News reports - January 2024 |
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27th January 2024: Will Delamere 9th in Northern XC Champs |
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On Saturday, the Northern Cross Country Championships were held at Sedgefield in Countty Durham, some 150 miles away in the North East so too far for many Southport Waterloo runners to travel. It was a nice day for cross country running and the rain stayed off. An undulating course; no major hills but not really anything flat either. Not too muddy except the far end of the senior’s course. Only three juniors from SWAC were there. Grace Veevers and Lucy Delamere ran in the 2.9km U13G race. In a strong field and tightly contested field, Grace finished 15th in 11:16 and Lucy 28th in 11:49. Will had a strong run in the U15 boys 3.8km, finishing 9th in 12:04. He was 2nd first year Under 15 I believe. There was a standout winner but 2nd to 9th came in in a fairly close group. John D, Gemma D and I ran in the seniors. Gemma was 193rd in 46:12 in the women’s 8.1k race. In the men’s 12.1k race, I finished 147th in 47:31 and John 173rd in 48:34 with a field of 442. |
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26th January 2024: Individual successes celebrated at SWAC Awards Evening |
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The SWAC annual Awards and disco evening was held on Friday evening at the Marine FC function suite in Crosby. There were 27 awards to be presented to 22 athletes by the club President, Steve James, and 'Bishop' certificates to be awarded, prepared for all U9 to U17 junior athletes who competed in team competition for the club in sportshall athletics in 2022/23, in cross country in 2022/23 and track & field in 2023. And the evening's presentation ended with a standing ovation to Steve who received a Long & Distinguished Services award
In addition to the certificates, individual Bishops were awarded to top scorers in team competition. For the girls, the sportshall athletics Bishop went to Lucy Delamere, the cross country Bishop also went to Lucy Delamere and the track & field Bishop to Lauren Byrne. For the Boys, the sportshall athletics Bishop went to Henry Summers, the cross country Bishop went to William Delamere and the track & field Bishop to Adam Byrne. Next were the team manager awards for commitment and exceptional support for the team throughout the season. The awards went to Scarlett Adderley and Jake Edwards. The Athlete of the Year award is given for a high level of improvement in an athlete's principle event. For the 2nd year running, that event was 800m. The winner improved his best time from 2:16.65 to 2:03.68, a new Under 15 club record, at the Northern Inter Counties in May. The winner of the George Bebbington Memorial trophy, our Junior Athlete of the Year, was Caleb Still. Turning to performance, one significant measure for teenage athletes is selection to represent their county at the English Schools' National Track & Field Championships. Its not a club competition, but the club chooses to recognise that achievement with a memento award. This year, these went to Renee Adams (200m), Lauren Byrne (HJ), Sierra Jalloh (200m), Caleb Still (800m), Amber Hughes (400H). It was noted that our juniors set 19 club T&F records in 2023 - Renee Adams, Grace Veevers, Amber Hughes, Lauren Byrne, Caleb Still, Adam Byrne, Sam Coupland and Bill Steel. And 5 Northern Medals and a Welsh championship medal were won. Renee was a Northern indoor 200m champion, Bill was the Welsh discus champion and other medals were taken by Adam and Lauren Byrne, William Delamere and Amelia Tyrer.
For the boys, the winner also set two club T&F records in discus and javelin, won Best Field Performance at the Merseyside County Championships, won the Welsh under 20 shot championships and was ranked 8th in the UK, 2nd in North West, for discus. The Eddie Hechle Performance Trophy for Boys went to Bill Steel. The final Junior Award was the Vera Drury Challenge Shield, presented to a girl who excels in enthusiasm, attendance and club spirit. Many of our girls meet the criteria for this award but, for 2023, it went to Sydney Monahan Clarkson. The first of the Senior Awards was for the Road Grand Prix. The 5-times winner of this award was Francois Rafferty. Laura Park was the Female winner. The vet winners were Boyd Park and Sue Stewart. Update. In the Fell Grand Prix, there was no male qualifier. The Female winner was Michelle Spencer. In the Trail Grand Prix, there were no female qualifiers. The male winner was Francois Rafferty. Like the Junior Athlete of the Year award, the Progress Trophy is awarded for improvement, this time by a road runner. Setting PBs over 4 miles, 10K and half marathon distances, the 2023 Progress Trophy was awarded to Rachel Jacks. Much like the Bishop junior awards, the Senior Track & Field award goes to the top scorer in the Northern Track & Field League. In 2023, the male and female top scorers in the Northern League were under 20s Sam Coupland and Amber Hughes, with Sam just edging Amber to take the award. The trophies for our Cross Country champions, based on the Liverpool Cross Challenge in November, were then awarded, Ben Johnson as the Men's champion and Katie Lee as the Women's champion.
