Secretary's Report 2005-06
The 2005/ 06 season was yet again a successful one for Preston Harriers. The year also saw the winding up of Preston AC and the beginning of Preston Harriers 125th Anniversary year.
Management
The management committee have met 11 times since the last AGM, the venue for meetings having moved from Preston Grasshoppers to the Wheatsheaf PH, Woodplumpton.
Re-organisation of the management of Athletics in the UK has been a recurring subject during the season. Four representatives of Preston Harriers attended the first UK Athletics sponsored Foster Report Roadshow at Wigan. Much concern was expressed regarding the lack of democracy in the planned management structure and also the financing the new management structure in two years time when government funding runs out. In response the Association of GB Athletics Clubs (ABAC) was formed. The inaugural AGM of ABAC at Coventry of was attended (as an observer) by Andy Parker. Preston Harriers joined ABAC shortly afterwards. The committee have voted on a number of issues through the year regarding the above changes which are currently being put in place.
Track & Field
The 2005 outdoor track & field season saw Preston Harriers at U13/U15/U17 level competing in the National Young Athletes Northern Premier League for the second season, Preston Harriers at U17/U20/Senior level competing in the NoEAA League Division 2WC, all groups by age and gender competing in the Mid Lancs League 1 and for the first time Preston Harriers at U17/U20 level competing in the National Junior Athletics League, Merseyside Division.
In the Young Athletes League five 2nd places were achieved giving a final league position of 5th behind Liverpool Harriers, Sale Harriers Manchester, Gateshead and Leeds City, one place higher than last year but unfortunately again one place below qualification for the National Auxiliary Final.
The Senior team had a mixed season coming 3rd behind Blackburn Harriers & AC and Barrow & Furness Striders and just missed out on qualification for the Division 2 playoffs.
The male team competing in the Mid Lancs League consolidated their position in Division 1 with 2nd place overall whilst the female team, in their first season in Division 1, gained five 2nd places to finish 2nd overall, all the more remarkable in that the teams had very little representation from the Senior age group.
The first year in the NJAL saw many good individual performances from a relatively small team of predominantly U17 athletes.
At the Lancashire County T&F Championships in May, Preston Harriers were crowned County Champions 35 times (25 in 2004) and took away a total of 69 medals (64 in 2004). Multiple gold medallists were U15 Johnathon Harker with 4 golds and Senior Rebecca Wiseman with 3 golds. In addition 2 golds were won by U20 Carl Dickinson, U17 Adam Worthington, U17 Andrew Robinson, U17 Stephanie Roe, U15 Danielle Rooney, U13 Sam Miller and U13 Hannah Lupton. Single gold medals were also won by Senior Brian Campbell, Senior Jane Lupton, U20 Adam Mitchell, U20 Clare Kane, U17 Miles Manley, U17 Peter Street, U17 Kate Hindle, U17 Emma James, U15 Grace Robertson and U13 Charlotte Newby.
At the following North of England T&F Championships 16 Preston Harriers returned with 13 medals. U20 Carl Dickinson won gold in the 100m and 200m, U17 Stephanie Roe won gold in the 800m and U15 Danielle Rooney won gold in the 75m hurdles.
In June the Lancashire Schools T&F Championships took place with 11 Preston Harriers (7 in 2004) achieving English Schools Standards and 17 winning gold medals. Following on from this success the Lancashire team selected to compete at the English Schools Championships included 14 Preston Harriers. These were Richard Newton, Carl Martin, Nathan Bibby, Miles Manley, Stephen Porter, Adam Worthington, Johnathon Harker, Stephanie Novak, Stephanie Roe, Kate Hindle, Eleanor Markindale, Emma James, Rebekah Ingham and Danielle Rooney.
At the English School Championships in Birmingham Stephanie Roe won bronze in the Intermediate Girls 800m but was eclipsed by Danielle Rooney who won gold in the Junior Girls 75m hurdles, breaking the 19 year old Championship Record with a time of 10.99sec.
The Lancashire and Lancashire Schools Combined Events Championships at Preston produced three champions from Preston Harriers: Intermediate Boy Andrew Robinson, Senior Woman Rebecca Wiseman and U15 Boy Johnathon Harker. Later in the year Rebekah Ingham, Eleanor Markindale, Grace Robertson, Emma James, Katie Wilson and Andrew Robinson all represented Lancashire in the English Schools Combined Events Championships in Southampton.
At the North of England Indoor Championships at Sheffield in January gold medals were won by Andrew Robinson in the U20 triple jump, Stephanie Roe in the U20 800m, Nathan Bibby in the U17 1500m, and Eleanor Markindale in the U17 long jump.
Preston Harriers U11/U13/U15 Sportshall team retained their Lancashire Sportshall League title, winning all three league matches, and taking 11 athlete of the match awards. 40 Preston Harriers represented Lancashire in the NW Regional finals and in the National Sportshall Finals at Birmingham the NW of England Regions U15 girls squad was from Lancashire with a large Preston Harriers contingent.
Our own international athlete, Helen Clitheroe, won the AAA 1500m championship in 2005. Helen also represented GB at the World Championships in Helsinki (10th in 1500m) and represented England in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (4th in 1500m).
Veteran Preston Harrier, Steve Smith represented GB in an international meeting with France and Belgium in the summer and won silver in the 800m, but topped this in the Masters World Indoor Championships in March with a gold in the 1500m.
Finally on the T&F discipline, Pete Hancock, our T&F Club Record keeper, has been kept very busy with no less than 31 Club Records being broken during 2005 (and some were broken a number of times).
