Record breakers at St Mary's

8:30am Thursday 17th July 2008

Menston St Mary's RC School's annual sports day returned to the John Charles Stadium (South Leeds) for the 2008 event.

The whole of Years 7, 8 and 9 were transported to the stadium with over 60 members of staff. They took part in inter-form track and field athletics events throughout the day.

After a tremendous day of endeavour and real quality in all disciplines, the results achieved showed 11 school records had been broken!

The Year 7 boys' high jump record was set at 1.35 metres by Jordan Grime. Lizzie Banks smashed the Year 7 200 metres record set in 2003 (30.17 seconds) by recording a superb time of 28.7 seconds.

Jordan Hendrie took the Year 7 200 metres record from his brother, Luke, with a time of 27.6 seconds.

Niall Heaton ran a time of 02:42 in the Year 7 800m.

Underlining the talent in the current Year 7, the Boys (7 Clitherow) and Girls (7 More) 4 x 100m relay teams set new school records; 58.6 seconds and 60 seconds respectively.

In Year 8 Andrew Cockroft is emerging as a multi-talented athlete setting new records in the 200 metres (26.5 seconds) and high jump (1.50 metres).

Beth Pounder, also in Year 8, broke the high jump record (1.30 metres - 1995) to set a new standard of 1.34 metres Two Year 9 athletes produced spectacular finishes in front of the packed stand to set new records.

Daniel Harrison produced an 800 metres victory timed at 2 minutes 14 seconds, five seconds quicker than the old record (2:19.03) set in 1989!

Luke Hendrie, as if to make up for younger brother Jordan taking his Year 7 200m record earlier, clocked a superb 24.5 seconds for the Year 9 200 metres; a full second quicker than the old record.

Skyrac Fellrunners Fell runners don't really worry about prizes. The outright winner of a fell race may get a bottle of wine and the third V60 might win the same bottle of wine.

Most fell race organisers are not trying to make a profit, how could they with only 50 people turning up at £2 an entry? So the entry money is often all returned as prizes.

The logical outcome of this approach is that the organiser takes the entry money and then gives all finishers a prize to the value of their entry fee.

So everyone who ran in Brett Weeden's Stirton Fell Race last week received a bottle of very good beer, like Shofferhofer Hefeweizen, and a chocolate bar and went away happy: not least because in the pouring rain no-one really wanted to hang around for a prizegiving ceremony.

The race which climbs Sharp Haw, near Skipton, twice was won by Owen Beilby (Wharfedale) in 38.23 and First Lady was Holly Williams (K&C) in 45.44 from 97 finishers.

For Skyrac Martin Farrar was 40th in 46.55 immediately followed by Graham Breeze in 47.44.

Of course organisers could just do away with any entry fee and have no prizes at all but then runners would have to buy their own beer, which is nothing like as much fun as winning it!

Another race offering value for money is the Holme Moss Race. It was tough when it was 16 miles and 4000 feet of climb but it is now an enhanced 17.5 miles with 4500 feet of climb.

However for £4.50 entrants received a free T-shirt, a huge post-race sandwich and cake and the relief that only comes when several hours of suffering finally stop.

And they get to run up to the Holme Moss TV Mast twice, in case they do not notice it the first time!

Race winner was Chris Burchell (Leeds City) in 2.37.27 and first lady was Helen Berry (Holmfirth) in 3.07.27.

For Skyrac Robert Pritchard was 50th in 3.27.09, Graham Breeze 66th in 3.41.30 and Malcolm Coles 86th in 3.51.37. Robert was second V50 and chose a heart monitor as his prize.

This Sunday over 20 young athletes who specialise in track and field athletics will be competing in the National Young Athletes League at Halifax.

Any Skyrac athletes who require transportation to this meeting should contact the Skyrac coaches on training nights.

Will Skyrac athletes who cannot compete during August in team competitions for the club because of holiday commitments can you please notify club officials as soon as possible.

Skyrac Athletic club hold sustained road runs for all age groups and abilities to cover all fitness levels on Tuesdays and Thursdays meeting at 7.20pm in the clubhouse at Nunroyd Park, Yeadon.

For further information about joining one of Yorkshire's oldest and friendliest athletic clubs please view skyrac.org.uk or telephone 01943 466320.

Orienteering The Airienteers Summer Park League, which has been contested up and down the Aire Valley since April, has just been completed with the final two events being held at Hirst Wood, near Saltaire, and at Baildon Moor The 2.6km sprint event at Hirst Wood was won by Michael Cranny in 24.00 from newcomer Gyorgi Hetenyi in second position in 26.56.

Ian Marshall, Rolf Crook, and Howard Sawyer occupied the next three places, whilst Joyce Marshall was first woman home in 34.10.

The final event was held in torrential rain on Baildon Moor where a good field contested the well-planned 3.7km sprint race.

Steve Watkins was a clear winner in 24.09 with Welsh international David Alcock second in 28.43.

The next four places (all within a minute of one another) were Joe Woodley (also first junior runner), Bruce Woodley, Alistair Tinto, and Frank Kew. Claire Towler was the first woman home in 12th place in 36.37.

The medium course was won by Sophie Brown in 26.48 from Bernard Foster, whilst the short course was won by Mark Cade in 26.19 from junior runner, Scott Marshall, in 27.55.

The final standings in the Aire Summer Park League (five best runs to count) had Steve Watkins as the overall winner with 500 points, David Alcock second with 497 and Ian Marshall third with 485. Joe Woodley (M12) continues his promising development by being the highest placed junior runner in the league with 476 points. For those new to orienteering, details of future events and training opportunities at this friendly club can be found at aire.org.uk.

New 10K Trail Race Every cloud has a silver lining and the snow last Easter has led to the formation of a new local trail race.

Skyrac's Easter Sunday 2008 Guiseley Gallop was re-routed on the morning of the race because the towpaths and footpaths on the normal race route were thick with snow.

The race was revised to include two laps of Esholt Woods and this was so well received by runners that Skyrac AC has decided to establish a new 10K trail race based on this route.

Starting arrangements will be similar to the Guiseley Gallop but with registration at the Nunroyd Park Clubhouse.

The race will start at 7.15pm on Wednesday, August 20. Entry is £4 and there will be the usual generous Skyrac prize list.Further details can be obtained from skyrac.org.uk or via Bob Pritchard on 01943 879537.

EDITOR'S CHOICE