Secretary's Report 2004-05
The 2004/ 05 season proved be yet another successful one for Preston Harriers individuals and teams in Track & Field, Cross Country, Road and Fell running.
Track & Field
The 2004 outdoor Track & Field season was eagerly awaited with the U13/U15/U17 team having been promoted to the Young Athletes Northern Premier League for the first time and the U17/Jnr/Snr team being promoted to the NoEAA League Division 1 for the first time.
The Young Athletes team got off to a storming start winning the first match at Derby and standing equal top of the league with Liverpool, Sale and Gateshead. A third place behind Liverpool and Sale at Liverpool and then a second place behind Wirral at Wirral followed; the team being weakened by a clash with a multi-events championship on the same day. The Young Athletes team returned to winning form in the fourth match at Preston. A third place finish behind Gateshead and Leeds, with local rivals Blackpool in fourth, secured 6th place in a league of 16, narrowly missing out on a place in the National Auxiliary final, by half a point to Wirral
In the NoEAA League Division 1 the team travelled to Leeds, Rotherham, Gateshead and Blackpool. Pendle and Preston Harriers had no home fixture. 5th place was gained at all but Rotherham where =4th place was gained along with Gateshead. The above results in a six team league resulted in relegation to Division 2WC. Valuable experience was gained by the young team, many of which were competing at senior level for the first time.
The Mid Lancs T&F league comprised five matches and a medal meeting. The Mens/ Boys team maintained their position in Division 1 gaining 3rd place whilst the Women/ Girls team won all five of their Division 2 matches by a large margin and were promoted as champions. At the medal meeting Preston Harriers, on this occasion competing as individuals, came away with a record haul of 12 golds, 11 silvers and 2 bronzes.
Andy Bibby stepped down after two years as Mid Lancs T&F team manager to take over from Chris Pattinson who stepped down as a very successful joint team manager of the YAL team. Pete Hancock and Bob Welfare continued in there very demanding team manager roles.
At the Lancashire County T&F Championships in May, Preston Harriers were crowned County Champions 25 times and took away a total of 64 medals. Multiple gold medallists were U13 Harriet James who won 4 golds in 100m, 200m, high jump and long jump, U15 Carl Martin who won 2 golds in 100m and 200m, U20 Rebecca Wiseman who won 2 golds in high jump and javelin and U15 Nathan Bibby and U15 Kate Hindle who both won 2 golds in 800m and 1500m.
In June the Lancashire Schools T&F Championships took place with 7 Preston Harriers, competing for their schools, achieving English Schools Standards. Seniors were Carl Dickinson (100m & 200m) and David Aguirreburualde (100m) and Intermediates were Stephanie Roe (800m), Kate Hindle (800m), Danielle Rooney (75mH), Nathan Bibby (1500m) and Tom Bowden (LJ). The English Schools championships were at Gateshead in July.
At the NoEAA Indoor Junior Championships held at Sheffield in January U15 Danielle Rooney was crowned champion in the 60m Hurdles and U17 Andrew Robinson was crowned champion in the triple jump. Danielle went on to medal in the AAA Indoor Junior Championships at Birmingham in February.
At the European Indoor Championships in Madrid Helen Clitheroe was 4th in the 1500m (after an unsuccessful appeal to be awarded the bronze).
Preston Harriers U11/U13/U15 Sportshall team retained their Lancashire Sportshall League title, winning all four league matches, taking 14 athlete of the match awards and achieving 24 club records.
In the National Sportshall Finals at Birmingham in March the NW of England Regions U13/U15 squad was represented by the Lancashire U13 Girls, U15 Girls and U15 Boys which had a large Preston Harriers contingent. Also U13 Preston Harrier, George Sharpe qualified as an individual. The Lancashire team showed a marked improvement on the previous year.
Cross Country
In the Mid Lancs Cross Country League the senior men’s team had another excellent season, dominating each of the races and easily retaining the overall title. The senior women missed out on the championship by a narrow margin of 2 points although there was some consolation as the V35 women’s team won their division. The U15 girls were also 1st and both the U13 and U15 boys teams were 2nd.
