Club Race Reports Season 2019-2020
Borders League
Race 1 - Caernarvon - 13/10/2019 - Seniors
Wallasey AC men's team powered to a 124 point victory at the opening Borders League race for 2019-20. The race was held in the rain at Caernarvon with the course a reverse of the Caernarvon 10k. A head to head battle at the front saw Joe Boden just pushed into second place by Matthew Roberts of Eyri Harriers. Other counters for the men were Rob Pearse (13th), Jay Walker (18th), Tom Gillbanks (19th), Jack Poland (20th), Greg Jones (27th), Luke Hampshire (31st), Ray Clark (34th), Matt Goodwin (42nd) and Mike Green (51st). The ladies finished second only 12 points behind Wirral AC. Point scorers for the ladies were Jo Irvin (12th), Sallie Holt (13th), Aimee Bartley (20th) and Anna Kenny (27th).
Race 2 - Deeside - 10/11/2019 - Seniors
The second fixture of the Borders League for 2019-20 took place under sunny skies and started and finished on Deeside track. The 4.37 mile course included laps of Coleg Cambria and a 1 mile ascent along Kelsterton Lane. Wallasey AC men's team continued there success from the first race with a 27 point win over Wrexham AC amassing 248 points and having 10 counters within the first 38 runners. Joe Boden was first home for the club in second place just eased out by Owen Roberts of Eryri Harriers. Other counters for the men were Jay Walker (16th), Rob Pearse (18th), Tom Gillbanks (20th), Jack Poland (21st), Ray Clark (31st), William Barr (32nd), Matt Goodwin (33rd), Luke Hampshire (37th) and Greg Jones (38th). The ladies finished in fourth place and counters were Jo Irvin (9th), Rebecca Blacklock (17th), Helen Anne Stansfield (23rd) and Elaine Opara (24th). A record 446 runners finished the race 54 of them from Wallasey AC.
Race 3 - Birkenhead Park - 01/12/2019 - Seniors
Wallasey AC won the men's race at their home round of the Borders League on a sunny and frosty day in Birkenhead Park, the course was slippery in parts and several runners fell. Counters were Joe Boden (3rd), Jay Walker (11th), Tom Gillbanks (19th), Connor Mcardle (22nd), Jack Poland (23rd), Greg Jones (26th), Ray Clark (28th), Matt Goodwin (31st), Luke Hampshire (36th) and David Lilley (39th). The ladies finished fourth but remain second overall. Counters for the ladies were Becky Blacklock (11th), Jess Mckinlay (15th), Katherine Andrews (19th) and Aimee Bartley (25th). As well as the 57 runners that represented the club Wallasey AC also provided the marshalls and officials for the race.
Race 4 - Abergele - 12/01/2020 - Seniors
The ladies finished in third place at the fourth Borders League race at Pensarn battling a strong headwind for half of the course. Counters were Sallie Holt (8th), Becky Blacklock (12th), Aimee Bartley (18th) and Helen-Anne Stansfield (25th). The team lie in second overall. The men finished third on the day with counters being Jay Walker (17th), Tom Gillbanks (25th), Matt Goodwin (26th), Rob Pearse (29th), Connor McArdle (31st), Ray Clark (33rd), Jack Poland (34th), Greg Jones (41st), Steve Brealey (49th) and David Lilley (67th). The men still lead the division but with a reduced margin.
Race 5 - Wrexham - 15/03/2020 - Seniors
The fifth Borders League race of the season took place on a new course on the Redwither Industrial Estate in Wrexham. The course consisted of two laps of the estate and was 5.8 miles long. The men's team came third the counters being Rob Pearse (14th), Jay Walker (20th), Tom Gillbanks (23rd), Ray Clark (29th), William Barr (30th), Matthew Goodwin (34th), Luke Hampshire (35th), Connor McArdle (44th), Matt Gillbanks (66th) and Tony Barbat (98th). This gave the team a total of 393 points and as the last two races of the season were cancelled due to the Corona Virus the team won the league by a margin of 39 points over Buckley. The ladies finished the day in fourth place and third place overall. Counters were Sallie Holt (7th), Rebecca Blacklock (20th), Elaine Opara (30th) and Anna Kenny (31st). The ladies won the veterans league and there were individual medals for Becky Blacklock third in the senior women, Tom Gillbanks second and Luke Hampshire third in the under 20 men, Aimee Bartley second and Katherine Andrews third V35 women, Rob Pearse second V45 men, John Armstrong second and Matt Gillbanks third V50 men, Ian Cannings first V60 men and Mary Rees second V65 women.
