2007

THE third round of the 2007/08 Leicestershire Secondary Schools Cross-Country League was held at the Longfield High School, Melton Mowbray, on Saturday 3rd November, the full results are now available on the results page.

www.athletics-leics.com/results.html
The next race is the Leicestershire Secondary Schools Cross Country Relays that take place on Saturday 17th November at Shepshed High School.

Thursday 1st November 2007

EDEN FRANCIS leads the way in both the Discus and Shot in the year ending UK Under-20 Women's rankings.

The 18-year-old British Junior international from Leicester Coritanian AC recorded a best of 15.82 metres in the Shot at the Throws Festival at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on July 1st to head the rankings above Amy Hill (14.00) of Sheffield, whilst, in the Discus her mark of 55.28m set on September 2nd at the Under-20 Inter Territorial Match held at Hendon ranks her more than four metres ahead of second placed Blackheath Harrier Shanaugh Brown (51.18).

The 2006 AAA Bronze medallist and GB Junior international Fiona McGorum representing Leicester Walking Club finished third in the 5,000m list with a time of 27mins 8secs, and second in the road 10km with 54:38. Team mate Lauren Gimson also lists on the 5,000m road rankings with a mark of 29:47.

Leicestershire's English Schools champions Sarah-Anne De Kremer and Laura Samuel are third and ninth respectively in the Javelin and Long Jump.

De Kremer recorded her best of 44.22m at the Bedford International Games and Samuel leaped 5.85m at the Tamworth Open in August.

Leicester Coritanian Tamara Longwe ranks on the Triple Jump list with a best of 11.63m outdoors and 11.67m indoors.

Nike National AAA Young Athlete's 3 Stage Road Relays Championships 2007

Sutton Park, Birmingham

Sunday 21st October 2007

LEICESTER CORITANIAN AC Under-13 Girls squad continued their fine run of form following their victory at the Midland Relays earlier in the month as the team of Amy Griffiths, April Beeby and Megan Fairbrother secured an excellent Bronze medal position behind champions Aldershot, Farnham & District and form Merseyside runners-up Liverpool Harriers.

Griffiths running on the opening stage recorded their fastest individual leg of the race, (6th overall), recording 14:44, this after falling twice at the start of the race leaving her 10 metres addift of the field, as they lay in fourth place with Beeby taking up the mantle on stage two setting a time of 15:35 to lift the team into a podium position handing over to Fairbrother.

Running on the anchor leg with a mark of 14:53 Fairbrother brought the Coritanian team home in a combined time of 45mins 12secs to secure the Bronze medal position.

The powerful Aldershot team completed their victory following an epic battle with Liverpool securing Gold by just one second following a sprint finish in a time of 44:47.

Such was the Hampshire club’s domination that they won all of the Women’s events over the weekend in Birmingham following in the footsteps of their senior squad the previous day when European junior cross country champion Steph Twell led the way to victory.

Nuneaton Harriers gained a fine 6th place overall as their Under-13 team of Emily Sales (14:35), Chloe Tillin (15:51) and Lindsey Deacon (15:56) clocked 46:22.

The Coritanian ‘B’ team of Tilly Abraham (15:29), Oliva Tansey (16:45) and Rachel Borrows (17:28) finished in 28th place in a combined time of 49:42.

Charnwood AC were represented by Joni Ashford (15:17), Veda Jalland (18:47) and Kim Jalland (16:12) as they clocked 50:16 to take 31st place. The Coritanian ‘C’ squad of Ella Voss (17:36), Nettie Burd (18:02) and Rebecca Saunders (18:03) finished in 47th place in 53:41.

In the Under-15 Girl’s race Emily Gorecka anchored Aldershot home to victory in a time of 41:43 with Bristol taking second in 42:26 and East Cheshire Harriers & Tameside AC securing third in 42:50.

Charnwood were represented by Liz Mellor (15:17), Briony Bendle (15:38) and Iman Barlow (14:47) as they recorded 45:42 to take 14th place overall.

