Weekend Round-up 27/28th July 2013

RunSouthend.com's blogger George Elliott sets 400m PB

It was a good weekend for our very own blogger George Elliot as he set a new personal best over 400m whilst competing in the UK U17/U20 Youth Development League Southern Premier 2. The Eastwood Academy pupil set a blistering time of 51.77s over one lap, beating second place by almost 2 seconds. 

Another Record at Southend Parkrun!

Yet again, Shoebury's Gunners Park was the setting for another Southend Parkrun record, but unlike last week's attendance record, this time it was a course record that was being set as Southend AC's Adam Hickey set a new PB and Southend Parkrun record of 14:31 on Saturday morning. There was also another 50 personal bests set amongst the 157 runners that completed the 5km course in near perfect conditions, just a little bit cooler than previous Parkruns with barely any breeze along the sea wall.

The first 3 male finishers were:

1st: 14:31 Adam Hickey (Southend Athletics Club)
2nd: 18:39 Sean McFarlane (Unattached)
3rd: 18:49 Barry Hornsey (Unattached)

The first 3 female finishers were:

1st: 24:09 Hannah Haves (Unattached)
2nd: 24:24 Joanne Colby (Essex Ladies Running Club)
3rd: 24:27 Nicki Benham (Rochford Running Club)

Well done to everyone that took part, latest results can be viewed here

Adam Hickey on his way to a new course record

Kirste 5 Memorial Race

Sunday morning saw the second Kirste 5 mile Memorial Race start from Grove Wood Primary School in glorious sunny conditions, organised by Benfleet Running Club with 330 runners taking part. Overall winner and first male was Billericay Strider's Crispian Bloomfield in 28:49 while Southend AC's Kerry Holland took the first female title in 34:10.

The top three male finishers were:

1st: 28:49 Crispian Bloomfield (Billericay Striders)
2nd: 30:23 Mike Briggs (Benfleet RC)
3rd: Christian Gray (Pink Peeps)

The top three female finishers were:

1st: 34:10 Kerry Holland (Southend AC)
2nd: 35:41 Anne Jenkinson (Southend AC)
3rd: 36:08 Sarah Jeffery (Southend AC)

Winners Kerry Holland & Crispian Bloomfield 
Image courtesy of www.benfleetrunningclub.co.uk

Kirste was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent six bouts of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She passed away on February 9th 2012 at the age of just 42 after raising more than £50,000 for breast cancer charities by running 23 marathons while fighting the disease. She joined Benfleet Running Club in 2001 and throughout her treatment she never stopped going to the club and would train most days.

All profits from the race will be donated equally between Macmillan Cancer Support and Bosom Pals, and if you wish to donate then you can do by following this link: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/TheKirste5 

Well done to everyone that took part, provisional results can be viewed here

Kirste Bowman

Local star George Elliot to Blog for RunSouthend.com!

RunSouthend.com are pleased to announce that local track star George Elliot has joined Run Southend as one of our athlete bloggers, letting us know how his training and racing is going.

Fresh from his victory in the BMC Peter Coe mile on Sunday, George has already written his first blog letting us know what he's been up to so far this season!

My Track And Field Season - so far

I started my season off being coached by Martin Brown and I have found training has been very different to what i've been used to. I found it very hard to adjust for a while as my fist race went terrible, this was a 3k, even though i'm not the biggest lover of them I found it very hard to do and nearly ran 10min which was very scary as I know that i'm much faster than that. The training that i've been doing this year has been more speed based  which involved some really bad lactic sessions, which would consist of  300m x400m x300m flat out but with a big rest of 7 mins in between efforts but which does still get to you. I clocked 38sec, 54 sec, and 39sec. I've completed similar sessions to this but what I haven't been doing too much of this year is the longer stuff like the 1k reps although I always do my long run every weekend to run a hard weeks of training out of my legs.Trying to adjust to this kind of training has been hard work but I think i'm getting there as i'm able to push myself now and starting to see and feel progression.

I've still done a lot of things this year like I broke my 800m pb ( 1:56.9) and that time was able to get me to English School but I was gutted when I was knocked out of the semi final and didnt make the final as I knew I had the ablility to get there but you'd say we win some we lose some. On a positive note, I think that race brought out the real me and I came back to training, running harder and faster  and more determined than I have been before. 