Liverpool & District XC Union
Race 1 - Sherdley Park - 12/10/2019 - Seniors
Wallasey AC finished fifth in the opening race of the Liverpool and District Cross Country Union League held at a sunny and warm Sherdley Park. Counting for the team were Ian Cannings (38th), Phil Dabner (40th, Colin Palmer (44th), Kevin Hall (54th), John Bassett (56th) and Helen Anne Stansfield (58th).
Race 2 - Sefton Park - 23/11/2019 - Seniors
The second race in the Liverpool and District Cross Country Union League was incorporated into the British Athletics Liverpool Cross Challenge series at Sefton Park. The recent wet weather meant that there was long patches of mud on the course. Counters for the men's team were Mike Green (43rd), Steve Brealey (51st), Matt B Wilson (62nd), Phil Dabner (71st), Tony Barbat (78th) and Kevin Hall (121st). The team finished in eleventh place on the day. The ladies took part in a separate race namely the Senior Women's Cross challenge with Becky Blacklock (102nd) and Helen Anne Stansfield (124th) the first two home of the twelve ladies who ran for the club.
Race 3 - Beacon Park - 07/12/2019 - Seniors
Wallasey AC had 7 men and 7 ladies at the final Liverpool & District race at Beacon Park. The course had the usual muddy sections and the team finished in sixth place. Counters were Rob Pearse (13th), Steve Brealey (24th), Phil Cuthbert (35th), Becky Blacklock (42nd), Chris Bowers (49th) and Simon Ward (54tth). The team finished fourth in the overall standings.
Cross Country Championships
Merseyside - Stadt Moers - 04/01/2020 - Seniors
Jay Walker led the Wallasey AC men's team home at the Merseyside Cross Country Championships at Stadt Moers finishing in 23rd place. Other counters for the team were Rob Pearse (31st), Steve Brealey (38th), Phil Dabner (60th), Phil Cuthbert (65th) and Chris Bowers (84th) leaving the team in eighth place.
Merseyside - Stadt Moers - 04/01/2020 - Under 17 Men
Wallasey AC Under 17 Men's team picked up bronze medals at the Merseyside Cross Country Championships at Stadt Moers. The team consisted of Luke Hamshire (8th), Finlay Austin (14th) and Sam Jackson (15th). Luke was selected as reserve for the county team.
Merseyside - Stadt Moers - 04/01/2020 - Under 20 Men
Alex Norton achieved fifth place at the Merseyside Cross Country Championships at Stadt Moers covering the 8km course in 39:03 and qualifying to represent Merseyside at the inter-counties as a result of his good run.
Merseyside - Stadt Moers - 04/01/2020 - Ladies
Wallasey AC Ladies team finished fourth at the Merseyside Cross Country Championships at Stadt Moers. The counters being Becky Blacklock (15th), Helen Anne Stansfield (28th), Katherine Andrews (37th) and Michelle Alty (40th). Becky was selected to represent Merseyside at tehe CAU Inter Counties Corss -Country Championships at Prestwold Hall on March 7th. Gold medals were won by Mary Rees V65+ and Julie Barbat V55-64.
Merseyside - Stadt Moers - 04/01/2020 - Under 15 Boys
The Under 15 Men's team from Wallasey AC finished fourth at the Merseyside Cross Country Championships at Stadt Moers. The team consisted of Leo Nilsson (8th), Aiden Hampson (14th) Greg Hill and Louie Hazelhurst(15th). None counter was Ben Sharp
Northern - Camp Hill Estate, Bedale - 25/01/2020 - Ladies
Wallasey AC ladies team finished 26th at the Northern Cross-Country Championships in Bedale. Counting were Becky Blacklock (91st), Kate Ryan (153rd), Helen-Anne Stansfield (189th) and Mary Rees (265th) Ladies captain Jan McArd who also ran said "So proud of these fabulous ladies who gave up their day to run in the Northern Cross Country Championships. Everyone had a fantastic run and all finished in one piece! Massive thanks to Anne, Bob, Jane and Neil for looking after us!"