Georgie Brookes set the Coritanians fastest individual leg on the opening stage with a time of 15:20 as the team of Sarah Dias (15:52) and Freya Vincent (16:44) finished in 31st place in 47:56, whilst, Nuneaton Harriers finished in 51st place in a time of 52:28 with Clair Belcher (18:09), J Richardson (16:51) and Kayleigh White (17:28) completing their team.

Aldershot were also successful in the Boy’s Under-13 race taking victory ahead of East Cheshire Harriers & Tameside AC and Bedford in a combined time of 42:01.

Leicester finished in 9th place overall as Jonathan Monk (14:24), Xander Tansey (15:47) and Christian Brookes (14:57) crossed the line in 45:08. Nuneaton Harriers team of Thomas Croft (14:28), Jordan Haywood (14:54) and Tyler Selway (16:07) clocked 45:29 to take 22nd place.

Charnwood secured 36th place in 47:59 with their squad of James Hatton (15:15), Sam Moore (16:34) and Harry Buttery (16:10).

Lagan Valley from Northern Ireland won the Under-15 Boys race as the team clocked 37:17 to finish ahead of Aldershot and Bedford. Nuneaton finished in 22nd place with Daniel Mills (12:11), Robert White (13:45) and Jake Haywood (15:44) recording 41:40.

The all-conquering Aldershot team alos won the Under-17 race in a time of 35:48 holding off the challenge of Woodford Green with Essex Ladies and Warrington.

Leicester Owls recorded 38:59 as Daniel Hallam (12:52), Sam Stabler (13:27) and Lewis Smart (12:40) clocked 38:59.

Charnwood finished in 25th place with Scott Baxter (12:56), George Buttery (12:56) and Michael Brind (13:08) crossing the line in a combined time of 39:00.

Above photo: Leicester Coritanian Under-13 Girls Team (L-R) Amy Griffiths, Megan Fairbrother and April Beeby

Full results are available on the following link: www.race-results.co.uk/results/2007/natyarel.htm

West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League 2007/08

Pype Hayes Park, Birmingham

Sunday 14th October 2007

INDIA MITCHELL-JARVIS led the way for Leicester Coritanian AC producing a terrific performance to win the Under-11 Girls race at the opening fixture of the 2007/08 West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League held at Birmingham’s Pype Hayes Park.

India held of the strong challenge of Coventry’s Sian Rainsley to cross the line in a time of 6mins 18secs to claim victory, with Heidi Shaw representing Tipton Harriers taking third.

Other Coritanian finishers in the age-group section were Eleanor Long (26th), Catherine Jones (49th), Rebecca Orton (66th), Sophie Clayton (69th) and Oliva Bramley (70th) as the team finished in 5th place overall.

In the Under-13 Girls race Amy Griffiths finished runner-up to Cannock’s Jade Bird as team mates Megan Fairbrother (5th) and April Beeby (8th) both secured top ten places as the Coritanian’s finished in second place in the overall team standings behind early season leaders Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Olivia Tansey (46th), Rachel Burrows (48th), Molly Burd (56th), Beth Elliott (57th), Nettie Burd (58th), Rebecca Saunders (90th) and Megan Barnes (115th) were the other finishers for Leicester.

Freya Vincent in fourth place was the highest placed Leicester athlete in the Under-15 Girls race as Lucy Farnell from Royal Sutton Coldfield claimed victory.

Georgie Brookes (16th), Jasmine Mellor (24th) and Catherine Robertson (40th) completed the team that finished in 7th place overall.

Louisa Monk finished in 13th place in the Under-17 Girls event.

In the Boys races Sam Elliot finished in 9th place in the Under-11 event, whilst, Jonathan Monk placed 11th in the Under-13 with team mate Xander Tansley taking 36th position.

