Club Race Reports Season 2013-2014
Borders League
Race 1 - Tattenhall - 17/11/2013 - Seniors
The first Borders League fixture of 2013-14 took place at Tattenhall. Both teams finished in fourth place in the top divisions. Kim McEneany had the highest finish with 6th place, an impressive run. Other counters for the ladies were Jess Lovell (30th), Ann Tayor-Kilbane (39th) and Sharon Lamont (43rd). Wallasey's men were led home by Karl Pickstock in fine style as he clinched 14th place. Other counting men were Greg Jones (19th), Phil Walton (26th), Connor McArdle (41st), John Armstrong (46th), debutant Joe Boden (68th), Steve Smith (77th), Jon Fairhurst (81st), Martin Connell (90th) and Keith Simpson (91st).
Race 2 - Wigg Island - 15/12/2013 - Seniors
Wallasey AC headed to Wigg Island Community Park in Runcorn for the second Borders League fixture. The park is on the site of an old mustard gas factory and the course consisted of 3 laps around the park making a total on 5.4 miles. The men's team finished in fourth place and the ladies in sixth. Sheila Rae had a strong run leading the ladies home in 20th place, other counters were Sharon Lamont (45th), Julie Barbat (51st) and Debs Connell (67th). The top 2 men battled it out on the course with Richard Webster (15th) just pipping John Thelwell (16th). Other counting men were Connor McArdle (19th), Joe Boden (26th), Jon Fairhurst (60th), Colin Palmer (65th), Martin Connell(84th), Chris Bowers (103rd), Richard Saunders (107th), Dave Walton (156th).
Race 3 - Pensarn - 02/02/2014 - Seniors
Perfect running conditions were found at Pensarn for the third borders League race of the season. The course had been changed slightly at the start and finish and the route around the caravan park. However the overall distance remained at 5 miles for Wallasey's 25 runners. The men's team finished in third place and the ladies in sixth and both teams had their best result of the season so far. The counters for the men were Karl Pickstock (14th), Greg Jones (18th), John Thelwell (25th), Connor McArdle (27th), Richard Webster (33rd), Jon Fairhurst (55th), Colin Palmer (57th), Keith Simpson (73rd), Bryan Stevenson (88th) and Ian Cannings (93rd). Kim McEneany ran well to finish 9th lady, she was assisted by Anne Taylor-Kilbane (26th), Vicky Kehoe (38th) and Julie Barbat (45th).
Race 4 - Birkenhead Park - 02/03/2014 - Seniors
The fourth Borders League fixture of the season took place at Birkenhead Park and was organised by Wallasey A.C. Thanks to some hard work by the marshalls, time keepers etc. the race was a success. Wallasey A.C. had top ten finishers in the ladies and men's races. Karl Pickstock had a great run and led the men's team home in 8th place and Jayne Treanor was first lady in 10th place. The ladies came 4th on the day and lie in sixth place overall. Other counters for the ladies were Sallie Holt (17th), Ann Taylor-Kilbane (24th) and Julie Barbat (42nd). Wallasey's men finished in second place and lie in third place overall. The other male counters were Richard Webster (22nd), Joe Boden (28th), Connor McArdle (30th), Mike Green (31st), Peter Bird (43rd), Jon Fairhurst (48th), Phil Cuthbert(57th), Colin Palmer (63rd) and Ian Dickson (74th).
Race 5 - Connah's Quay - 23/03/2014 - Seniors
The fifth Borders League fixture of the season took place at Deeside College in Connah's Quay and the runners had to battle through wind, rain and hail. Karl Pickstock battled with Connor McArdle for the honour of first home for the men, with Karl 10th just edging out Connor in 12th. Other counters for the men were Mike Green (20th), Greg Jones (25th)John Armstrong (30th), Steve Smith (40th), Jon Fairhurst (50th), Phil Cuthbert (52nd), Colin Palmer (54th) and Eddie Berry (76th). Cat Jennings and Sallie Holt had top ten finishes 5th and 7th respectively. Other lady counters were Ann Taylor-Kilbane (17th) and Vicky Kehoe (38th).
Race 6 - New Brighton - 06/04/2014 - Seniors
Wirral AC hosted the sixth Borders League race on a new course at New Brighton. The course started on Ian Fraser Walk and headed out and around the dips, the runners faced heavy rain on the 5.1 mile route. The men's ten counters were Karl Pickstock (9th), Greg Jones (23rd), Joe Boden (24th), Connor McArdle (25th), Phil Walton (27th), Mike Green (49th), Colin Palmer (62nd), Ian Dickson (70th), Keith Simpson (79th) and Gary Goodall (89th), this helped the men finish second on the day. The ladies counters were Ann Taylor-Kilbane (18th), Elaine Opara (25th), Vicky Kehoe (29th) and Rachel Kenny (39th). This helped the ladies into 5th place.
Race 7 - Deeside - 23/04/2014 - Seniors
The final race of the season was declared void after problems with some runners completing more laps than others.
Liverpool & District XC Union
Race 1 - Arrowe Park - 26/10/2013 - Seniors
22 runners from Wallasey competed in the first fixture of the Liverpool & District Cross Country Union at Arrowe Park. On a warm day the team finished in fourth place on the day. This was thanks to good packing with the counters being Karl Pickstock (16th), Greg Jones (18th), Phil Walton (19th), Connor McArdle (23rd), John Armstrong (30th) and Phil Cuthbert (35th).
