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
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October 2nd, 2010
Sophie, Paige and Lydia
A trio of U15 girls were a leading example of what hard work and team endeavor can achieve at this years Northern Athletics Road Relay Championships in Manchester.
Birtley AC has enjoyed great success in particular with the U13 and U15 girl’s age categories almost dominating North East Athletics for a number of years.
At Manchester Paige Gilhespy, Sophie Forster and Lydia Turner mixed with the best teams from the North of England finishing a brilliant fourth place missing out on third by 20 metres.
With this result they have earned themselves a place in the National Finals that are to be run in Birmingham on 16 October.
Well done Girls
Race report by Sophie Forster,
Woke up absolutely shattered but dead excited for the day ahead. It was our first relay together as a team and it would be the Northern Championships! We traveled down together as a team with coach Tommy at a bright and early 8 o’clock! We traveled sleepy eyed down to Wythenshaw park in Manchester, with very little conversation because we were all soo tired!! We arrived at the event at quarter to eleven geet excited and ready for a goodun! We were greeted by the mud and smell of deep heat. Paige started us off at quarter past 12 and had an amazing run putting us in 31st for the second leg. Paige quoted “I enjoyed the course but was quite difficult under foot, I tried my best and had a good run!” before the race Paige was worried about going first but when asked by coach Tommy after the race she said “I enjoyed it, it was good!” after an amazing first leg it was handed over to Me who set off hard around the course “it was a good course quite scenic but very twisty turning, I ran hard trying my best to take as many in front of me as I could! I loved it!” Sophie finished her leg in 13th place to then hand it over Lydia who took off! Lydia went off around the park “I found the course good and worth the journey and thoroughly enjoyed running part of such a successful team.” Lydia finished the trio in 4th place narrowly missing the medal positions, running the fastest time of the day. A good run by the team and one of many goodun’s to come!
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Tags: Northern Athletics, Race, relay, Relays, road, U15
Posted in races
August 26th, 2010
Victorious U15 girls
- The whole gang 3 Vets 9 Seniors and 3 U15 girls
Durham cross country relays……………… I was looking forward to this race. I have run a couple of senior races, but this was the first time I was to be in a senior relay team. It has been commented a couple of times that I look to be running in the wrong race, but what I lack in size is made up for in enthusiasm…..I just luuuuuurve it!!!
Dad was running in his first complete vets team, but was concerned bearing in mind he is waiting for an operation, but wanted to have a go and said he appreciated the chance to be in a team. This was my first senior relay team, the last few years I had run for a fairly successful youth team. I hoped not to let the “big boys’ team” down.
When we arrived, I didn’t know who my team would be, there were a lot of senior/veteran men, only three girlies, but there was a good atmosphere. Tommy and Ed were both present, not running, but there to support their club colleagues.
There were only two races, the younguns’ (ha ha rich coming from me as I was one last year) and the owlduns’ (that was me this year) seniors, vets race. They were mixed races, lads and lasses.
First race saw Lydia destroy the field with a cracking run, running away from the first lad and gave Paige a good start for her second leg. Paige ran well freshly back from her jolidays sporting a nice healthy sun tan, she looked the part as she strode down the field, in second place now but still running well. Paige handed over to Sophe Forster who is making it back to great form, after some really nasty injuries at the end of last year and early this year. The form she is producing now is a credit to her coach for “rehabbing” her and bringing her back gradually and strongly. The actual result for this race was a second place over all finish, but it was a lads team who won, so the Birtley girlies won their race. The presentation was not as it used to be as the centre is being redeveloped. The lasses waited to collect their prize (as is proper) and got copies of the results and guess what………our team of girls were the three fastest runners on the day, whichever order, they had run in, they would have won, so well done you girls!!!
I was actually given first leg of my team, it is strange when you are used to running and trying to keep up with the leaders, then you run against people like Neil, Lee and Richard, Dad says they are our clubs stars these days. It isn’t hard to not try to keep up with them they just run away from you!! Their team was well picked; they were the three fastest runners from Birtley. They finished 6th out of 35 teams, very good eh??? My big brother missed the footie on telly to make a team, and guess what……..we both beat dad, never mind dad took it well, still took us out for supper on the way home.
Dad used to write these articles, and always gave a young lady a mention. She didn’t run for Birtley, but was closely linked. These days she runs for Birtley as a second claim athlete….hiya Trace!! Tracy came along to make a team for the senior ladies, even if it needed to be a composite team. Thanks for that Trace, sorry we have a very limited supply of senior women, but thanks for giving us that thought.
A mention for Steve and Michael, who turned out for the club……travelling on the train/public transport……..hey well done public transport for getting them there on time. Pedro an ever present was competing, and I think, but may be wrong but Dave Scott had his first race for the club Karl ran also. Dad says Ronnie used to run for Birtley when he was my age but has just recently returned , welcome back Ronnie, I am pleased to have run with one of dads mates………..did you see the results??? You beat dads time ha ha!!!
I think I have covered it all, but if I haven’t Dads old disclaimer applies.
Results
Lydia Turner 5:10 Paige Gilhespy 5:34 Sophie Forster 5:18 2nd team overall 1st girls team
Neil Allan 09:51 Lee Millmore 09:56 Richard Scott 10:09 6th team overall 5th senior men team
Adrian Bailes 10:44 Ronnie Eillies 11:36 Michael Keenan 11:14 14th team overall 8th senior men team
Karl Oakes 11:07 Dave Scott 12:49 Brian Bailes 11:57 21st team overall and 7th vets team
Mark Bailes 11:35 Stephen Barras 12:19 Pedro 14:57 26th team overall 14th senior men team
By Adrian Bailes
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Tags: Durham, Relays, Senior, Summer, U15, Vets
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