The Coritanian focus will now turn to the road as the Under-13 Girls team aim for further success this weekend at the Nike National AAA Young Athlete's 3 Stage Road Relays Championships at Sutton Park having secured the Midland title back in September.
Overall Team Standings:
1-Cannock & Stafford AC-6100; 2-Halesowen A & CC-5936; 3-Royal Sutton Coldfield AC-5903; 4-Tipton Harriers-5883; 5-Nuneaton Harriers-5541; 6-Birchfield Harriers-5524; 7-Tamworth AC-5518; 8-Bromsgrove & Redditch AC-4245; 9-Wolverhampton & Bilston AC-3888; 10-Rugby & Northampton AC-3443; 11-Stratford-upon-Avon AC-3271; 12-Leicester Coritanians-3173; 13-Sphinx AC-2929; 14-Dudley & Stourbridge Harriers-2849; 15-Solihull & Small Heath AC-2690; 16-Leamington C & AC-2285; 17-Kidderminster & Stourport AC-2226; 18-Birmingham Rowheath AC-1978; 19-Coventry-1636; 20-Sparkhill Harriers-1217

Above photo features India Mitchell-Jarvis taking victory in the Under-11 race.

Tuesday 16th October 2007

THE second round of the 2007/08 Leicestershire Secondary Schools Cross-Country League was held at Shepshed High School on Saturday 13th October, the full results are now available on the results page.

www.athletics-leics.com/results.html

The next race takes place on Saturday 3rd November at the Longfield High School, Melton Mowbray.

Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross Country League – Race No.1

Western Park, Leicester

Saturday 6th October 2007

HOLYWELL'S Elizabeth Mulvaney and Ben Dijkstra, of Burton on the Wolds, completed their fourth consecutive victories at the opening event of the 31st season of the Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross Country League that continues to set the pace for this type of event in the United Kingdom. On a splendid autumnal morning at Western Park 1,834 runners crossed the finishing line.

This was just 71 off the current overall record that Development Office, George Smolinski, believes could be broken at the next event on Saturday 3rd November.

In all bar one race the fields were within 20 of their best ever records with the Year 5 girls race just two runners away from overhauling last year’s record total.

Amran Sandhu (Year 5 Girl) of Leicester Grammar was presented with a special medal for becoming the 7,000th finisher in her category since the league moved to an 8 race format in 1993. Shannon Wardle (Shepshed High School) also received a commemorative medal for becoming the 6,000th Year 6 girl finisher.

Year 3 debutants, Grace Scott (St John the Baptist) and Andrew Forbes (Ridgeway) took first place in their respective debut races.

Elizabeth Mulvaney (Year 4 - Holywell) and Ben Dijkstra (Year 4 - Burton on the Wolds) took their unbeaten league tally to four with confident victories while Hannnah Cox (Mercenfeld) put down a strong marker for another league champion’s trophy with a dominant performance in her Year 5 event. Last year, Sam Elliott surged to a share of the league title with his first ever league win in the final race of the season – his victory in the Year 5 boys race set the scene for another exciting competition in this category.

Both Year 6 race winners India Mitchell (Burbage) and James Hatton (Church hill Junior) enjoyed their first taste of success in strong fields.

Team performance of the day came from Manor High school who packed 5 in the top 17 in the Year 6 girls race to take a healthy lead in their league.

Other initial results indicate that the contest for the team trophies will be as competitive as ever. In the Year 6 medium schools category Leicester Grammar boys hold a slender 5 point advantage over Granby while Ridgeway are just 9 points ahead of Rothley in the corresponding Year 5 girls’ category.
Leading Results:
Year 3 - Girls (214 finishers)
1 Grace Scott (St John the Baptist), 2 Clarissa Ingram (Fleckney), 3 Not declared
Boys (302 finishers)
1 Andrew Forbes (Ridgeway), 2 Joseph Callery (The Hall), 3 Marcus Rowland (Brownlow).
Year 4 - Girls (225 finishers)
1 Elizabeth Mulvaney (Holywell), 2 Not declared, 3 Lucy Jones (Martinshaw)
Boys (298 finishers)
1 Ben Dijkstra (Burton on the Wolds), 2 Jack Anderson (Brownlow), 3 Wills Page (Richard Hill)
Year 5 - Girls (211 finishers)
1 Hannah Cox (Mercenfeld), 2 Rosie Stone (Mountfields Lodge), 3 Not declared
Boys (243 finishers)
1 Sam Elliott (Burbage), 2 Harry Barnes (Greenfield), 3 Sam Edwards (Ridgeway)
Year 6 - Girls (142 finishers)
1 India Mitchell (Burbage), 2 Georgia Bevins (Manor High), 3 Chloe Atkins (St Andrews, N Kilworth)
Boys (199 finishers)
1 James Hatton (Church Hill Junior), 2 Sam Mabey (Gilmorton), 3 Joseph Randon (St Margarets).
Leading Teams:,
Year 5 Girls: Small schools Glenmere, medium Ridgeway, large Greenfield. Year 5 Boys: Small schools Burton on the Wolds, medium Blaby Stokes, large Launde. Year 6 Girls: Small schools Belgrave St Peters, medium St Marys Melton, large Burbage Junior, high Manor. Year 6 Boys: Small schools St Nicholas, medium Leicester Grammar, large Brownlow, High Sth Charnwood

