 The Mid Lancs' 2023 Track & Field season ended on Saturday with their Medal Meeting at the relaid Stanley Park track in Blackpool. The weather forecast was dire with thunderstorms expected through the afternoon but in fact it was a perfect day for athletics with lots of warm sunshine and just an occasional breeze. The traditional end to the Mid Lancs season was well attended, particularly by Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde athletes, but we are still in the school holidays and only 13 Southport Waterloo athletes made the trip. Many were rewarded, however, with good late Season Bests or Personal bests.
So often it is one of our junior athletes who stands out at an event but today I highlight Ken Lennon who ran 2:20 for 800m as a Vet 60!
Starting with the younger age groups, Grace Veevers competed in the Under 13 Girls category. In the combined Under 13 / Under 15 race she finished 2nd overall and 1st in her age group to take the gold medal in 5:11.2, a steadily improving PB by 2 seconds. That's a L8 performance! Running 1500s at Mid Lancs this season, her times have come down from 5:24 to 5:11. She also ran a 200m in 30.1, just a tenth of a second off her PB.
Joseph Sarbutts was our only Under 13 Boy. He competes in throws and recorded a new PB in the javelin with 13m 91 for 4th place but won the shot competition with 5m 62.
We had no Under 15 Girls at Blackpool, but four Under 15 Boys: Jake Anders, Jack Nelson, Matthew Nuttall and Joshua Sarbutts. Jake ran a PB 12.5 for 100m , for 4th place, recorded another good PB with a 4m 32 clearance in the long jump and equalled his 200m PB running 25.9 to take the silver medal. Mirroring Jake events, Jack also ran a PB 100m, in 13.0, long jumped 4m 58 and ran another PB in the 200m in 26.5 secs. The throws specialists Joshua and Matthew both took medals in the shot, Joshua winning the competition with 9m 21 and Matthew 3rd with a PB 8m 97. Matthew also took gold winning the discus competition with a two metre improved PB of 19m 33. In the javelin, Joshua threw a best of 27m 71 and Matthew 20m 29.
Eve Hannaway and T20 Ella McDonough were our Under 17 Women. Eve ran 14.6 for 100m and threw the javelin 15m 92. Ella achieved two Season's Bests and a Personal Best. She ran 22.5 and 58.5 for her sprints and she improved her Best in the shot from 2m 76 to 2m 98.
Under 17 Man T20 William Edmunds also competed in 100m, 200m, and shot. Both his sprint times were PBs, running 18.9 and 40.3. He put the shot 3m 35.
Four of our Senior Men were at Blackpool, recording several Season's Bests. In good conditions, Chris Burgess, who has run 12.5 for 100m three times this season would be pleased to be timed at 12.3 on Saturday - and to collect a bronze medal as well. His 25.9 for 200m was just a tenth off his Season's Best. Graham Boreham took a silver medal running 54.0 for 2nd place in the 400m. His 24.5 time for 200m was a SB and earned him a bronze medal.
In the longer races, Ken Lennon ran Season's Bests in both the 800m, in 2:20.1, and the 1500m, in 4:51.4., giving him two silver medals to take home. We can be less focussed on senior veteran performances but Ken is a remarkable runner and is currently 5th in the UK Rankings for V60 800m and 16th for 1500m!
In the 3000m, Andy Veevers also took a silver medal running 10:16.6.
We were short of officials at Blackpool so many thanks to Lesley Scott, Mike Dandy and Dave Whitehead.
Also, last season our girls / ladies won the Mid Lancs Female Div'n 2 trophy, a large shield. If anyone knows where that is, would they please let Ron Scott know.
Results for Southport Waterloo | Full results |
Going in to the final Northern League fixture of the season at the Queensway Stadium in Wrexham on Saturday, we were lying in 2nd place in Division West 1 South. We were a close 2nd to Liverpool Harriers at their home fixture in June but the Edge Hill fixture in July - remember the rain? - saw the Harriers drop to 3rd place with Southport Waterloo 2nd to host club Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton. That left the Harriers topping the Division but with their 3 point lead reduced to two. LPS and ourselves were tied for 2nd place. So the target for Wrexham was clear. Several things would need to come together but a challenge for the divisional title was definitely on!
 There was no serious challenge from LPS at Wrexham but host clubs always have an advantage in terms of getting athletes out. But it soon became clear that we were leading and could beat the Harriers for the title and promotion. The final score were Southport Waterloo 481 points, Wrexham 387, Liverpool Harriers 328.5, LPS 290, Crewe & Nantwich 197, Wigan 169.5 and Macclesfield 132. So that means Southport Waterloo and Liverpool Harriers are tied on 24 League points - the points for placings at each fixture - with Southport Waterloo winning the Division by scoring more match points - the total points earned in each match -1595, subject to scrutiny, against Liverpool'd 1529; a sizable winning margin!
We enjoyed proper summer weather at Wrexham for a change. Great weather for spectators but there was a gusting head wind to frustrate the sprinters.
