September 21st, 2011
Many of you will know Steph at the club from her coaching capacity. What some of you will not know is that around her coaching commitments she also finds time to compete in her own right.
When Steph came to the club she was keen to compete and soon found that she had a talent for running, throwing and jumping. These skills were mastered in the Northern Senior track and league where she is a vital part of Birtley’s team.
Naturally this mix of disciplines allowed her to turn to the multi-event of the Pentahlon.
Scoring 2013 points which is shy of her PB, Steph improved on last year’s silver to claim the gold in the North East of England Championship.
Well done Steph our very own Jess Ennis
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Tags: Senior Lady, track & field, Winner
Posted in races
May 9th, 2011
The first of the Senior track leagues took place at Middlesbrough on Saturday 7th of May.
After being promoted last year when we won Division 3, the competition was notably tougher in D2.
Competing against larger clubs of Gateshead, Middlesbrough, York, Durham and North Shields our athletes were not swayed and each gave their best to accumulate valuable points showing great team spirit with our ally’s from South Shields.
Many of our athletes doubled up on events (some even competing a day later in the Junior league and Lampton 5k) making their efforts even more commendable.
We finished 5th place on the day, only 2 points off 6th showing that every position counts.
Notable performances on the day came from Sophie Taylor and Sophie Forster our U17 rising stars competing in their first Senior league. Also a mention to Alex Robson with a welcome return to competition. Bob Jaques acquired some points for Birtley, in an official capacity as a track judge.
Birtley results are as follows
M 800m
5 Neil Alan 2.13.6 (First one for 14 years)
M 1500m A
4 Neil Alan 4.28.3
M 110mH A
3 Alex Robson 22.0
M Hammer Throw A
4 Iain Turnbull 32.70
M High Jump
3 Alex Robson 1.60
W 200m
5 Sophie Taylor 29.5
W 1500m A
2 Tracy Millmore 4.43.3
W 1500m B
1 Sophie Forster 4.56.9
W Long Jump B
2 Sophie Taylor U17 SSH 4.03
MATCH RESULT LEAGUE STANDINGS
Event Lge Event Lge
1 GHD 449 6 1 Gateshead Harriers & AC 449 6
2 COY 319 5 2 City of York AC 319 5
3 MID 315 4 3 Middlesbrough AC 315 4
4 NSP 277 3 4 North Shields Poly AC 277 3
5 SSH 218 2 5 birtley/ south shields 218 2
6 DCH 216 1 6 Durham City Harriers AC 216 1
The next Senior Track League is at York on June 4th. We have the numbers in the club to cover all events so let’s see more yellow and blue on the track. A bus is being arranged in conjunction with other North East clubs to provide travel. Please see the club notice board or either speak to Lee Millmore or Margaret Hopkinson for expressions of interest and travel arrangements.
Full results please see. http://www.noeaa-athletics.org.uk/FileUploads/2E_2_3_4_5_6_7_8_9_10_11_12_13_14_15_16_17_18.pdf Note Birtley athletes are marked as SSH (as well as SSH)
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Tags: Northern Track League, Senior, Senior Lady, track & field, track and field
Posted in races
April 22nd, 2011
If your thinking of doing your first race, here’s words of inspiration from our very own Val Baxter. Mother, Club Secretary and now an Athlete.
Hi, for those of you who don’t know me, my name is Val Baxter and my 13 year old son Andrew has been an active member of the club for a few years. I became club secretary last year to try and make myself useful, though I’m still finding my feet! Anyway, finding myself at a loose end on club nights while Andrew was training, I decided to start power walking around Birtley to try and tone up a bit. After a few weeks, I found myself attempting to run very short sections, and these gradually built up until I was running (almost) all of the 3.2 mile circuit. I had a moment of madness one day and told Ed I’d be willing to run a crosscountry for the club, and so the Sherman cup race at Blaydon was destined to be my first (and possibly only) attempt at a proper race!
The day of the race came frightening quickly, and following a night of rain, I had expected to find a course full of mud, but luckily the ground wasn’t too saturated, and it wasn’t bad at all. The senior women’s race is always last, so I had a good long time to stand around and get even more nervous than I already had been, but finally the marshalls shouted and it was time to line up!
It’s hard to describe the feeling I had at the start of the race – a mixture of awe as the hundred or so women all began running at the same time, and out and out terror that I would make a total fool of myself by running out of steam before the first field had even been rounded, or even worse that I’d be sick in front of everyone (a distinct possibility given how nervous I was feeling!).