The next Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross Country League race takes place on Saturday 3rd November at Western Park, Leicester.

Tuesday 2nd October 2007

THE opening round of the 2007/08 Leicestershire Secondary Schools Cross-Country League was held at the Groby Community College on Saturday 22nd September, the full results are available on the results page.

www.athletics-leics.com/results.html

The next race takes place on Saturday 13th October at Shepshed High School.

Midland AAA Young Athlete 3 Stage Road Relays 2007

Sutton Park, Birmingham

Sunday 23rd September 2007

LEICESTER CORITANIAN’S highly talented young female squad of athletes followed in the foot steps of Charnwood’s senior women the previous day by producing a dominate performance to complete a terrific victory and lift the Under-13 Girl’s Midland Young Athlete Road Relays title at Birmingham’s Sutton Park.

The team of Amy Griffiths (14:45) with the fastest overall leg, April Beeby (15:57) and Megan Fairbrother (15:20) were in complete control of the race leading at the completion of every stage to take a gun-to-tape victory in a combined time of 46mins 02secs ahead of second placed Royal Sutton Coldfield and Bronze medallists Nuneaton Harriers.

The Coritanians ‘B’ team of Emily Orton (16:48), Rachel Burrows (18:17) and Olivia Tansey (17:19) finished in 16th place in 52:24, whilst, their depth of talent the ‘C’ squad of Molly Burd (17:46), Nettie Burd (17:52) and Rebecca Saunders (18:41) clocked 54:19 to take 23rd position overall.

In the Under-15 Girl’s Leicester’s highly successful day continued as they collected team Silver with the squad of Georgie Brookes (15:14), Sarah Dias (15:14) and Freya Vincent (14:39) finishing in a time of 45:07 to take second place just 14 seconds adrift of champions Mansfield Harriers who won the title with a mark of 44:53. Royal Sutton Coldfield occupied the Bronze medal position in 45:36.

Charnwood fielded three teams in the race with the ‘A’ team comprising of Katie Blackledge (15:48), Briony Bendle (16:03) and Iman Barlow (15:11) finishing in 7th place in 47:02. Their ‘B’ team finished in 21st position with a time of 51:03, with Lorna Wiltshire (17:13), Lucy Arkinstall (16:36) and Eleanor Jones (17:14) completing the line-up. The ‘C’ squad of Hannah Connolly (17:40), Katie Oakes (18:56) and Isabelle Parry (18:30) clocked 55:06 to take 25th place overall.

In the Under-17 Boys event Charnwood collected well-deserved Bronze medals as Scott Baxter (12:43), George Buttery (13:04) and Michael Brind (13:18) recorded an overall time of 39:05 to finish third behind Westbury Harriers who won the title with a mark of 38:07, and Staffordshire Moorlands who claimed Silver with 38:30.

Leicester Owls finished in 6th place with as their team of Lewis Smart (13:01), Daniel Hallam (13:06) and Patrick Radley (13:56) recording a combined time of 40:03.