A new race came up which I thought that i might have a pop at which I knew was going to be a hard race to do but leading up to that race i'd been training really well and been doing longer reps, for example 600m with a 200m jog back which was hard i found after doing all this speed work. I won the Peter Coe mile in the end in 4:23 which felt amazing as I wasn't ready for that and didn't think that i'd win. I now feel like i'm starting to hit a bit of form and hopefully be able the finish the season off with new pbs. I've got a 400m race up in tonbridge this sunday so hopefully I will get a pb then.

George

Weekend Round-up 20/21 July 2013

Record attendance at Southend Parkrun

Fresh from setting their last attendance record, Southend's Parkrun team were celebrating yet again on Saturday as 206 runners completed their 5km course to set a new record. The latest Parkrun was a pacing event which saw volunteer pacers running at a set pace to bring them in at certain times, helping those to judge their runs and hopefully setting a personal best. This worked extremely well and a whopping 82 PBs were set as a result!

The top three male finishers were:

1st: 14:53 Adam Hickey (Southend AC)
2nd: 16:34 Ben Whitworth (Woodford Green AC)
3rd: 17:14 Ian Anthony (Havering Mayesbrook AC)

The top three female finishers were:

1st: 19:46 Sarah Jeffery (Southend AC)

2nd: 21:47 Jordan Lacey (Southend AC)
3rd: 21:54 Roisin Browne (Unattached)

To view the Southend Parkrun's latest results, click here

Volunteer Pace Makers at Southend Parkrun

Local girl Hayley McLean wins Gold at European Junior Champs

Chelmsford AC's Hayley McLean clinched gold in the 400m hurdles event at the European Junior Athletics Championships in Rieti, Italy on Sunday. Not only did she run a personal best of 57.26 but her time also ranks her 5th so far this year in the country and 3rd on the all-time U20 Junior rankings, behind London 2012 Olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton and Meghan Beesley.

McLean said "You work all season to come here and to get a gold medal is kind of dream."

Full results from the European Junior Championships can be found here

European Junior Champion Hayley McLean

George Elliot wins the Peter Coe Mile at Oxford BMC 

Saturday saw the latest round of the British Milers Club Grand Prix meets take place at Iffley Road, Oxford, the venue where Roger Bannister broke the four minute mile barrier for the first time.

George Elliot ran a very good tactical race in the prestigious Peter Coe mile to take the victory in 4:23.41.

Full results from the Oxford BMC can be found here

Ryan Prout second in inaugural National Lottery Anniversary Run

Local athlete Ryan Prout (Chelmsford AC) finished an impressive second place out of over 15000 runners that took part in the first National Lottery Anniversary Run held in the Olympic Park on Sunday. 

Prout covered the 5mile run around the Olympic Park in 26:05 which included finishing in the Olympic stadium in front of thousands of screaming supporters!

Full results from Sunday's run can be found here

Canvey's Jessica Judd named in GB & NI World Champs Team

This year's track sensation Jessica Judd has today been named in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Athletics Championships in Moscow next month.

As a result of her selection, the 18 year old has withdrawn from this weekend's European Junior Athletics Championships to focus all her attention on the World Championships.

Weekend Round-up 13/14th July

Southend Parkrun

Saturday morning saw the Southend Parkrun's second highest ever turnout with a total of 177 runners completing the 5km route around Shoebury's Gunners Park, including 25 first timers. 

A fantastic 58 personal bests were set in near perfect conditions, with the first male and finishers, Lee Baynton and Rebecca Gill, both members of local East Essex Triathlon Club.

The top three male finishers on the day were:

1st: 18:01 Lee Baynton (East Essex Triathlon Club)
2nd: 18:12 Wayne Russell (Pitsea RC)
3rd: 18:33 Sean McFarlane (Unattached)

The top three female finishers on the day were:

1st: 22:13 Rebecca Gill (East Essex Triathlon Club)
2nd: Rachel Flannigan (Pitsea RC)
3rd: Veronique Dorothy (Unattached)

Well done to everyone that took part, the latest Southend Parkrun results can be viewed here

Felsted 10k (Essex 10k Championship)

Sunday morning saw over 300 runners compete in the Felsted 10k which doubled as the Essex 10k road championship race.

