Club Race Reports Season 2011-2012
Borders League
Race 1 - Prestatyn - 16/10/2011 - Seniors
Over 300 runners turned out in the sunshine at Prestatyn for the first Borders League race of the season. The men's team finished in 5th place and the ladies in 7th. Well done to all the runners who had raced in the Liverpool Marathon the week before. The men's counters were Greg Jones, Karl Pickstock, Tony Barbat, Connor McArdle, Keith Simpson, Phil Cuthbert, John Thelwell, Phil Bird, Mike Green and Andy Rogerson. Scoring for the ladies were Ann Taylor-Kilbane, Vicky Kehoe, Sharon Lamont and Rachel Saunders. The club had 32 runners representing Wallasey A.C.
Race 2 - Birkenhead - 13/11/2011 - Seniors
Wallasey A.C. hosted the second race of the 2011-2012 Borders League Season. On a bright sunny day, a team of marshalls and officials worked hard to ensure the race went ahead successfully. The men's team had a good result finishing second and only missed out on first place by one point. Greg Jones and Karl Pickstock had particularly strong runs coming home in 10th and 11th respectively. Other counters were Tony Barbat, Connor McArdle, Richard Webster, John Thelwell, Phil Cuthbert, John Armstrong, Andy Rogerson and Ian Dickson. The ladies team finished in 7th on the day, Sallie Holt leading them home in 14th place, she was assisted by Sharon Lamont, Rachel Saunders and Julie Barbat. The course consisted of 4 laps around the park and took in a circuit of the lake. 304 runners completed the course and 37 of them were from Wallasey A.C.
Race 3 - Tattenhall - 11/12/2011 - Seniors
The runners had to brave wet conditions at the third Borders League race in Tattenhall, however this did not deter the Wallasey A.C. team as the contingent of thirty runners produced some excellent results. The men finished second on the day and lie in second place overall, the ladies finished sixth on the day and occupy seventh position overall. Greg Jones was first home in 18th place, closely followed by Connor McArdle (20th) who once again had made the long trip back from Loughborough for the race. Other counters were Karl Pickstock, Tony Barbat, Richie Webster, Phil Cuthbert, Keith Simpson, Mike green, Matt Williams and Andy Rogerson. Sallie Holt was first lady home in 16th place and other counters were Sharon Lamont, Vicky Kehoe and Julie Barbat. Connor McArdle leads his age category.
Race 4 - Pensarn - 08/01/2012 - Seniors
Wallasey A.C. had 31 runners in the first Borders race of 2012 at Pensarn. The men were led home by another great run from Karl Pickstock who finished in 17th place, completing the 5 mile course in 28:25. The other runners making up the 10 to count were Greg Jones, Richard Webster, Tony Barbat, Connor McArdle, Mike Green, John Thelwell, Phil Cuthbert, Keith Simpson and Ian Cannings. The men finished the day in 5th place and slip to 3rd place in division one after four races. The ladies team finished 6th on the day and lie in 7th place in division one. First to cross the line for the ladies team was Sallie Holt, other counters were Sharon Lamont, Vicky Kehoe and Julie Barbat. Connor McArdle leads his age category.
Race 5 - Mold - 26/02/2012 - Seniors
Wallasey A.C. had 8 lady runners and 24 men runners in the fifth Borders race held at Mold. The men were led home by another great run from Karl Pickstock who finished in 17th place, completing the course of just over 5 miles in 28:56. The other runners making up the 10 to count were Richard Webster, Greg Jones, Connor McArdle, Tony Barbat, Colin Palmer, John Thelwell, Mike Green, Keith Simpson and Ian Cannings. The men finished the day in first place and are now up to second place in division one after five races. The ladies team finished 7th on the day and lie in 7th place in division one. First to cross the line for the ladies team was Sallie Holt, other counters were Vicky Kehoe, Sharon Lamont and Alison Engle. Connor McArdle and Tony Barbat lead their age categories in the individual standings.
Race 6 - Christleton - 01/04/2012 - Seniors
Wallasey A.C. had 31 runners representing the club at the rearranged sixth Borders race held at Christleton. The men were led home by Greg Jones who was followed closely by Karl Pickstock and Connor McArdle and Colin Palmer, finishing in 15th, 18th, 25th and 30th respectively. Other counters were Colin Palmer, Keith Simpson, Mike Green, John Armstrong, Matt Williams, Wil Amis and Colin Benson. The men finished the day in third place and closed the gap on leaders Wirral A.C. to sixty points. The ladies team finished 4th on the day and lie in 7th place in division one. First back for the ladies team was Sallie Holt, other counters were newcomer Jenny West, Vicky Kehoe and Sharon Lamont. Several individuals have good chances of picking up age category prizes.