In the County Schools Cross Country Championships Preston Harriers figured prominently. Kate Hindle (Inter Girl) won gold whilst Rob Jackson and Nathan Bibby (Inter Boys) won silver and bronze respectively. Kristian Bibby and Ellen Buckley won the minor races. Unfortunately only Rob Jackson and Peter Street were able to take up their English Schools places.
At the County Cross Country Championships the Preston Harriers U15 Girls won gold, the Senior Men and U15 Boys won silver and the U13 Boys and U13 Girls won bronze. Individual golds were won by Kate Hindle (U15), Nathan Bibby (U15) and Kristian Bibby (U13)
Illness and injury affected entries to the Inter-Counties but senior’s Philippa Walsh and Eddie Walsh together with U15 Rob Jackson competed.
In the Northern Championship the Senior Women’s team finished mid table. Kate Hindle (U15) ran superbly to take 1st and Nathan Bibby (U15) finished 4th.
In the National Championship Preston Harriers Womens team finished 20th . Kate Hindle (U15) finished an excellent 7th in a large field of runners.
Helen Clitheroe, having missed out on a 1500m place in the British squad which competed in Athens Olympics, turned to the mud and competed in both the European and World Cross Country Championships.
Roads
The main road racing event was the Interclub in which 36 men and 11 women took part. Four Preston Harriers won individual awards.
The Northern 6 and 4 Stage Road Relays took place on a dry very windy Blackpool promenade in September. Two Mens teams and one Womens team were entered. The Mens A team were seeking to improve on the best ever 11th place finish the previous year. The Mens A team comprised John Nuttall, Chris Livesey, Eddie Simpson, Steve Hallas, Ben Harrison and Steve Smith. A combined time of 2hr 05min 41 secs gave the team a much improved 7th place finish. The Mens B team of Matt Livingstone, Dave Parkinton, Gary Wilson, Jason Parker, Paul Baxendale and Brian Dewhurst earned a 29th place finish with a time of 2hr 13min 49 sec. The Womens team comprised Emma Deakin, Jane Hodkinson, Tanja Allen and Philippa Walsh. A combined time of 1hr 06min 29sec earned a 12th place finish. Both the Mens A team and Womens team qualified for the National Road Relays at Birmingham.
At the National Veterans Road Relays at Sutton Park both Preston Harriers teams improved on last year. V45, Steve Smith had the 3rd fastest time and subsequently received an international call up. Steve with an individual bronze helped the English Masters to gold. Steve was also British Masters 5km champion.
Preston Harriers once again staged the Preston 10 mile, the Christmas 5km “Guess Your Time” and Christmas Handicap around Haslam Park.
Many Preston Harriers competed and achieved new pb’s in the Preston 10, the Wesham & Kirkham 10km and the Ribble Valley 10km. In the Ribble Valley 10k Adam Sutton and Helen Clitheroe both set new course records.
Eddie Simpson won the Anglesey Marathon and a contingent of Preston Harriers took part in the London Marathon.
The Preston Festival of Sport in the summer included a 10km road race which was marshalled largely by a team of volunteers from Preston Harriers. The mens race was won by Russell Maddams with Gary Wilson in 2nd place. Philippa Walsh won the womens race.
Fells
The Preston Harriers Fell Championship comprised the aggregate score from six races; two from each of the short, medium and long races. V50’s and above were given the option of only running one long race.
The short races included Bleasdale Circle, Belmont Winter Hill, Stoodley Pike (the shortest at 3.5 miles and 700 feet ascent) and Dunnerdale whilst the medium races included Fiensdale, Settle Hills, Kentmere Horseshoe and Withens Skyline. The long races included Three Peaks (the longest at 24 miles with 4500 feet ascent), Borrowdale, Half Yorkshireman and Two Breweries.
Steve Bamber claimed the Championship with Gordon Thompson, Mick McLoughlan and Brian Dearnaley winning the V40, V50 and V60 categories respectively.
The fells section now has a flourishing junior section as witnessed at the Junior Relays at Sedbergh. The girls team, comprising Aime Kevan, Nicola Jackson, Emily Kevan, Beth Goodwin, Dominique Clayden and Stephanie Roe were impressive coming in 1st and the mixed team comprising Rob Jackson, Andrew Harrison, Naomi Cox, Richard Shuttleworth, Kate Williams and James Kevan finished 3rd.