The Under-15 Boy’s event witnessed Stroud & District taking the title in 40:14 with Bristol & West second with 41:36 and City of Stoke AC claiming third in 41:58. Charnwood clocked 43:58 to take 9th place overall with Alex Kavanagh (15:28), Mark Freeman (14:07) and Ben Salt (14:23) completing the team.

Leicester Coritanian’s squad finished in 12th place as Jake Kench (14:27), Patrick Mills (15:16) and Alex Roberts (14:49) finished in a combined time of 44:32.

Above photo: Leicester Coritanian Under-13 Girls Team (L-R) Amy Griffiths, Megan Fairbrother and April Beeby

Full results are available on the following link: www.race-results.co.uk/results/2007/myarel.htm

Uttoxeter Cross-Country Races 2007

Uttoxeter, Staffordshire

Sunday 16th September 2007

LEICESTER CORITANIANS collected a superb medal haul at the annual 2007 Uttoxeter Cross-Country Races in Staffordshire.

Their young and senior athletes competed over a tough and demanding 1.75 mile course in the very difficult windy conditions.

The Under-11 squad won team Silver with India Mitchell-Jarvis running a strong race to finish second in a time of 12mins 03secs. Ivanhoe Robin’s Hannah Cox won the race in 11:44. Mitchell-Jarvis was backed up by good performances from team mates Catherine Jones (13:22) and Eleanor Long (13:27).

In the Under-13 section Leicester won both the Gold and Bronze medals led by Amy Griffiths finishing third in 10:48, Megan Fairbrother, seventh in 11:23 and April Beeby, eighth in 11:27, to clinch the team victory. Louise Baker representing Staffs Moorlands won the race in 10:39.

Coritanians also secured Gold in the Under-15 Girls race won by Freya Vincent clocking 10:51, nine seconds ahead of the field. There were also good performances from Sarah Dias, who finished third in 11:05, and Georgie Brookes, sixth in a time of 11:30.

The Senior Women ran a three-mile course with Leicester collecting the team Gold medals. Rebecca Kennedy finished fourth in 18:24, Louise Jones sixth in 19:16, and Sarah Jones eighth in 20:23. Kate Brookes finished third in the Vets Women's race in 18:54. Sharleen Hollinshead representing Cheadle RC won the race in 15:13.

In the Under-13 Boys race, Leicester won team Silver as Jonathan Monk led the squad home in fifth place in 10:46.

Monk was followed by James Nutt (10:54) and Xander Tansey (11:10), who crossed the line seventh and 10th respectively. Tamworth’s Kristian Edwards claimed victory in 10:17

The Vets Men were second overall in their five-mile race with solid performances from Robin Brookes (28:50), Phil Hands (28:34) and Bill Winter (33:13). Derby’s Alex Pilcher won in a time of 23:54.

Full results are available on the following link: www.bournesports.com/Public/Uttoxeter_Cross_Country_2007/17551.htm

National Junior Athletics League Final 2007

Moorways Stadium, Derby

Sunday 9th September 2007

EDEN FRANCIS continued her record-breaking season by setting a new National Junior League Final record at Derby’s Moorways Stadium.

Francis, (18) representing Leicester Coritanian AC recently broke the UK junior Discus record with a mark of 55.26 metres set at the SEAA Under-20 Inter-Area match at the Copthall Stadium, Barnet, and followed that by overcoming sciatica to break the NJAL Final record with a throw of 50.9m to eclipse the previous record set by current British number one Philippa Roles back in 1997.

Full results are available on the following link: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stuart.hall1/NJAL%20Web/National%20Finals.pdf

Tuesday 11th September 2007

YOUNG athletes cross-country runners in Leicestershire can now access online details about the Leicestershire Secondary Schools Cross-Country League by visiting the League's dedicated web-pages on the Beacon Hill Striders website.

This new facility provides a comprehensive and up-to-date results and information service for runners, teachers, coaches and parents.

www.beaconhillstriders.co.uk/

SEAA Under-20 Inter-Area Match

Copthall Stadium, Barnet

Sunday 2nd September 2007

AS the senior Great Britain team were concluding their participation at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan, the United Kingdom’s next generation of athletes were demonstrating their talent competing in the SEAA Under-20 Inter-Area Match held on the track of the Copthall Stadium in Barnet.

