Skipton Athletics Club

Roger’s Round-Up (February 2008)

The monthly newsletter detailing the latest news, results, forthcomming events, club meeting dates and more.
 

Skipton AC – Roger’s Round-Up The Younger Un’s Jan-Feb 2008 – By Roger Ingham

I submitted a script for circulation –mid-Jan- but apparently the “senior’s attachment” never materialised hence – unbeknown to me until –mid-Feb- I had effectively wasted my time and some athletes were left in the dark regarding various happenings.

Consequently some of my January script is now worthless, but I still feel it very much appropriate to include at least some of it

Happy New Year everyone!

For quite a number it also proved to be a happy start as results in the Yorkshire Cross-Country Championships at Huddersfield indicated.

Indeed our club’s eventual impressive tally of medals and Yorkshire vests achieved was quite remarkable especially in light of enforced absences through various ailments.

“Well played” therefore to all who gave it a wholehearted “go”, whether or not you came home with any tangible memento. Also, my sincere commiserations to those others who had initially planned to be in contention but regrettably had been forced to withdraw.

Top individual performer was Tom Anderson who won silver in the Under 20 Men's event.

Tom, - together with Hannah Simms - Under 20 Women; Claire Lilley - Under 17 Women; and Sam Westcott and Jack Beetham - Under 13 Boys, - will now represent Yorkshire in the forthcoming United Kingdom Inter – Counties Championships as a result of their respective “top eight” finishes at Huddersfield.

Meanwhile the impressive tally of four sets of team medals was in itself a glowing achievement, indeed only Wakefield of the thirty eight clubs registered, managed better – by just one.

Skipton’s rostrum contributors comprised, Under 17 Men: - Sam Hutchinson, James Mountain, Harry Croft and Luke Maude. Under 17 Women: - Claire Lilley, Rebecca Lambson- following more than a year’s absence through a serious illness, Annie Riley and Kirsty Brown. Under 15 Boys: - Billy Pinder, Joel Griffith, Alex Sinclair and Will Crisp. Under 13 Boys: - Sam Westcott, Jack Beetham, Will Smith and Sam Stockdale.

Andrew Cairns, Under 17 Men and newcomer Robbie Swift, Under 15 Boys particularly impressed amongst our gladiators missing out on a podium place.

Congratulations to Tom Anderson – inclusive of title triumph, - also Hannah Simms, Sam Hutchinson and Rebecca Lambson on them qualifying for the English Schools Finals following last Saturdays North Yorkshire Schools Finals at Scarborough.

Also special congratulations to Roberta Jenkinson, - “Bassey” to just about everyone – on her selection for the Great Britain Youth squad in modern pentathlon. 2012 Olympics?....... watch this space!

Whatever “ailment” problems we collectively endured for the Yorkshire Championships, there were yet more for the ensuing North of England Championships at Roundhay Park.

Competition was predictably tougher still, but amongst it all, the Under 15 Boys team comprising Billy Pinder, Joel Griffith, Will Crisp and Alex Sinclair, on the score sheet, performed particularly commendably to finish sixth, and only a tantalising few points adrift of Liverpool who grabbed the last coveted podium position.

Also splendidly finishing in single figures in their age-group, was our Under 13 Boys team which was spearheaded   by Jack Beethan, Sam Westcott, Will Smith and Joe Brown, crossing the line  in that order.

Of the rest, … again “well played”  everyone,…there was a particularly resolute effort in the Under 17 Boys event by Andrew Cairns whose prime athletics preference –and success-  has been amid the more explosive track-events.

Andrew, whose assortment of “scalps” included county and international endurance athletes, has been invited for soccer trials at Premier League club, Blackburn Rovers

where we sincerely wish him well.

This coming Saturday –Feb 23^rd- sees the traditional “Blue Riband” event of the Cross Country calendar, the English National Championships at Alton Towers, Staffordshire.

Due to the distance, we have a lesser numerical squad than for the Yorkshire and North of England events, but similar “race-numbers”  collection rule applies… “yours faithfully” due to collect them all.

It is a new venue, and “Plan A” is for me to hand out to those who are around on my arrival, and then place the remainder down side pocket of my navy blue hold-all-bag for which arrangements, - kind courtesy of City of York AC –to leave just inside their tent, right hand side.

Should City of York experience problems of their own then “Plan B” is for me to be behind appropriate starting pens 15 minutes before each race.

I should have clarified by mid-week, precisely who will be in attendance to compete.

Meanwhile, athletics is not merely about cross-country. And, as a prelude to the outdoor track and field, also the fell championships programme, six club members  Fiona Jordan, Jack Beetham, Will Crisp, Joel Griffith, Peter Messenger and Robbie Swift all impressed at the North Yorkshire Sportshall Athletics team trials at Selby.

Indeed the first four mentioned above won at least one of their range of arduous events, and whilst team selection is still in the “melting pot”, any number - possibly even all six- might hopefully be in the  county team for the forthcoming Yorkshire and Humberside Finals,

Track and Field:- I have an assortment of entry forms for early season open meetings  including locally, Pendle AC, Sunday 30^th March. Entries close 25^th March. Also forms for the summer West Yorkshire T & F League. First event Sunday 20^th April. Closing date for first event, 8^th April.

Good Luck!

Roger “Dodger”

01756790408     or     07773302891