Andrew Harrison also won his age group in the International Snowden Race.
Technical Officials
Recruitment of Technical Officials has continued throughout the year. Janet Percy and Christina Ibrams both passed their Grade 4 field examinations in April whilst Dave Harker, Christine Hall and Carol James all became Grade 4 field official by the experience route during the summer. Grade 2 field official, Bob Welfare, also passed his timekeeping examination to become a Grade 3 timekeeper. Judith Deakin, having stepped down as Secretary last year, became a Grade 4 track official by the experience route. Finally, Colin Harrison on nearing his second year as a field official was assessed and upgraded to Grade 3.
The Club is short of timekeepers, very short of track officials and has no qualified starter/ markspersons. Recruiting new officials in these disciplines remains a priority.
Coaches
Bob Welfare continues to chair the Coaches Sub-committee and would welcome new recruits to supplement the existing coaches for sprints, hurdles, middle distance, jumps or throws or assisting with developing the large group of youngsters who have yet to specialise.
General
A Treasure Hunt was organised by Ilene Bates and Barbara Wignall in September and the Preston Harriers Presentation Night was held at Preston Grasshoppers in November.
The management committee have met 11 times since the last AGM, two meetings having been moved from Preston Grasshoppers to the Treasurers house due to booking problems. Recurring subjects have included the repairs to the track which was only partly usable between January and July 2004 due the back straight being dug up, the need for a club house and office, the need for a paid administrator, UK Athletics re-organisation plans (The Foster Report) and the new Association of British Athletics Clubs.
UK Athletics have this year introduced Clubs:Future Awards to recognise excellence in a number of areas. In March Preston Harriers were awarded North West Runner-up in the Club Innovation of the Year category. Dave Tate was awarded North West Runner-up in the Development Coach of the Year category and Andy Parker and Dave Harker were awarded North West Winner and Runner-up in the Officiating Newcomer of the Year category.
In compiling this report it is clear that Preston Harriers is a thriving club. Long may it continue. We look forward to the 125th anniversary of the formation of Preston Harriers in 2006. Please support the clubs management in putting on the many planned events
Andy Parker
18/04/05
Recruitment of Technical Officials has continued throughout the year. Janet Percy and Christina Ibrams both passed their Grade 4 field examinations in April whilst Dave Harker, Christine Hall and Carol James all became Grade 4 field official by the experience route during the summer. Grade 2 field official, Bob Welfare, also passed his timekeeping examination to become a Grade 3 timekeeper. Judith Deakin, having stepped down as Secretary last year, became a Grade 4 track official by the experience route. Finally, Colin Harrison on nearing his second year as a field official was assessed and upgraded to Grade 3.
The Club is short of timekeepers, very short of track officials and has no qualified starter/ markspersons. Recruiting new officials in these disciplines remains a priority.
Coaches
Bob Welfare continues to chair the Coaches Sub-committee and would welcome new recruits to supplement the existing coaches for sprints, hurdles, middle distance, jumps or throws or assisting with developing the large group of youngsters who have yet to specialise.
General
A Treasure Hunt was organised by Ilene Bates and Barbara Wignall in September and the Preston Harriers Presentation Night was held at Preston Grasshoppers in November.
The management committee have met 11 times since the last AGM, two meetings having been moved from Preston Grasshoppers to the Treasurers house due to booking problems. Recurring subjects have included the repairs to the track which was only partly usable between January and July 2004 due the back straight being dug up, the need for a club house and office, the need for a paid administrator, UK Athletics re-organisation plans (The Foster Report) and the new Association of British Athletics Clubs.
UK Athletics have this year introduced Clubs:Future Awards to recognise excellence in a number of areas. In March Preston Harriers were awarded North West Runner-up in the Club Innovation of the Year category. Dave Tate was awarded North West Runner-up in the Development Coach of the Year category and Andy Parker and Dave Harker were awarded North West Winner and Runner-up in the Officiating Newcomer of the Year category.
In compiling this report it is clear that Preston Harriers is a thriving club. Long may it continue. We look forward to the 125th anniversary of the formation of Preston Harriers in 2006. Please support the clubs management in putting on the many planned events
Andy Parker
18/04/05
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