Several of Leicestershire’s brightest young athletes were in action representing the Midlands team as Eden Francis (Leicester Coritanian AC) ended her spectacular summer in sensational fashion by setting a UK Junior Discus record.

The 18-year-old defied a painful bout of sciatica to throw 55.26 metres, 23cm further than the previous record set by Claire Smithson (Brighton and Hove AC) in 2002. It came almost out of the blue in a series that included four no-throws at the end of a long hard season. The only counting throws went out to a modest 38.16m in the second round and 55.28m in the fourth round. It was a personal best by a massive 1.24 metres.

Francis then went on to win the Shot (14.76m), the event in which she made history for the Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the European Junior Championships in Hengelo, Netherlands, in July. Her fifth place finish was the highest ever achieved by a GB female in this event at European Junior Championships. And her season’s best of 15.82m has hoisted her to third in the UK Junior Women’s all-time rankings.

Francis commented: “I’ve been struggling with my back for the last two weeks. I’ve got slight sciatica and I only went to Copthall to get the points for the Midlands. On my first two throws, I was in so much pain, I couldn’t really throw. But then I just thought, ‘Forget it and throw!’

“I’m off to see the doctor now. I’ve got the National Junior League Final at Derby next Sunday but I doubt I shall be fit.”

In the Men’s events the hugely talented sprint hurdler Callum Priestley (Leicester Coritanian) was on top form, the 18-year-old, who as with club mate Eden Francis represented Great Britain at the European Junior Championships in Hengelo back in July, won the 110m event clocking a new personal best time of 14.15secs. Charnwood’s Callum Forde finished in second place over the one-lap hurdles with a time of 57.19 in the race won by Andy Howell representing the South in 52.47.

Reigning English Schools champion and winner of the recent UK Schools Gold medal, Laura Samuel, finished in fourth place overall in the Long Jump producing a best of 5.24m, whilst, in the Triple Jump competition Coritanian team mate Tamara Longwe finished in second place with a leap of 11.58m.

Leicester Walking Club’s Fiona McGorum, the 2006 senior AAA Bronze medallist, finished runner-up in the 3,000m Walk crossing the line in a time of 16mins 40.58secs with victory taken by Scotland’s Yvonne Lacey in 15:31.00.
Final Match Team Standings:
Men
1 South 162pts, 2 Scotland 127.5pts, 3 Midlands 105pts, 4 North 91.5, 5 Wales 89pts
Women
1 Scotland 141pts, 2 South 124pts, 3 Midlands 107pts, 4 Wales 100pts, 5 North 73pts

Full results available on the following link: www.athleticsdata.com/resultsfiles/2007/5103_SEAA-%20%20%20Inter%20Region%20Match%20Sept%202%202007-.xls

Heart of England League Division 3

Edmondscote Stadium, Leamington Spa

Sunday 2nd September 2007

LEICESTER CORITANIAN’S young guns were in action at the Heart of England Division 3 meeting held at Leamington Spa’s Edmondscote Stadium.

Ryan Lee led the way producing an outstanding performance by winning both the Under-11 Boys 600m in a time of 1:52.6 and the 75m ‘B’ heat in 11.1, a mark that was fast enough to have won the ‘A’ heat. Lee had tracked the leader in the 600m kicking away to victory with 300m to go, running with a confidence that belied his years.

James Nutt had a comfortable victory in the Under-13 Boys 1500m with a time of 5mins 11.3secs with Xander Tansey finishing strongly to claim third place setting a new personal best of 5.32.9. Tansey had already broken his lifetime best in the High Jump earlier in the meeting with a leap of 1.25m to take third place.

Jake Kench ran a storming 800m race to record a 2.24.6. He was unlucky to win the race that was settled with a sprint finish as Kench had to settle for second place.

The slight figure of Alex Roberts ran in the Under- 15 Boys 1500m where he finished in third place in 5.07.1. He went on to win the High Jump in 1.35m and finished 5th in the 100m with 14.2.