Cross Country
In the Mid Lancs Cross Country League the Senior, Vet 40 and Vet 50 mens teams gained gold, for the Seniors this was the third successive year with Senior Adam Sutton leading from the front. The Senior, Vet 35 and Vet 45 womens teams gained 4th, silver and 4th respectively. Vet 35 Philippa Walsh was one of the front runners
The junior Preston Harriers dominated the Mid Lancs League. The U13 Girls took the gold with Ellen Buckley gaining individual gold. The U15 Boys also gained gold with Matthew Lloyd gaining individual silver. The U17 Women and U17 Men took team golds with Kate Hindle and Nathan Bibby taking the individual golds
In the Lancashire Cross Country Championships at Witton Park in January Preston Harriers were again in the medals with U13 Richard Morrell (silver), U13 Kristian Bibby (bronze), U15 Matthew Lloyd (gold), U15 Ben Anthony (bronze), U17 Kate Hindle (gold), U17 Stephanie Roe (silver), U17 Nathan Bibby (gold), U20 Clare Kane (silver), Vet 40 Philippa Walsh (silver) and Vet 50 Marion Hesketh (silver). In addition Preston Harrier teams also gained medals with the U13 Boys taking gold, the U13 Girls taking silver, U15 Boys taking gold, U17 Women taking gold and U17 Men taking silver.
Preston Harriers provided 15 members of the Lancashire team at the Intercounties Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham in March. The U13 Girls gained bronze with second counter Ellen Buckley (12th) and the Senior Men gained silver with Adam Sutton first counter (14th). Highest placed individual was U17 Kate Hindle (11th).
The English Schools Cross Country Championships were held at Berry Hill, Mansfield. Inter Girl Kate Hindle was second counter in the bronze winning Lancashire team. Nathan Bibby, Rob Jackson, Matt Lloyd, Abigail Mackley, Ellen Buckley, Lewis Robinson and Clare Kane also ran for Lancashire.
Roads
This year Preston Harriers featured well in the Interclub with Steve Hallas 1st, Steve Clayton 3rd, Alan Appleby Vet 55 2nd, Philippa Walsh 2nd and Vet 40 1st and Anne Sweeney 3rd and Vet 45 1st
The Preston 10 attracted 486 entries. 28 Preston Harriers took part with highest place gained by Matt Livingston (2nd).
The Festival of Running was re-branded Run Preston in 2005 and many Preston Harriers were amongst the 1322 entrants. The Mens 10k, Womens 10k and overall 5k were won by Preston Harriers. In the 10k leading men were Steve Hallas (3rd), Russell Maddan (5th) and Matt Livingstone (6th) and leading women were Philippa Walsh (2nd) and Anne Sweeney (5th). In the 5k leading men were Peter Street (4th) and Rob Jackson (6th).
In the St Anne’s & Lancashire AA 5 mile Road Race Championship in October Preston Harriers Women won team gold with first three counters Philippa Walsh (3rd), Anne Sweeney (5th) and Sarah Gohill (6th). Individual golds were also won by Philippa (V40), Anne (V45) and Judith Deakin (V55). In the St Anne’s Fire Brigade 10 mile in March Adam Sutton was 1st home almost 1 min. 45 sec. ahead of his nearest rival.
In the NW Counties Road Relays in Blackpool the Preston Harriers women finished 15th in the 4 stage and the men finished 18th in the 6 stage, both teams qualifying for the National 4 & 6 stage relays in Birmingham
Fells
There were 21 people in this years Preston Harriers Fell Championship. The Open and V40 champion was John Griffiths. Mick McLoughlan was V50 champion and Brian Dearnaley was V60 champion. Karen Nash was Womens champion whilst Robert Jackson won the Junior Boys and Nicola Jackson won the Junior Girls sections.
It seems that fell running is no longer there preserve of our senior members with a blossoming group of junior fell runners.
At the Lancashire Junior Fell Running Championships at Rossendale Nicola Jackson was the first winner of the U14 race with team mate Emily Kevan in 4th.
At the English Junior Fell Relays at Sedbergh there were boys, girls and mixed teams comprising 1 U12, 1 U14 and 1 U16. The Preston Harrier teams members were Matthew Nash, Ellen Buckley, Becky Horrocks, Andrew Harrison, Nicola Jackson, Emily Kevan, Robert Jackson, Sophie Fletcher and Amey Kevan.
The Chipping Show Fell Race was hosted by Preston Harriers in August. There were 62 competitors in this years race. Highest placed Preston Harrier was Philippa Walsh (50th and 3rd Woman).
Congratulations go to Mick McLoughlan who on 25th June 2005 completed the Bob Graham Round in 23 hours and 20 minutes.
Technical Officials
Recruitment of Technical Officials has continued throughout the year. Barbara Gillies (nee Wignall) and Neil Porter became Grade 4 track officials by the experience route during the season. Grade 4 examinations were not held in March/ April 2005. Field officials: Dave Harker, Jackie Harker, Christine Hall and Carol James and track officials: Judith Deakin and Barbara Wignall have recently taken the Grade 4 examinations. Rachel Syed (track) and Keith Rigby (timekeeper) will be taking their examinations shortly. Results will be reported next year. The Club is still short of timekeepers and track officials and has no qualified starter/ markspersons. Recruiting new officials in all 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 and throws or assisting with developing the large group of youngsters who have yet to specialise. Middle distance coach, Andy Bibby, was recently voted Preston Coach of the Year.
General
In compiling this report it is clear that although the number of Preston Harrier members as levelled out at just over 500 members after several years of rapid growth, successes continue to increase in all disciplines. Long may this continue. Please support the clubs management in putting on the many planned 125th anniversary events.
Andy Parker
Secretary of Preston Harriers
27/04/06
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