Skipton Athletics Club

Roger's Round-Up (June 2008)

Our regular 'round-up' of activities with the junior members of the club. By Roger Ingham.

It seems almost like when there was snow on the ground the last time I wrote a script. Here then is a bit of a lot of what has happened since the clocks went forward.

YORKSHIRE ALTHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS - Sheffield.

Another terrific overall effort.

Claire Lilley – still only 17 – Senior Womens Champion 2000 meters steeplechase.

Only our club’s second, ever, - and by far the youngest Yorkshire Senior Champion in track and field!

Also at the Yorkshire Championships……Sam Hutchinson and Fiona Jordan both won silvers, and very nearly golds, in the Under 17 Boys 1500 meters and Under 17 Girls 300 meters hurdles respectively.

Close but not quite close enough, at Sheffield, Sam – in the 800 meters and Fiona – once more in the 300 meter hurdles, did however manage to go that magical one place better in the ensuing North Yorkshire Schools Championships at York where the seemingly irrepressible Claire added to her Yorkshire Championship Steeplechase gold by winning her age-groups 1500 meters title at the same County Schools finals.

Meanwhile, also impressing in the Yorkshire Championships, Will Crisp – figuring at the younger end of the Under 17 Boys 800 meters – finished a very creditable and contentious fifth in the final of that event where he also knocked a mighty chunk off his previous personal best for the distance.  And, - also close to the medals in fifth were our two newcomer shot–putters, …..welcome both lads….Danny Tyson, - in the Under 15 Boys event and Harry Eccleshall – figuring at the younger end of the Under 17 boys age group.

Concurrent to a hectic early summer track and field programme, there has also been plenty of activity in the fell-racing world.  Amongst it all, the first three rounds of six – held in Cumbria, Cheshire and Lancashire – of the FRA English Junior Championships have taken place, and James Mountain presently stands in second place overall in the Under 18 Boys age-group.

With four places up for grabs in the England team to contest Home Five Nations Junior International Championships to be held near Edinburgh on October 12^th, James has at least put himself in the frame for further international recognition.

Of other Club members contesting the championships thus far, relative newcomers, Robbie Swift – Under 16 Boys, and Will Peryer, - Under 12 Boys, have particularly impressed.

Next championship race is at Ingleton Gala, Saturday July 19^th.

The remaining three West Yorkshire Track and field League fixtures are on Wednesday July 9^th – Cleckheaton; Wednesday July 30^th – South Leeds; Sunday August 10^th – Wakefield.

Anyone who has contested at least one of the seven meetings during the summer will be eligible to contest the West Yorkshire League Championships on Sunday August 31^st – Cleckheaton.  Entries close on Monday August 4^th.

Finally,…. following Joe Mercer who achieved the feat for Cross-Country during the winter,….congratulations now to James Kelly on winning his Oxford Blue for the annual “Varsity” football match – believed to be the World’s oldest official soccer fixture – and scoring, - in the game played at Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground. Well played!

Roger Dodger  01756 790408 or 07773 302 891