Finally, we occasionally make an award which isn't just related to the one year but reflects longer, distinguished service to the club. To date, only 3 people have received such an award but a fourth was added to the list tonight - Steve James. Steve can truly be called a legend in the club and is probably the club's most successful athlete; ever. As a distance runner, he has had success at club, national and international level including holding World records. But he has also taken on other support roles in the club as a cross country team manager, as a committee member and as our club President for many years. And he has been an inspiration to many, giving unassuming, knowledgeable support and encouragement to so many of our distance runners both young and not-so-young. The award is given in recognition of his service as a competitive runner and in so many support roles over many years. The Club Honours page.has been updated with this year's award winners. We look forward to having even more successes to celebrate at this time next year! |
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13th/14th January 2024: PBs and 3 medals at Northern indoor champs |
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Of course, most competitors at championships don't get to mount the podium but the experience can be invaluable for an athlete's development. This weekend, our athletes achieved 6 PBs but there were mixed fortunes too and it can be a distressing affair when things go wrong. Under 17 Esme McNally attended her first Northern championships, running in the 60m sprint where she clocked 8.90, improving on her 9.13 PB from 2022 at the Northern Under 15 Indoor Championships. For Under 17 Will Rothwell, it was also a first Northern championship. He had run two 600m in December on the indoor boards at Sportcity in preparation and was rewarded with a new 800m PB of 2:10.19. Oliver Storey competed in Under 17 shot, high jump and long jump setting two new PBs and equalling a third. He cleared 1m 50 in the high jump to equal his PB, improved his long jump PB from 4m 66 to 4m 91 and improved his shot PB from 6m 47 to 7m 17. You can't ask for more than that! One athlete with a more disappointing experience was Under 17 Renee Adams, looking to repeat her success as the Northern Under 15 200m indoor champion last year. With heats, semis and a final, it can be challenging physically but Renee won her heat in 25.97, then won her semi in 26.04 in a very tight finish. The final itself was another tight affair and Renee raced superbly to finish in a medal position. However, judges had warned of a lane infringement in the semi and other in the final meant Renee was disqualified. I think it must be difficult, particularly on an indoor track, to focus on your own racing form, the other girls you are competing against and the lane lines. I believe two faults mean disqualification and with heats, semis and a final, faults are cumulative. There were 10 DQs in Sunday's 200m races, reflecting what we have seen at national and international meetings. A disappointing result but Renee can be proud of her performances here, particularly as a first year Under 17. She doesn't just run fast; she races intelligently and Sunday's result does not detract from her ability and her potential as a brilliant 200m runner. The last Under 17 was Scarlett Adderley, competing in the 60m hurdles on Saturday and the long jump on Sunday. In her first Under 17 indoor hurdles, she ran 10.16 and she won the pool 'B' long jump with a PB 4m 64. Under 20 Luke Ward ran his first indoor 1500m race but didn't finish. Under 20 Lauren Byrne ran 9.70 in her heat of the 60m hurdles, qualifying for the final where she ran 9.49 for 4th place, just outside the medals. She was also involved in the shot competition where she threw 9m 74 for a 6th place finish. Both Apphia Keenan and Lauren Byrne competed in the high jump where three girls with a best clearance of 1m 55 were in the running for the minor medals. On countback, the silver was won by Apphia and the bronze by Lauren. Under 20 Amber Hughes competed in the 60m hurdles but suffered a DQ. In the flat 60m, she ran a PB 7.94, for 3rd place. She qualified for the Final where she ran 7.97. Her 7.94 time sets a new Club Record, replacing the previous mark of 7.99 held jointly by Lauren Lewis and Stephanie Robertson. Amber now holds the 60m club record for all age groups from Under 13 to Under 20. Just the Senior Woman one to go for a "full house". On a busy weekend of events, Amber also ran a 26.55 200m and long jumped 4m 82, a Season's Best. Under 20 Adam Byrne cleared 1m 75 for a 5th place in the high jump competition. He had less success in the pole vault but 11m 37 was a nice new opening PB in the 6 kg shot for a 5th place finish. Finally, Bill Steel continues to impress. As an Under 23 now, he competed in the Snr Men's shot on Saturday and took the Northern Silver medal with a best of 14m 18. Bill, Apphia and Lauren will have their achievements recognised for posterity in the club's Honours Board. The Under 13s and Under 15s have their Northern Indoor Championships next month, in Sheffield on Sunday 4th February. Results. Photo courtesy of John Byrne. |
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13th January 2024: Will Delamere wins 4th Mid Lancs XC of the season |