In the Girls events Amy Griffiths Under-13 once again competed in the Under-15 age group in the 1500m and breezed her way to victory with a time of 5.24.7. She made her move after 600m and was never challenged. Griffiths went on to compete in the Long Jump finishing 5th In the ‘A’ competition with a personal best of 3.58m. Her final event was 200m where she equalled her PB of 31.9secs.

Many of the younger squad members in the Under-11 Girls and Boys teams competed and produced a selection of terrific results including Finn Murphy who finished second in both the Long Jump with 3.45m and in the 75m with a time of 11.8secs.

Bradley Roehig was just 0.5secs outside of his PB over the 600m when finishing runner-up in the ‘B’ race. He did well to follow that performance by finishing third in the 75m ‘B’ race with 12.4. Will Voss avoided a faller in his 600m ‘B’ race to finish in third place with 2:13.1. He also placed 5th in the 75m ‘B’ race in 12.7.

In the Under-11 Girls 600m, India Mitchell-Jarvis ran well to take third place in the ‘A’ race in 2.06.8, whilst, in the ‘B’ race Catherine Jones came second in 2.09.5 and was backed up by Eleanor Long with fourth place in 2.16.2 and Sarah Jones, 6th in 2.20.2. Jones also went on to finish fourth in the Under-11 Girls Long Jump with 2.56.

Nettie Burd and Ella Voss had a mighty fight for the line in the Under-13 Girls 800m finishing in 7th & 8th places respectively with the same time of 2.58.1. Burd went on to compete in the Discus despite suffering from a troublesome hand. Despite the injury she claimed points for the team by finishing in 5th place with a throw of 6.58m.

Jasmine Mellor in the Under-15 Girls recorded 2:45.2 in the 800m to finish in fifth place running with a sore ankle she went on to compete in the 100m and finished a creditable 7th place in 15.9secs and second in the High Jump with a height of 1.10m.

Livvy Tansey and Rachel Borrows ran in the Under-13 Girls 1500m and finished 3rd & 4th respectively with times of 5:55.4 and 6:07.9. Tansey went on to finish second in the Discus (an event in which she has never competed) with 12.46 as Borrows went on to place second in the High Jump with 1.00m.

Anna Nikolic, competing for the Coritanian club for the first time and competed in events that are not her speciality, finished fourth in the Under-13 Girls 100m ‘B’ race with 16.5secs and 4th in the 70m Hurdles with 15.6. She ran the 200m ‘B’ race in 35.2 to finished third.

Molly Burd also competed in the 200m and finished sixth in the ‘A’ race in 34.6secs. She also finished her day with the Long Jump finishing in fourth place in the ‘B’ competition with 2.91. The Under-13 Girls finished third in the 4x100m relay with Rheanna Hinds bringing the team home. Hinds had earlier competed in the Under-13 Girls Long Jump finishing 7th in the ‘A’ competition with 2.98m and following on from the 100m where she finished 5th in the ‘A race’ clocking 15.8.

UK School Games 2007 – Athletics Day 2

University of Warwick Track

City of Coventry

Sunday 26th August 2007

REIGNING champion Sarah Ann De Kremer representing Team England (East Midlands) had to settle for the Bronze medal position in the Javelin final on the second day of athletics competition at the 2007 UK School Games in Coventry.

The 16-year-old (ESAA) English schools champion from Oakham won comfortably at last year's inaugural event in Glasgow, winning Gold with a throw of 40.57 metres. However, on another warm sunny afternoon under blue skies at the University of Warwick athletics track the Corby athlete failed to find her top form producing a best of 39.44 with a third round effort as Sadie Watts from Milton Keynes AC won the competition with a huge final round throw of 42.78. Sutton Coldfield's Charlotte Gimson finished runner-up with 35.85.

In the Men’s 100m final Kieran Munnelly (16) from Charnwood AC finished in sixth place with a time of 11.20secs (wind: -0.6) as William Ife representing the London team won the title with an impressive 10.81.

