November 15th, 2011
The McCain UK Cross Challenge is back for 2011 – 2012, taking in 5 key cross country fixtures across the UK throughout the autumn/winter season.
With the support of UKA’s principle partner, McCain, there are 5 high quality competitive opportunities for athletes.
The McCain UK Cross Challenge gives up and coming athletes the opportunity to match themselves against established cross country stars, competitive fields catering for all age-groups, Senior, Under 20, Under 17, Under 15 and Under 13 will be contested at the McCain UK Cross Challenge events to be hosted at Bristol, Liverpool, Cardiff, Antrim, with the series final to be hosted once again in Birmingham.
Athletes from the Club will be competing in all the Challenge events except for Cardiff due to that fixture falling on the same weekend as the Schools County Cross Country Championships.
Due to the over 600 mile round trip a number of cars travelled down on the Saturday to stay just north of Bristol to race the following day.
The weather was perfect with the course being very testing and gave the athletes some great experience competing against other athletes from around Britain.
Results
2nd Lydia Turner 00:16:08
9th Anna Fawcett 00:17:30
16th Sophie Burnett 00:18:59
8th Sophie Forster 00:20:24
13th Paige Gilhespy 00:21:43
21st Adrian Bailes 00:24:57
25th Chris Peverley 00:26:02
Also travelling with the Club was Thomas Goulding who competed in the U15 Boys and came 8th.
Next fixture for the McCain Challenge is Liverpool 26th November.
For local press review click here
For full results click here
For McCain Challenge new click here
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Tags: cross country, England Athletics, U15, XC
Posted in races
November 15th, 2011
Once again the National Cross Country Relays were held at Mansfield.
Eight athletes from the Club competed over the testing course, Under 15 Girls and Under 17 Girls teams and an incomplete Under 17 Boys team.
Conditions weren’t too bad when we first arrived but the weather got progressively worse through the day and the course and surrounding areas became very slippery.
The Under 15 Girls finished in 11th position and the Under 17 Girls in 30th position. This is the first time that the Club has been able to have a complete U17 Girls team, and the future of this age group and through to senior level is looking good.
Despite not having a full team Adrian and Chris still decided to travel and compete.
U15 Girls 11th 0:23:36.60 Birtley AC 0:07:45.15 (16) Anna Fawcett 0:08:21.65 (18) Sophie Burnett 0:07:29.80 (11) Lydia Turner
U17 Girls 30th 0:30:59.75 Birtley AC 0:09:57.30 (34) Paige Gilhespy 0:11:37.60 (48) Bethan Oakes 0:09:24.85 (30) Sophie Forster
U17 Boys 0:20:40.60 Birtley AC 0:10:34.20 (67) Chris Peverley 0:10:06.40 (47) Adrian Bailes
Well done to all athletes on what was the first of many trips away during the winter season.
Many thanks to the parents who travelled to support the athletes and also provide transport.
See The Evening Chronicle coverage here
Click here for full results
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Tags: cross country, England Athletics, Relays, U15, XC
Posted in races
August 28th, 2011
Things keep getting better for Lydia Turner who is becoming a dominant figure athletics.
Northern Athletics 2011 Track & Field Championship Cudworth
Competing in her second year as a U15 Lydia has recently taken another step in her young but budding athletics carer taking on the countries best athletes.
Not one to shrug off the chance of a competitive race she travelled to Cudworth near Barnsley for the 2011 Northern Junior Championships.
Running the 3 and ¾ lap race Lydia paced herself round, running a tactical race before unleashing her speed over the last 170 metres finishing over two seconds ahead of her next rival. This added another Gold to her growing collection of championship medals.
U15G 1500m FINAL
FINAL
1 Lydia Turner Birtley AC 4:46.45
2 Amy Hinchly Vale Royal 4:48.81
3 Sophie Tarver Wirral AC 4:51.49
Off the track
Lydia takes her athletics as serious off the track as when she’s racing. Between races her sessions vary from hills on a club nights to speed work on a Monday’s and a long run on Sundays.
A week over the summer holidays Lydia was given the privilege of attending a training group chosen from top performers of the London Mini Marathon. Training for four days at Twickenham she gained experience and advice from top coaches.