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Blackpool in January is becoming a regular event but the weather was kinder than last year when high winds threatened the club tents. After the seemingly endless run of storms to hit England in recent weeks, we had much drier conditions leading up to Saturday so the ground was probably as good as we could expect. Despite a dry forecast, however, we did have several showers. But it was otherwise a very pleasant day! 28 Southport Waterloo runners competed at Blackpool - 8 juniors and 20 seniors - 6 of the juniors and our leading Snr Woman finished in top 10 positions and Will Delamere again winning his race. There was no-one carrying Southport Waterloo colours in the Under 11 Girls' race but Thomas Delamere competed as an Under 11 Boy, finishing 19th of 39, ie in the top half of the field, in 8:51 for his 2 km lap. Four of our girls competing in the Under 13 Girls' race was a delight with Grace Veevers leading her team home, 3rd of 42 girls in 8:52 for the 2.5 km long lap, to include the infield 'mushroom'. Lauren Silcox was 6th overall in 9:05, Lucy Delamere 9th in 9:08 and, in her first club cross country race, Millie Milligan was 27th in 10:18. The girls finished as 2nd team at Blackpool. They were well down the league table entering this fixture but are now lying in 3rd place and a similar performance at Burnley (or any 6th fixture) could see them collect end-of season medals! We had no Under 13 Boys or Under 15 Girls competing but William Delamere won the Under 15 Boys' race over 4 kms. He covered the 2-medium lap course in 14:02. With 4 wins from 4 races this season I don't think he can be denied the Under 15 title to go with last year's Under 13 title. Liam McCormick also ran a good race for 5th overall of the 31 runners in 14:50 but the absence of a 3rd runner is disappointing from the team perspective. They only managed a team finish at Sefton Park so are now out of the running for medals. Emily Dean was our only Under 17 Woman running here and a 3rd place finish must be one of her best runs. She covered the 4 kms in 17:31. And just one Under 17 Man in blue and gold. Reuben Donnelly was 3rd of 20 runners over 6 kms in a time of 22:42. That must be one of his best runs! Rachel Jacks led our Senior Women team home at the Showground, Kendal, and did it again at Lawson's Ground with an individual 8th place finish, and 1st LV35, in 26:25 for the 6 kms. Andrea Scarborough was our 2nd team counter, 17th overall in 28:25, and Carole James anchored the team finishing 52nd of 122 ladies, in 30:35. Carole also finished 2nd LV55. Michelle Spencer was 57th in 31:17, Gemma Delamere 78th in 33:44 and Helen Lodge, 82nd in 34:22. The team were 4th in Div'n 1, 3rd in the LV35 category and 9th LV45. Finally, our Senior Men had 14 runners competing at Blackpool. First home was Francois Rafferty 13th, and 1st MV55, in 33:29. Andy Veevers was next, 20th overall in 34:04, then David Hamilton, 2nd MV55 and 22nd overall, in 34:10. Alex Vernon was 35th in 34:58, John Delamere 43rd in 35:47 and the final team counter Rob Chesters, 35:57. Others were Peter Roome, 37:14, Marc Singer, 37:39, John Sprackland, 1st MV60 in 38:09, Neil Adshead, 4th MV60 in 40:37, Graham Cuddy, 43:04, David Hemmings, 43:2, Andy McKenzie, 44:24, and Richard Talbot, 45:03. Francois must have a good chance of an individual award this season. Its difficult to tell until we see the individual rankings which should be published shortly. The 'A' team were 4th on the day, 2nd in Div'n 1, and we won all three vet team categories. The MV40 and MV50 team trophies are assured again this season but we will need a 6th fixture to have any hope of the MV60 team title. Thanks to all eam managers. The next Mid Lancs fixture is in Towneley Park, Burnley, on 10th February and there is hope of a 6th fixture at Beacon Park in Skelmersdale.on 2nd March. The Merseyside Schools XC Championships are next Friday, 19th January, in Arrowe Park, Wirral.
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Special mention was made of the 'Bishop' certificates awarded to Matthew Nuttall, William Delamere, Henry Summers and Lucy Delamere who all won double excellence awards. It was also noted that Lucy was the only 1 of 109 juniors to have take part in all three disciplines, Sportshall, cross country and track & field
For the Girls, there was a new name on the Eddie Hechle Performance Trophy. Having set 2 club records - including one that had stood in the record books for 36 years - and in 2023 being ranked 2nd in the North West and 7th in UK over 200m, the Eddie Heckle Performance Trophy for Girls was awarded to Renee Adams 
Then we presented our award for the Volunteer of the Year. Parents and members are always encouraged to help the club as a volunteer, as a coach. team manager, technical official, Committee member etc; roles many would find rewarding. For services to women's cross country and the Wednesday Running Group, the Volunteer of the Year for 2023 was awarded to 
Update: Amber's 7.94 for 60m was a new Under 20 
After the disappointing cancellation of the Merseyside XC Championships on 6th January due to a water-logged course - and with no-one competing in the Lancashire Championships - the Mid Lancs fixture at Lawson's Ground in Blackpool was the first XC event of 2024. In passing, the Merseyside championships may still be held if a date can be agreed; but selection for the Inter-Counties may rest on other fixtures.
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