Today's win was a team triumph and well done to all for their contribution to team success. I would just want to make a couple or three special mentions. Firstly, our Under 17 and Under 20 ladies were outstanding in their team contribution with no less that 13 'A' and 'B' wins between them. And I don't think I have seen smoother baton changes when Amber, Sierra, Olivia and Lauren won the 4 x 100m relay. On the other side of the male / female divide, Under 20 Bill Steel is in the best form of his life. Each of his best throws in the shot, discus and javelin was a significant PB - by over 3 metres in the javelin - but, moreover, each of these performances exceeds our current senior club records! See club Best Known Performances.
Our Female team today comprised Lauren Byrne, Katy Coupland, Amber Hughes, Sierra Jalloh, Apphia Keenan, Jessica Keenan and Niamh Procter. Amber won the 100m in 12.7, and the 400m in 64.6 and she was 2nd in the 100m hurdles, running 18.0, and 2nd again with a PB 9m 77 in the 4K shot. Sierra won the 200m race in 26.4 and was 2nd over 100m in 13.1. Apphia was 1st home in the 400m hurdles in 76.09, her 1m 55 clearance to win the high jump competition was a Season's Best, and she was 2nd 'B' in her long jump clearing 4m 39. Niamh ran a Season's Best in the 100m hurdles in 22.1. She was also 2nd in the triple jump clearing 9m 21, 3rd in the long jump with 4m 54 and, as an  occasional 800m runner, was 3rd in 3:15. Lauren was the 'B' winner running 67.4 in her first 400m race, and the again in the shot with a best of 9m 37. She also threw the javelin 22m 89. And Jessica won the 'B' 400m hurdles in 82.8, won the 'B' high jump clearing 1m 40 and she threw the discus 9m 19.
Katy was, once again, our only Senior womanand she had a busy day competing in 5 events. On the track, she was 2nd 'B' in the 200m in 36.9, and 1st 'B' in the 800m getting around the two laps in 3:36. In the Field events she threw the discus 25m 24, the javelin 16m 39 and the hammer 16m 74.
Finally the girls emphasised their dominance with two fine relay wins; 51.0 for the 4x100m and 4:32.5 for the 4x400m where Sierra impressed with a 62.1 final leg split.
The Men's team comprised Graham Boreham, Chris Burgess, Adam Byrne, John Byrne, Lee Coupland, Sam Coupland, David Hamilton, Frank Lennon, Ken Lennon, Bill Steel and Andy Veevers, a squad size that enabled team manager Lee to cover all the events, a highly desirable foundation to a team win. Sam Coupland and Bill Steel were our event winners, Bill, with his three PBs, won the shot with 14m 68, the javelin with 53m11 and his final PB of 43m 90 gave him 2nd place in the discus. He also ran the 100m sprint in 12.9. Sam won both the hurdles races, running 72.7 for the 400 hurdles and 18.3 for the 110 sprint hurdles. He also pole vaulted 3m 20, high jumped 1m 65 and made a rare appearance in the triple jump, clearing a PB 11m 38.
Chris ran 12.9 in the 'B' 100m race but will be remembered for his 200m run. He led the field approaching the finish but others were closing and he literally fell over the finish line to get the judges' decision.The first 3 runners were all given 26.1, a Season's best for Chris. Graham ran a 2:07 800m, a 53.1 400m and a 25.4 for 200m, a solid day's running. Ken, Andy and David were our distance runners, Ken running an 800m in 2:20.3 - a Season's Best by a tenth of a second - followed by a 1500m in 4:56.5, another Season's Best. Andy ran the 1500m in 4:55.9 and the 5000m in 18:19.6 and David was 2nd in the 50000 in 17:27.6.
Team manager Lee covered 7 events to maximise the team score. He ran the sprint hurdles in 34.4, the 400 hurdles in 104.1, pole vaulted 2m 30 - a Season's Best - triple jumped 8m 46, threw the discus a Season's Best 20m 33, threw the hammer 14m 92 and the javelin 26m 26. 
Adam was the only non-Senior in the team and he contributed with a 5m 68 long jump to equal his PB and a 1m 70 high jump.John threw the hammer 16m 59 and put the shot 7m 62.
Finally Frank ran a non-scoring 100m in 19.0, knocking half a second off his time at Lancaster.
Thanks to team manager Lee Coupland and to all our officials and helpers at Wrexham: Lesley Scott, Mike Dandy, Alistair Procter, Mr Keenan, Steve James, and Dave Whitehead.
We return to this league next summer when we will be competing against Blackburn, Bury, Sale, West Cheshire and Wirral, a real step-up in class.
Full results (when published) | Results for Southport Waterloo
Team Manager Lee Coupland adds: Thanks to all who've competed this year, with special mention to those who have turned out to multiple fixtures. To our officials and those who have supported officiating we'd have achieved nothing without you. Partners and supporters have even arranged holidays around fixtures. A lovely community of people!
Mike Dandy adds: Firstly, what a team turnout! The age range and spread of talent in our team squad that travelled to Wrexham proved how galvanised we must be. Although some, such as those of masters age, naturally don’t know the other team members they too were talking up their approach and remained smiling throughout. Just to see the spread of ages and event disciplines donning the SWAC colours was truly gratifying. Sierra surprised us when anchoring the 4 x 400 with a relay split of 62.1s. This made it a true race to watch and a fitting finale. Perfect finish to the day!
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