The course began with a nice flat circuit of a field, followed by a short but steep ascent and descent of a hill near the start (and finish), then the rest of the course was fairly level, with a few nice muddy sections to navigate. After what seemed like an age, the hill at the start of the course came into sight but this time we had to run up and down it three times ! Now, from the sidelines this hill looks like a slight incline, but I can assure you that it felt like Mount Everest by the time I was running up it (and I use the term loosely) for the third time. Now came what was for me the hardest part of the course…getting back to the beginning of the course and realising that I had to do the same distance ALL OVER AGAIN!
With heaving lungs and tired legs, the second circuit of the course began and I tried to concentrate on just keeping running – I wasn’t bothered about my time, or who was passing me, I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and tried to avoid the deepest mud. About a third of the way around the course, I found someone’s shoe stuck in the mud, and for some strange reason stopped to pick it up – I then found myself running with the added handicap of a muddy shoe clutched in one hand! I managed to offload it to Pedro as I neared the finish line – I have no idea what he thought as I thrust a muddy shoe into his hand and gasped that it wasn’t mine as I ran off!
I should mention at this point that during my runs around Birtley, I had never managed to do more than 2 miles continuously without having to slow down to a walk for a short while to catch my breath. At 6k, or roughly 3.6 miles, the course was almost twice as far as I’d ever run in one go, but I was determined (and the various club members scattered around the course shouting encouragement helped a lot) to run the whole thing if I could. To be honest, I was also worried that if I started walking I’d never manage to start running again!
Finally, the horrendous hill near the end came into sight again – gulp! I tried my best to run up it (three times!), though it might be best to describe my efforts as a fast walk, and then I just had to muster up the energy to pick up my legs and make it to the finish line. I can’t describe the feeling of relief as I finally made it past the line, and managed to resist the temptation to collapse in a heap on the ground! I staggered to the tent and changed my muddy shoes for slightly cleaner and drier trainers, and was kindly congratulated by the Birtley members who still remained at the course. I forgot to mention that I was running for high stakes – Ed had bet me a 10p mixup that I wouldn’t come last in the race, and indeed I wasn’t (though 109th out of 114 is fairly close to last!).
I even managed to find the energy to have a cool down run with the lovely Nathalie who had also run her first crosscountry (the only other Birtley lady in my race, who finished a lot higher up than me!) and was surprised to find that I had enough breath left to hold a conversation as we ran!
So, the million dollar question:- Would I do it again? Well, Prudhoe was a fortnight later and I gave it some thought…then thought again and realised that it was a bit out of my league! Maybe next year? ;0)
Read more… »
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Tags: cross country, NEHL, Senior Lady
Posted in races
April 3rd, 2011
Cross country is over and now it’s time to throw, jump and run in the upcoming track season. Once again our senior team will be operating as a composite with South Shields Harriers for the 2011 season.
It is therefore necessary and only fair to give both clubs an idea of athlete availability as soon as possible.
Any senior athlete wishing to participate, please append your name, availability and event choice(s) to the matrix attached to the club notice board or see either Lee Millmore or Margaret Hopkinson.
Saturday, 7 May 2011 Middlesbrough.
Saturday, 4 June 2011 York
Sunday, 3 July 2011 Jarrow
Sunday, 14 August 2011 Whitley Bay
It may be necessary to club resources and hire a bus to travel to the venues at York and Middlesbrough so please inform organisers if travel is required.
Please note: Organising the team, especially as a composite can and will be a difficult and thankless task. The club organisers will try to include as many competitors as possible, so please be flexible and sporting, and remember we are a TEAM!
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Tags: Northern Track League, Senior, Senior Lady, track and field
Posted in races
October 19th, 2010
Congratulations to Angie Watson who won the Richmond Castle 10k in a time of 42 minutes.
The picturesque race started in Richmond’s cobbled market place. Runners passed the spectacular Richmond Falls on the River Swale before crossing the river at Green Bridge and climbing Sleegill offering fine views of Richmond Castle. Runners were went on a short circuit of Catterick Garrison before returning to Richmond and a great finish within the grounds of the castle of which English Heritage allowed access to.
The only thing Angie did wrong was to give away her bottle of beer not knowing that it’s the only thing that keeps Coach Tommy Millmore going.
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Tags: Race, road, Senior Lady, Winner
Posted in races
August 28th, 2010
One of our senior female athletes has today tasted victory over more than 250 other competitors.
Angie Watson ran in the 23rd Smugglers Trod challenge at Whitby on the West Yorkshire Coast finishing 1st Lady and an impressive 4th overall.
This tough 26 mile race starts at Robin Hoods bay finishing at Flyingthorpe Village Hall.
Angie is no stranger to this event competing last year, she even managed to beat last years time.
Angie said it was hard work but hopefully she’ll have recovered enough for training on Tuesday.
Well done Angie
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Posted in races