England Athletics 2011 Championships Bedford
Two weeks after her success of the Northerns, Lydia set her sights on a National Championships travelling to Bedford for the England Athletics Under 17 and Under 15 Championships. A great opportunity for the next generation of athletes to perform at the highest of standard.
Again running the 1500m Lydia went into the race ranked 13th in the country but only one of those managed to finish ahead of her – Coventry Godiva’s English Schools’ champion Sian Rainsley.
The Midlands athlete crossed the line in 4:43.81, with Lydia battling all the way to record. 4 minutes 44.38 seconds.
This is Lydia’s second national medal her first being a team medal from the 2011 National Cross Country.
To watch her race go to the below link and in the middle pane scroll to U15 G 1500m
http://www.englandathletics.org/page.asp?section=1176§ionTitle=England+Athletics+TV
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Tags: England Athletics, Northern Athletics, track & field, U15
Posted in races
February 20th, 2011
Not here for the rides
We set off in convoy on the Friday before for an overnight stay close to the course. An early start at 10am Saturday morning to get to the race venue of Alton Towers Staffordshire.
Joining the queue of traffic leading into the actual entrance of the theme park we took a vindictive turn into a side road, because today we were not here for the rides.
It was clear on arrival that the course was not going to be as dry, compared to when the same event was ran here in 2008. The club tent area looked as though it’d been freshly ploughed then hosed with water with similarities to Glastonbury festival. We managed to find a clear(ish) spot for the club tent and raised the Birtley AC banner.
Studying the course map we set off to check the route in preparation for the U17 men’s race which was the first event Birtley had an athlete competing in.
Adrian Bailes set off amongst 270 other runners to race the 6k distance, which was one small and one large lap. Unfortunately Adrian was unable to complete the course due to illness but still put up a valiant effort negotiating almost 4k. Adrian recovered later on and became a welcome sight on the course supporting the other Birtley athletes.
The next race was scheduled for 1.00pm, but due to safety reasons a frustrating 30 minute delay put the start of the U15 girls back to 1.30pm. An issue had been raised with access for first aid provisions on the lower part of the course causing a change to two small laps instead of one large, which still measured approximately 4k. Birtley U15 girls have previously enjoyed glory at North East and Northern level giving them a desire for National success. They all performed well realising that each position counted and that a National team medal could be within the reach. After the race a nervous wait whilst officials added team totals the news reached the girls that they had achieved a silver medal team position. The girls spent the rest of the day proudly wearing their medals the first ever National team medals to be won by Birtley AC.
Delays and some confusion hit the rest of the races before the final event which was the Senior Men and set off at 3.15pm. The course which was originally 12k being three large laps was changed to 10k one small and two large. A light drizzle made the worsening conditions abysmal for spectators and participants alike. Six Birtley Seniors started the race, five completed the testing course “harder than the Northerns” Tony Forster. Unfortunately Ged Murray coming back from injury reluctantly pulled out. The continuing five had brilliant runs lead in by Darren Purvis then Neil Allan, Lee Millmore, Dave Coulson and Tony Forster.
Well done to everyone who competed and thank you to all the supporters who travelled.
Next years Nationals are to return to Parliament Hills London. This is a recommended experience for anyone spectator or athlete.
Locally let’s see the Seniors continuing their campaign for promotion to Division 1 in the Harrier League (next one Wrekenton 26/02/2011) and the U15 girls securing individual and team titles and more Birtley athletes in general competing across all events.
Results
U15 Girls
10 2537 00:15:40 Lydia Turner Birtley AC
19 2533 00:15:55 Anna Fawcett Birtley AC
35 2534 00:16:17 Sophie Forster Birtley AC
96 2535 00:17:17 Paige Gilhespy Birtley AC
Top 3 teams
1 60 Aldershot Farnham & District ( 3 12 20 25 )
2 160 Birtley AC ( 10 19 35 96 )
3 198 Tonbridge AC ( 4 18 29 147 )
Senior Men 10k
180 6232 00:41:41 Darren Purvis Birtley AC
314 6222 00:44:20 Neil Allan Birtley AC
405 6228 00:45:52 Lee Millmore Birtley AC
1072 6224 00:58:48 David Coulson Birtley AC
1099 6226 00:59:50 Tony Forster Birtley AC
For full results http://www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=73
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Tags: cross country, England Athletics, XC
Posted in races
January 30th, 2011
Being almost at the top of England we rarely get a chance to have a championship event on our door step. However, this year was a fortunate change and a short journey to Herrington Park Sunderland for the North of England cross country championships.
