Sainsbury’s UK School Games
Jacob Roberts currently 2nd in the National Rankings has had a great season which has been topped off with a new PB by over a metre and a half of 68.43m when winning the Silver Medal at the UK School Games held at Loughborough over the weekend.
After the weekend Jacob reflected on his Silver Medal and his victory at the Southport meeting the following day saying “I competed at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games at Loughborough last Saturday, went down to the event on a coach with the north west team which I was part of. There were teams from all over the United Kingdom, competing in loads of events not just athletics, over four days. I enjoyed the whole experience from competing to socialising with other athletes. The day of the completion was a rainy day, conditions were not that good and my hammer competition was the first event on. I felt relaxed and began to throw and my first throw was a no throw, but gained good consistent throws with the next five around my old PB of 66 meters pretty happy with them. On my last throw I gained a new PB of 68:43 meters. I was quite happy it was a distance that I had been working on most of the season ( European UK qualifying distance U18) that throw put me ahead of the current leader for the second time in the competition, unfortunately he throw 50 centimetres further on his last throw .
But I was more than pleased with my performance and distance which gave me a Silver medal and a new massive PB, which keeps me a close second in national rankings (a meter behind the no 1), 15th in the under 17 All Time UK rankings and 24th in European under 18 Rankings. After Friday at Loughborough I was buzzing, but reality has to kick in to the next comp on Saturday at Southport Open and did not expect to do well after such a good time at Loughborough. Weather again was bad but I managed to throw over my previous PB of 66 meters three times and throw one over 66 one over 67 and again over 68 a few centimetres just short of my new PB. To say I was happy is an understatement. To say I am happy is not enough, I cannot thank all the support I have received from the Harriers, Anne Marie who helped with little niggles ( healing hands), people who are involved in the throws section , Sophie’s inspiration and tips throughout the year and especially a big thank you to Mick Hitchon my coach who has helped me over the last couple of years and expressed that consistency is the key, looking forward to the rest of the season and comps, gunning for bigger and better things to come in the future”.
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UKFast City of Salford 10k
Two thousand six hundred and eighty two runners completed this race and among them was Blackburn Harrier Bryan Searby and what a good race he had finishing 183rd overall in a time of 43.02 which was a new PB by nearly a minute and a half. Good reward for all the hard work that Bryan has put in through his training.
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Southport Waterloo Open
Charlotte Williams like Jacob is currently standing at 2nd spot in the National Rankings and she too has had a fantastic season. Still chasing longer distances and new PB’s Charlie went out in pretty horrible conditions at the Southport Open and in winning the Hammer again was only 40cm off her best throw of the year! Afterwards, once she had dried off, she told the Club“Today I got 55.41 meters in terrible throwing conditions because it was windy and pouring down withrain. But besides that I felt on form today and threw good and if the weather was a bit better maybe further. I’ve still got a few open meetings before winter training so hoping for good weather there”.
After taking the Silver Medal at the UK School Games on Saturday at Loughborough, Jacob Roberts was in action again at Southport the day after winning with another 68m plus throw (68.36m).
Also out at Southport were U13 Izzy Thompson, Kyle Taylor-Pomfret, U15 Cameron Harris, U11 Dexta Thompson, U15 Liberty Thompson and U13 Charlotte Corrigan. Whilst conditions like these are never good for athletes producing their very best, it does say something about the mental strength and commitment of these youngsters to get stuck in when the conditions are not in their favour. So well done to all of them.
U13 Izzy earned two 2nd places with a throw of 20.41m in the Javelin and 7.93m in the Shot Putt.
Kyle (U13) got gold in hammer, bronze in the 1 mile and 5th in javelin in what he described as “awful conditions it was so cold and wet!” Among his events were new PB’s in the one mile finishing 6th in 6.06.3 which was 21 seconds better than his previous best. He set a new PB in the Hammer winning the event with a throw of 16.51m, nearly a metre and half better and finished his day off with a 5th placed throw of 19.25 in the Javelin.
U15 Cameron Harris contested the Javelin to place 3rd with a throw of 25.86m and in the Vortex event, Dexta Thompson placed 7th with 19.81m before going onto earn 2nd place in the 600m in a time of 1.55.3. Sister and U15 Liberty Thompson took 5th place in the 75m Hurdles in a time of 15.8 whilst U13 Charlotte Corrigan came 2nd in the 1200m in 4.22.1 and it could not have been pleasant at all to be running in the wind and rain.
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Ben Nevis – Saturday 3rd September
An amazing four hundred and seventy nine runners finished this years Ben Nevis Race in very warm conditions and among them, two Blackburn Harriers – Helen Leigh and John Orrell. The Race was won by Finlay Wild in a time of 1.28.45 with local lad Sam Tosh (Rossendale) taking 3rd place in 1.34.29.
Helen finished in 165th position overall and 11th Woman in the Race which was good because as she says, she went the wrong way a ‘small bit’ commenting “After a frustrating year of niggles and injuries I was pleased to complete the Ben Nevis race in 2.16 and come away in one piece. It was ridiculously hot even though it was cloudy so it was really tough. The route changed a little this year and I went wrong for a small bit so even happier with my time considering I decided to make it even longer! Really hoping to make the startline of the Glencoe Skyline in two weeks and complete this brutal race!”
John finished in 465th place with a time of 3hr 22.47 and behind the Race and time lies a story of ambition which John has been chasing which is now complete, telling the Club that it had been “8 months of planning and preparation and a 600 mile round trip. Not sure it was worth it for a wooden spoon! It was a great race, run in perfect conditions thanks to a minor weather miracle, timed perfect for the race. I got to the top in good shape in 1.53.55 and still hoped to break 3 hours. My target of 2.56 went out the window though, after the scree decent trashed my legs and I took a few stumbles down the Red Burn through cramp. Trotted over the finish line glad still to be in one piece. 3 Peaks, 3 years, 3 races, Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis. Job done!” And we would add to that John – WELL DONE!!
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