Ife commented afterwards: "It was good, nice and strong but it was into a headwind which is why I probably didn’t get a PB. “I haven’t been here before, so everything is new to me. The team atmosphere is great, I've had a great time and it’s a brilliant experience.”

Tom Pearson competing in the Shot competition finished in 5th place overall in the final, as the 16-year-old Leicestershire & Rutland County Schools Discus champion also from the Charnwood club recorded a best mark of 42.57m with his last round throw, the Gold medal went to Cambridge Harrier Curtis Griffith-Parker, the Bedford International Games champion with an impressive 54.75.

Charnwood’s Hannah Walsh (16) finished in fourth place in the Women’s triple Jump competition producing a leap of 11.18 (wind: -0.5) in the second round, victory went to Jade Attoh of London with 11.69 (wind: -0.6). Jade’s father UK Coach Frank Attoh coaches top jump names such as Greg Rutherford and Jamaica’s Trecia Smith.

Attoh commented: "I'm ecstatic, I didn’t realise it done it. It was the atmosphere, the warm up. Coming into the stadium there’s so many people I thought, right I have to do this and focus!”

Highlight of the day's action came from Aled Daves who threw a superb World junior record in the Men’s ambulant Shot Put. The Welshman, whose 10.35m effort was easily enough to take Gold said: “I’ve been trying all year for the world record so I’m delighted to finally get it. “It’s been a great week here: great team, great support staff and a great event.”

Other winners in the athletics included Yorkshire & Humberside’s Abdirisak Ahmed, who was hugely impressive in the Men’s 3,000m and the West Midland’s Ashlee Nelson who defended her 100m title in 11.66, this despite pulling up on the finish line with a leg strain.

The South East finished at the top of the overall team standings with the East as runners-up and the South West in third.

As well as the athletics competition, everyone at the University of Warwick athletics track was treated to the London 2012 Roadshow that gave people a chance to join in and try a new sport. Among the activities were football, rope skipping, rowing and canoeing.

Mandy Ross who works for the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, had a stand with the Roadshow to inform people about the centre’s work with children. She said: "We're a partner of VISA who is a sponsor of the UK School Games so we’re delighted to be here today. Sport is about the wellbeing of children and that’s what CEOP's about, protecting young people.”

Full results available on the following link: www.ukschoolgames.com/2007_start_lists/athletics/index.htm

UK School Games 2007 – Athletics Day 1

University of Warwick Track

City of Coventry

Saturday 25th August 2007

LAURA SAMUEL representing Team England (East Midlands) won the Long Jump competition at the 2007 UK School Games in very warm conditions on the infield of the city of Coventry athletics track.

Samuel, the 16-year-old reigning (ESAA) English schools champion from Leicester Coritanian AC won the event with a best of 5.80m (5.26, x, 5.44, 5.80, x, x) set in the fourth round to finish ahead of Northern Ireland’s Hannah Lewis (5.78) and third placed Alice Lennox (5.68) representing Wales. Samuel also ran in the 4x100m Relay later in the afternoon.

“I've just got back from holiday actually! I haven’t even got my GCSE results!,” a delighted Samuel said afterwards. “I want to come back next year but i'll be too old. Next year I’m going to Loughborough College so I can train at the Loughborough track, I’m looking forward to that.”

In the Men’s 100m Kieran Munnelly (16) from Charnwood AC finished in fourth place in Heat 1 with a time of 11.1 (wind: +1.1) to qualify for the final behind winner Josh Patrick of Scotland who clocked 10.85.

Team mate from Charnwood, Philip Berners (15), recorded 22.8 (wind: +2.3) to finish 6th in Heat 2 of the Men’s 200m.

The 2007 UK School Games began with a spectacular opening ceremony to remember at the Skydome Arena on Thursday evening.

Over 1300 competitors gathered at the ice arena with officials, volunteers and special guests to mark the start of what is expected to be an amazing three days of top class competition.

Athlete representatives from all teams paraded into the arena and three oaths were sworn on behalf of the athletes, officials and volunteers before the Games were declared open by athletics legend Daley Thompson.

Full results available on the following link: www.ukschoolgames.com/2007_start_lists/athletics/index.htm