Berry and Clague regain crowns at Croxteth Park

May 1 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

ROB BERRY (SouthportWaterloo) and Jenny Clague (Liverpool Harriers) took the honours at the Croxteth Park 10k organised by LPS, Berry regaining the crown he last held in 2001 and Clague the one she wore in 2004.

Berry defeated Paul Sankey (Liverpool Running Club) by 65 seconds in 32.25, Liverpool’s Peter Green taking third.

Clague got the better of defending champion, Gemma Connolly (St Helens-Sutton) who was going for a third successive victory, recording 37.43 to Connolly’s 38.24, Kirsty Longley (LPS) third two minues later.

The veterans’ prizes went to Liverpool’s Joey Parkinson (040), Maurice Collins (LRC – 045), Graeme Cairnes (LPS – 050) while Sue Cooper (SouthportWaterloo) defeated former Olympian Sue Crehan (Sale) for the over-50s women’s prize.

Clague’s attendance was made easier by Liverpool’s decision not to enter the National Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield the previous day. Liverpool’s senior men did enter but only John McCole and Rob Dewhirst, who were in 19th place at the end of two laps, took part.

The National Junior League swung into action with a tight match at Ellesmere Port between local teams LPS, St Helens-Sutton, Wirral and SouthportWaterloo who finished in that order behind the composite North Wales and Cheshire Tigers’ teams.

David Forrester (St Helens-Sutton) took the Athlete of the Match award by winning the 3000m in 8.25, the fastest outdoor time by an under-20, while Lauren’s Hunt’s 36.67m discus won her the women’s medal.

In addition to Forrester, there were club records in the high jump and pole vault for Josie Barrow, Matthew Jackson in the steeplechase and Amy Rose Talbot over 3,000m. Thaddeus Anim-Somuah (100m) and Danny Griffiths (3,000m) also collected winning points.

James Williams (Wirral) won the B 100m, club-mates Tom Madden and Rory Lott taking maximum points in the 800m. Fay Atkins (LPS) won the long jump with 5.04 while there was a hammer double for Rachel Hutchinson and Joanne Brearly. Other winners included the SouthportWaterloo pairing of Stephanie James (800) and Rhea Ellis (1500).

At Gateshead, Liverpool Harriers were third behind Sale and Edinburgh. Jonathan Croasdale (400H), Lawrence Walker (Steeplechase), Andrew Allen (Hammer) and the pole vault pairing of Matthew Wright and Chris Roose all scored maximum points.

This weekend sees the opening round of the Northern Senior League.

LPS, SouthportWaterloo and West Cheshire meet Lancaster, Preston and Seaton at Ellesmere Port in Division Two West.

In Division Two Central at Wigan the host club compete against St Helens-Sutton, Holmfirth, Spenborough, Blackpool and East Cheshire.

Liverpool travel to Woodbank Park to meet Stockport, Manx, Leigh, Trafford and Wirral while Warrington are in Division Four against a combined Western/Northern Manx team, Manchester, Macclesfield and Altrincham.

On Sunday it is the turn of the Young Athletes League with Liverpool travelling to Blackburn, LPS hosting at Wavertree while SouthportWaterloo and Wirral travel up the coast to Blackpool. Altrincham entertain Warrington in division one while Deeside act as host for St Helens-Sutton at Connah’s Quay.