A make shift community complete with pop up tents, club flags, burger vans and parked (stuck in the mud) cars not to mention the hundreds of people running round in shorts and vests must have been a strange site to a passersby. Hopefully some of them may have been inspired and fancy a go at doing it themselves
Many of us remember Herrington Park from 2007 when the North Eastern and National Champs were ran here.
The 2010/11 Northerns stayed true to the previously tried tested courses and for those who hadn’t already had a taste of Sunderland hills it was an experience to remember.
The organisers took advantage of every twist, hill and camber to make this one of the toughest championships to date. An initially frozen ground soon thawed unleashing a “treacle like energy sapping mud” (Karl Oakes), that in some points couldn’t be avoided.
We had many great runs with another notable performance by Lydia Turner coming 2nd in the U15 girls matching last years second place as an U13.
Well done to all those who competed
Results
U13 Girls
70 Olivia Bateman 12:27
123 Danielle Coulson 13:39
U13 Boys
93 Luke Kelly 12:20
U15 Girls
2 Lydia Turner 17:23
9 Anna Fawcett 18:07
10 Sophie Forster 18:11
49 Sophie Montgomery 19:29
53 Paige Gilhespy 19:37
U17 Men
106 Adrian Bailes 26:10
Junior Men
76 Daniel Fletcher 40:50
Senior Men
95 Neil Allan 45:48
188 David Kelly 50:23
211 Karl Oakes 51:21
410 David Coulson 1:01:50
442 Tony Forster 1:05:11
453 Brian Bailes 1:07:10
476 Tom Millmore 1:14:03
483 Gerrard Murray 1:23:23
487 Patrick Kelly 1:29:49
For full results http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2011/naxc11.htm
Please keep an ear out for club announcements for coming events and watch the club notice board for races.
Lets see more Birtley AC vests out for Sundays (06-02-11) harrier league at Newcastlre, Town Moor.
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Tags: cross country, England Athletics, Northern Athletics, XC
Posted in races
January 15th, 2011
Temple park at South Shields again the venue the North Eastern Cross country championships.
Originally scheduled for December 11th, the event was postponed due to the adverse weather that brought most of the country to a stand still. With a welcome rise in temperature and a thaw of the snow the regional champs was accommodated at the expense of a Harrier League fixture that was due to be ran on the same day.
The club which was founded in 1987 has used this race as the club cross country championships since it was formed. The first Birtley runner in each age category will be awarded with the club championship trophies at the presentation night in May.
Birtley athletics club had members in most of the age groups with our U15 girls finishing 1st 4th and 11th picking up a team and individual gold.
For full results please see http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2011/index.php
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Tags: cross country, England Athletics, U15, Winners
Posted in races
October 11th, 2010
At Graves Park, Sheffield on Saturday 9th October 2010.
The same Birtley Trio of Paige, Sophie and Lydia from the road relay champs traveled to Sheffield for the inaugural running of the Northern Crosscountry champs.
With confidence and experience after their 4th placing a week earlier the 3 managed to move into the medal placing with an excellent 3rd place.
Race report By Adrian Bailes
Following on from last weeks successes at the northern road relays the under 15 girls team prepared for the 2 and a half hour haul to Sheffield. The group of Paige Gilhespy, Sophie Forster, Lydia Turner with there parents and friend Adrian Bailes all met at the turners house at 8 o clock and by half 8 we set off with Tony Forster leading us and Julie Turner following in convoy.