Race 7 - Deestriders - 25/04/2012 - Seniors
Wallasey's men came away with the first division title by overhauling Wirral A.C. in the final fixture hosted by Deestriders. The course in Shotton had to be changed at the last minute because of a road closure. Several remarkable performances assisted Wallasey in winning the title, Greg Jones was home first in 11th place and John Thelwell had an excellent run, coming home in 14th. Richard Webster and Colin Palmer both counted despite running in the London Marathon only 4 days earlier. Other counters were Karl Pickstock, Tony Barbat, Connor McArdle, Keith Simpson, Matt Williams, Mike Green and Phil Cuthbert. The men had 29 runners and had 15 counters in the first 96, all helping to push Wirral A.C. runners back. The ladies finished fourth on the day but could not avoid relegation. The four lady counters were Sallie Holt 17th (who also ran the London Marathon), Jenny West 21st, Vicky Kehoe 36th and Sharon Lamont 46th. The ladies had an impressive 11 runners finishing the 4.16 mile course. Several runners picked up individual medals, winners were Connor McArdle U20 and Tony Barbat vet 50 with Connor make the long journey from Loughborough University for all 7 races. Other individual winners were Stan Williams 2nd vet 60, Greg Jones 6th senior male, Karl Pickstock 7th senior male, Keith Simpson 4th over 45 male, Sallie Holt 3rd over 35 lady and Anne Brimage 3rd over 55 lady.
Liverpool & District XC Union
Race 1 - Beacon Park - 29/10/2011 - Seniors
The first fixture of the Liverpool & District League Season took place at Beacon Park. The conditions were muddy in places but overall quite fast. Wallasey A.C. had 23 runners and finished an excellent 2nd on the day, their best result for many years. Counters were Joe Johnson (16th), Greg Jones (18th), Karl Pickstock (20th), Phil Cuthbert (24th), John Thelwell (29th) and Tony Barbat (31st).
Race 2 - Sefton Park - 26/11/2011 - Seniors
Mild and dry weather meant that there was hardly any mud for the second race of the Liverpool & District Cross Country Union season in Sefton Park. The event also incorporated the McCain Cross Challenge and the European Cross Country Trials. Wallasey had 28 representatives for this race. Karl Pickstock edged out Greg Jones in the race to be first home for the club, other counters were Tony Barbat, Richard Webster, John Thelwell and Mike Green. Wallasey AC finished the day in 5th place of the 14 teams who completed the race. Wallasey also had several helpers who ensured the race was run successfully.
Race 3 - Stadt Moers - 10/12/2011 - Seniors
Wallasey A.C. completed a successful league season by finishing in third place overall. The 22 runners hauled the club into second place on the day and can be proud of their achievement. Phil Cuthbert had a storming run coming home first for the club narrowly ahead of Karl Pickstock. Other counters were Greg Jones, Richard Webster, Tony Barbat and John Armstrong. Stan Williams completed a personal milestone of 100 consecutive races. This a tremendous achievement and Stan was presented with a commemorative tankard after the race. The sequence began in February 2005 and Stan has battled through illness and injury to complete the feat.
Championships - Clarkes Garden - 19/02/2012 - Seniors
Wallasey AC finished 4th in the Liverpool and District Cross Country Union Championships at Clarkes Garden. Counters were Karl Pickstock (21st), Greg Jones (23rd), Tony Barbat (30th), Mike Green (36th), Keith Simpson (38th) and Phil Cuthbert (40th).
Cross Country Championships
Merseyside - Sherdley Park - 07/01/2012 - Senior Men
The Merseyside County Championships took place at Sherdley Park in St. Helens. Although fine, the conditions were also windy and the surface was soft and in some places wet and muddy.
The ladies were once again successful on the day finishing in an excellent third place which brought them a bronze county medal. The ladies counters were Sallie Holt (17th), Vicky Kehoe (26th), Sharon Lamont (27th) and Julie Barbat (32nd). The men finished 4th with Karl Pickstock leading them home in 26th place. Other counters were Greg Jones (28th), Tony Barbat (32nd), Phil Cuthbert (39th), Richard Webster (43rd) and John Armstrong (46th). Tony Barbat won a bronze for third V50.