Race 2 - Sefton Park - 23/11/2013 - Seniors
The Sefton Park course was dry with little mud for the second race of the Liverpool & District Cross Country Union season. The event also incorporated the European Cross Country Trials. Wallasey had 17 runners turning out. Karl Pickstock was first home in 22nd place followed by Greg Jones 27th. Other counters were John Armstrong, Keith Simpson, Martin Connell and Chris Bowers. Wallasey A.C. finished the day in 5th place of the 10 teams who completed the race and are positioned in 4th place after 2 races. Wallasey also had several marshalls who helped to ensure the race was a success.
Race 3 - Stadt Moers - 07/12/2013 - Seniors
Wallasey AC finished the Liverpool and District Cross Country Union in fourth place. This was achieved by some good packing in the last race at Stadt Moers. The club finished fourth on the day and the counters were Karl Pickstock (18th), Greg Jones (22nd), Phil Walton (28th), Mike Green (32nd), Phil Cuthbert (42nd) and E Berry (71st). 15 runners turned out for the club.
Championships - Clarkes Garden - 09/02/2014 - Seniors
20 runners helped Wallasey AC's team finish sixth on the day at the L&D Cross Country Championships in Clarkes Garden. The counters were Karl Pickstock, Greg Jones, Mike Green, Phil Cuthbert, Bryan Stevenson and Keith Simpson. The race doubled as the club's cross country championship, Karl Pickstock and Sallie Holt are confirmed as this season's cross country champions.
Cross Country Championships
Merseyside - Stadt Moers - 04/01/2014 - Mens
The Merseyside County Championships took place at Stadt Moers in mild conditions. There was a good deal of mud for the runners to negotiate.
The men finished fourth on the day. The men's counters were Greg Jones (22nd), Connor McArdle(23rd), Mike Green (30th), John Armstrong (33rd), Phil Cuthbert (46th) and Keith Simpson (78th). The ladies finished 5th with Kim McEneany (9th), Sallie Holt (17th), Vicky Kehoe (34th) and Sharon Lamont (36th) the counters. Sallie Holt won a bronze medal for third V35.
Northern - Knowsley Safari Park - 25/01/2014 - Mens
The Northern County Championships took place at Knowsley Safari Park in windy and muddy conditions. The rain earlier in the week meant the ground cut up considerably and most areas were covered in ankle deep mud. The wind also got up making running even more difficult.
The men finished 25th on the day and the counters were Greg Jones (206th), Mike Green (239th), Karl Pickstock (258th), John Thelwell (279th), John Armstrong (299th) and Phil Cuthbert (371st). The ladies finished 30th with Sallie Holt (104th), Julie Barbat (202nd), Sharon Lamont (209th) and Nicci Davies (230th) the counters.
National - Wollaton Park - 22/02/2014 - Senior Men
The National County Championships took place in beautiful sunshine on a picturesque course in Wollaton Park, Nottingham. Logs and ditches challenged the runners at this keenly contested race. The men were 57th out of the 127 complete teams that finished the race in the 6 man team and 38th in the 9 man team. The counters were Greg Jones (495th), John Thelwell (510th), John Armstrong (609th), Conner McArdle (657th), Phil Walton (675th) and Phil Cuthbert (875th). Julie Barbat (543rd) and Sharon Lamont (620th) competed for the ladies.
Wirral Multi Terrain Series
Race 1 - Royden Park - 03/09/2013 - Mens
Wirral Multi Terrain series for 2013 started at Royden Park and on a sunny evening over 250 runners completed the 2 lap course. The ladies were most successful on the day finishing in second place with Cat Jennings (4th), Jess Lovell (8th) and Sallie Holt (10th) all counting. The men's team were third with Phil Walton (12th), Greg Jones (13th), Tony Barbat (17th), Richard Webster (19th) and Steve Smith (22nd) the counters.
Race 2 - Thurstaston - 10/09/2013 - Mens
A beautiful evening with the sun setting over the River Dee made for a pleasant run for the second Wirral Multi Terrain fixture at Wirral Country Park. The men finished third on the day and counters were Greg Jones (13th), Tony Barbat (14th), Richard Webster (18th), Mike Green (20th) and Connor McArdle (31st). The ladies ended the night in twelfth place with Cat Jennings (7th), Vicky Kehoe (49th) and Julie Barbat (54th) counting.
Race 3 - Harrison Drive - 17/09/2013 - Mens
Wallasey AC hosted the third fixture of the multi terrain series at Harrison Drive. Unlike previous years the conditions were pleasant without any wind. The men took advantage on the night with a large squad helping them to second place. Counting for the first team were Karl Pickstock (8th), Phil Walton (9th), Greg Jones (11th), Tony Barbat (14th) and Connor McArdle (22nd). The ladies secured fourth place with Cat Jennings (6th), Sallie Holt (7th) and Jess Lovell (18th) counting.
Race 4 - Arrowe Park - 24/09/2013 - Mens
The club's runners came away with 3 medals from the Wirral Multi Terrain series of races at Arrowe Park. The men's team finished in second place overall and the ladies seventh. Individual honours went to Cat Jennings (1st lady U30) and Tony Barbat (1st V50). The men finished third on the night and the men's counters Phil Walton (10th), Greg Jones (12th), Karl Pickstock (13th), Jez Fellick (24th) and Tony Barbat (29th). The ladies finished thirteenth on the night with Jess Lovell (16th), Sharon Lamont (45th) and Nicci Davies (47th) counting.
Christmas Handicap
Christmas Handicap - Wallasey Shore - 22/12/2013 - Seniors
andicap winner was Steve Armstrong and first lady home was Rachael Kenny. Fastest runners on the day with 15:04 was Mike Green and for the ladies Sallie Holt 18:40. Isabella Cuthbert won the junior race.