After the journey we arrived slightly rushed to make it to the start of the race in time. All in good spirit the team ran to the start of the race and Tony collected the team numbers whilst the team did a group warm up. The team were all determined to go at least one place than last weeks 4th place and Paige set off for a quick 2k with two ‘large (or so they say) hills in it. As I stood at the top of this hill, I now realized how large the hill was by some of the grimaces on some of the athletes faces. Paige got up the hill very well and then worked hard chasing the athletes ahead of her and finished the first leg in 13th position. Next person to take to the course was Sophie Forster and she set off rapidly and then the next time I saw her at the top of the hill she seemed to have maintained that harsh pace she started with. Although she thought that at the top of the hill she came out at the next corner she continued pushing on and finished her leg with Chelsea Jarvis of Stockport harriers who won the English schools 800m last year chasing her down but Sophie managed to hold her off and complete her leg in an impressive 5th place. Now it was the last leg and we were set up for an exciting last leg with the four athletes ahead of Lydia all with considerable gaps she like Sophie and Paige set off chasing down the athletes before her determined to get a medal. At the top of the hill Lydia came around in 4th place and with about 400m left Lydia passed the girl in 3rd place and had the team in the bronze medal position. Lydia battled hard and managed to pull away from the girl who was now in 4th place and she was chasing down 1st and 2nd race but as they turned the corner into the finishing straight the two leaders raced each other neck and neck all the way and the gap was just too big for Lydia to catch them up. The team finished the relay in 3rd place beating Stockport Harriers who won last weeks road relays. It was a very good day out and well worth the journey. The team were more than satisfied with there bronze medal in the northern cross country relays.
For the Evening Chronicles coverage click here
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/athletics-news/2010/10/13/relay-championships-fail-attract-region-s-clubs-72703-27454193/
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Tags: cross country, England Athletics, Northern Athletics, relay, Relays, U15, XC
Posted in races
August 28th, 2010
Lydia Turner
Lydia Turner wearing the colours of the North East team and competing in her favourite event the 1500 metres, didn’t have far to travel for the Northern Athletics Inter County Championships, this year being held at Gateshead.
Lydia showed her experience by not going with the leading two runners who went off at a fast pace from the gun.
With only 400 metre’s gone Lydia’s consistent pace closed the gap and she was able to take the lead which she held to the finish, running 4.52 in very windy conditions.
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Tags: England Athletics, Northern Athletics, Winner
Posted in races
August 19th, 2010
Birtley Athletics Club along with the 4 other Network clubs in Gateshead are beginning to feel the impact of being supported by England Athletics through their Network plan. Since the successful application for funding was agreed by England Athletics in November last year Birtley A C now have 3 development coaches working across the Borough delivering a whole range of athletic activities to hundreds of school children.
Katy Wilson, Steph Hopkinson and Ed Lown have all been involved in a busy programme working in Primary and Comprehensive schools delivering a host of activities involving: mini athletics – a new concept involving 5-7 year olds, 1 hour sessions “in house” during curriculum time (usually 6 week blocks), organising and helping at school sports days, running star track schemes (3 day athletics camps for 8-15 year olds) and have also hosted Birtley AC’s Junior Challenge – an annual sports hall event involving over 150 young people from local schools and athletics clubs in the area.
The benefits of being supported by the Network are immense for any club and in Birtley’s case has resulted in stronger links with local primaries and a subsequent increase in membership particularly in the younger age groups. Links with external partners such as the Local Authority and School Sports Partnership have been strengthened through the aims and objectives of the business plan.
The fact that the Gateshead clubs were already Networking through the Gateshead Athletics Development Group meant that a lot of the development work was already happening but the endorsement from England Athletics means that the Network is now funded directly and clubs can benefit financially to improve structures to cope with the increase in demands in terms of coaching, volunteering and administration.
In the last few months Birtley have benefitted directly with help towards things such as courses (coaching, first aid etc.), tickets for the Aviva Grand Prix at Gateshead, equipment and rent. This has allowed the club to run it’s finances effectively whilst at the same time increase it’s development fund allocated for improved training facilities at their base at Lord Lawson School.
Birtley Ac have long been at the forefront of recognising and appreciating the benefits of being supported by the governing bodies of the sport – they were one of the first clubs to achieve club mark status in the country as well as fully participating in programmes such as “Clubs Futures”. The Club is now looking forward to a full winters programme of delivery and also to joint training sessions and “Flying Coach” visits which will benefit all of the clubs and athletes in the area.
Ed Lown
Coach co-ordinator
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Tags: England Athletics, Gateshead Athletics Network, mini athletics, Partnership
Posted in development, events