Northern - Pontefract - 28/01/2012 - Senior Men
13 men and 2 ladies travelled to West Yorkshire for the Northern Cross Country Championships at Pontefract Park. The 2 ladies set off first and Sharon Lamont ran well for 185th place, she was followed by Alison Engle (196th), the ladies were short of a complete team. The men's team finished 36th, with Greg Jones, Phil Cuthbert, Mike Green, John Armstrong, Ian Cannings and Matt Williams counting.
National - Parliament Hill Fields - 25/02/2012 - Senior Men
Wallasey AC had complete teams in the men's and ladies race at the National Cross Country. On a warm and sunny day the ladies set off first and finished in 63rd place in the team event. Sallie Holt was first home, covering the 8k course in 37:13 for 307th place. Other counters were Sharon Lamont, Alison Engle and Julie Barbat. The men finished in 72nd place in the six man event and 51st in the nine man event. Greg Jones flew round the 12k course in 46 minutes dead for 538th place. Other runners were Tony Barbat, Phil Cuthbert, John Armstrong, John Thelwell, Matt Williams, Derek McArdle, Mike Griffiths, Paul Thelwell and Pete Ashton. Bob and Anne Brimage helped to make the event a success by marshalling and Jane and Neil Vick provided great vocal support for the club.
Wirral Multi Terrain Series
Race 1 - Royden Park - 06/09/2011 - Senior Men
Wallasey A.C. turned out in force at the first Wirral Multi Terrain race at Royden Park, sporting 32 runners. The men's team finished in 2nd place and the B team was first B team. Greg Jones, Carl Pickstock, Connor McArdle, Phil Cuthbert and Matt Wilson showing good grouping as counters for the A team. The counting three for the girls were Sallie Holt, Ann Taylor-Kilbane and Vicky Kehoe and the team finished fifth.
Race 2 - Harrison Drive - 13/09/2011 - Senior Men
Wallasey A.C. successfully organised the second race in the Wirral Multi Terrain series at Harrison Drive. The weather was very windy and Greg Jones and Sallie Holt led the teams home. The men's team finished second and also lie second in the overall standings and the B team finished first B team. The ladies finished 7th on the night and occupy 5th position overall. Men's team counters were Greg Jones, Carl Pickstock, Richard Webster, Tony Barbat and Colin Palmer for the ladies it was Sallie Holt, Vicky Kehoe and Sharon Lamont. Greg Jones and Colin Palmer lead their age categories. A big thank you is due to all those who lent a hand to make the race a success.
Race 3 - Thurstaston - 20/09/2011 - Senior Men
The third fixture of the Wirral Multi Terrain Series took place at Wirral Country Park. The runners faced some difficult terrain on both runs along the beach. Karl Pickstock led the men's team home in an excellent 8th place. Other first team counters were Greg Jones, Connor McArdle, Richard Webster and Tony Barbat. The men's team finished first on the night and are second overall in the series. Vicky Kehoe was first lady in 16th place and she was assisted by Carolyn Gibson and Sharon Lamont. The ladies finished ninth on the night and are eighth overall. The men's B team came home first in the B team race. Several runner have good chances of winning individual medals.
Race 4 - Arrowe Park - 27/09/2011 - Senior Men
Wallasey A.C. had their best ever multi terrain season winning 10 individual and team medals. The men's A team finished in second place, the B team was first B team in fourth and the C team eighth. The ladies team finished in ninth place and the B team were second B team in twelfth. Stan Williams won the over 60 age group and Greg Jones the under 30. Other individual medal winners were Connor McArdle 3rd under 20, Karl Pickstock 2nd under 30, John Thelwell 3rd under 30, Keith Simpson 2nd over 45, Colin Palmer 3rd over 45, Tony Barbat 2nd over 50. Greg Jones was the first Wallasey runner to complete the 2 laps around Arrowe Park finishing in 9th place. Other counters for the men were Connor McArdle, Karl Pickstock, Tony Barbat and Keith Simpson, the team finishing second on the night. The ladies counters were Vicky Kehoe (26th), Carolyn Gibson (33rd) and Vicky McConnell (35th), the ladies finished tenth.
Christmas Handicap
Christmas Handicap - Wallasey Shore - 18/12/2011 - Seniors
Handicap winner was Derek McArdle and first lady home was Sallie Holt, who also had the fastest ladies time recording 17:51. Greg Jones had the fastest time of the day with 14:42.
Summer Handicap
Summer Handicap - Thurstaston - 26/08/2012 - Seniors
Handicap winner was Martin Connell. Results to follow.