National - Woolaton Park - 22/02/2020 - Senior Women
Four brave ladies battled against blustery wind, water, hills and mud and muddy hills at Wollaton Park in the National Cross Country Championships. The team finished in 71st place with counters being Becky Blacklock (248th), Mary Rees (638th), Michelle Alty (686th) and Julie Barbat (708th).
National - Woolaton Park - 22/02/2020 - Senior Men
Alex Yem was the sole men's representative at Wollaton Park for the National Cross Country Championships. Alex battled tough conditions to complete the 12km course in 01:12:55 (1477th).
Wirral Multi Terrain Series
Race 1 - Royden Park - 03/09/2019 - Seniors
The first multi terrain race of 2019 took place on a pleasant evening at Royden Park, the couse was a lap of the starter's field and two laps over and around Thursaston Common. Wallasey men finished second on the night with counters being Jay Walker (7th), a great run from Luke Hampshire (15th), Steve Brealey (25th), Liam Simon (36th) and Mark Carruthers (37th). The ladies finished fourth on the night with Anna Kenny (15th), Katherine Andrews (17th) and Elaine Opara (18th) counting.
Race 2 - Thurstaston - 10/09/2019 - Seniors
Proceedings moved to Thurstaston in the Wirral Country Park for the second multi terrain race of 2019. The course consisted of two loops of the beach and the Wirral Way. The ladies finished fourth with Katherine Andrews (11th), Anna Kenny (15th) and Elaine Opara (16th) counting. The men finished in fifth place on the night and counters were Rob Pearse (5th), Luke Hampshire (18th), Steve Brealey (23rd), Richard Evans (25th) and Alex Norton (38th).
Race 3 - Harrison Drive - 17/09/2019 - Seniors
Wallasey AC hosted the third multi terrain race at Harrison Drive, the course was out and back along the beach and around the trails at the Gun Site. The club turned out in force as both runners and officials with 33 men and 25 women finishing the race. The men finished second on the night and counters were Rob Pearse (5th), Greg Jones (12th), Liam Simon (17th), Jay Walker (18th) and Alex Norton (22nd). The ladies finished fourth with Becky Blacklock (11th), Jess McKinlay (14th) and Elaine Opara (21st) counting.
Race 4 - Arrowe Park - 24/09/2019 - Seniors
The final race of the multi terrain league took place at Arrowe Park, the course was two laps of the park starting by the swings and finishing by the pitch and putt course. The men finished third on the night and third overall. Counters were Rob Pearse (4th), Luke Hampshire (10th), Steve Brealey (17th), Jay Walker (22nd) and Jack Poland (41st), the men also won the first B team award. The ladies finished third on the night and fourth overall with Sallie Holt (11th), Helen Anne Stansfield (13th) and Elaine Opara (14th) counting, the ladies also won first B team. Individual medals were won by Heidi Slater third female under 20, Elaine Opara third female under 40, Michelle Alty third female over 50, Luke Hampshire second male under 20, Steve Brealey second male over 40, Rob Pearse first male over 45 and third male and Ian Cannings third male over 60.
UKA Cross Challenge
Liverpool Cross Challenge - Sefton Park - 23/11/2019 - Under 15 girls
Jenny Ryan competed in the UKA Liverpool Cross Challenge at Sefton Park finishing the 3km course in 14 minutes dead for 121st place.
Christmas Handicap
Christmas Handicap - Wallasey Shore - 22/12/2019 - Seniors
Toby Hampshire was first home and junior winner. Men's handicap winner was Derek McArdle and first lady home was Di McArdle. Fastest runners on the day with 14:03 was Greg Jones and for the ladies Aimee Bartley 17:27.