The top three male runners were:

1st:  33:16 Ryan Prout (Thrift Green/Chelmsford)
2nd: 33:28 Darren Southcott (Woodford Green)
3rd: Mark Newton (Springfield)

The top three female runners were:

1st: 37:04 June Allen (Springfield)
2nd: 38:35 Elizabeth Davies (Unattached)
3rd: 39:37 Nikki Brockbank (Springfield)

Full results can be found here

Start of the Felsted 10k 2013 - image courtesy of www.grangefarmtrotters.co.uk

Bolt sets World Leading 200m time in Paris Diamond League

 The Paris Diamond League on Saturday provided the fastest 200m in the year so far as Usain Bolt took the victory in the last event of the night in front of 50,000 strong crowd. Watch the race unfold below as Bolt take the win in 19.73s :

Weekend Round-up 6th/7th July 2013

Local Athletes perform well at English Schools Championships

There were a host of outstanding performances at this year's English Schools Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Handing out some of the medals was the London Olympics 2012 High Jump medallist Robbie Grabarz.

Gold medallists:

Senior Girls
Hayley McLean - 400m Hurdles - 57.81s CBP
Sophie Riches - 1500m - 4:24.69
Alice Perkins - 3000m - 9:39.19

Senior Boys
Khai Riley-Laborde - 110m Hurdles - 13.90s

Inter Girls
Rachel Forder - Discus - 39m62

Inter Boys
Archie Leeming - Shot - 14m58
Thomas Guy - Discus - 48m01

Silver medallists:

Senior Girls
Kaylee Dodd - 800m - 2:07.02
Poppy Lake - High Jump - 1m75

Senior Boys
Thomas Head - Hammer - 62m46
4 x 100m relay team - 42.14s

Inter Girls
Isobel Ives - 800m - 2:07.43
Laura Armorgie - High Jump - 1m74

Inter Boys
Daniel Rowden - 800m - 1m53.75

Junior Girls
Modupe Shokunbi - 100m - 12.43s

Bronze medallists:

Senior Boys
Joseph Dewar - Long Jump - 7m10
Liam Harwood - Pole Vault - 4m60

Junior Girls
Khai Mhanga - 800m - 2:12.32

Junior Boys
James Pearson - Shot - 14m68

Full results from the English Schools Athletics Championships can be viewed here

Photos:

Senior Girls High Jump Silver medallist Poppy Lake

Senior Girls 800m Silver medallist Kaylee Dodd

Southend AC Mens Team compete in Windsor

The latest round of the British Athletics League saw the Southend Athletics Club team travel to Windsor on Saturday. After a superb 6 promotions in 13 years, the mens team have worked up to their highest position in the club's history and currently compete in Division 1 amongst the very best athletics team in the country.

The team performed well across all events with some great stand-out performances earning valuable points for Southend. The 800m saw the club's two fastest 800m runners who have both broken the club's 800m record this season, Tom Frith and Dave Smale, tackle the A and B string races with fantastic results. Tom finished 4th in 1:53.26 in the A and Dave earnt silver in the B with a fast finish bringing him home in 1:54.34.

In the 1500m, Southend's Adam Hickey had a battle on his hands for first place over the last 200m with Liverpool's Jonathan Mellor which saw Adam take the win in a PB and Southend Club Record of 3:47.54. Tom Frith ran well in the B string to claim silver in 3:59.92. The 5000m saw a big PB for David Gibbon in the A to finish 5th in 15:16.91 and James Tydeman ran well in the B to finish 7th in 16:41.45. The 3000m steeplechase saw Southend's Mark Waine ran a season's best of 10:49.1 for 7th place in the A string whilst Graham Easty who had previously ran in the 400m hurdles earlier in the day (64.21s for 7th in the B) showed his commitment to the team, picking up valuable points in finishing 5th in the B string.

In the sprints Lee Dollard ran well in the 100m B string, clocking 11.29s for 5th place whilst unfortunately Harry McQueen was disqualified in the A string for apparently twitching in his blocks. Harry's bad luck continued in his 200m later in the day as he pulled his hamstring in the A race and was unable to finish. Lee Dollar ran strongly again in the B string, finishing 4th in 22.26s. The 400m A race saw the first 6 runners dip under 50 seconds with Southend AC's club record holder Jake King running 48.67s. The B string saw a fast run from Matthew Harrison, finishing 5th in 50.76s. In the 400m Hurdles Southend's Jack Eddie ran 58.39s for 6th in the A string whilst Graham Easty ran 64.21 for 7th place in the B string. In the 100m Hurdles Southend's Greg Goodrem finished 8th in 16.3s in the A string whilst Jack Eddie ran 17.19s for 7th in the B string.

On the field Sam Grant threw 38m60 for 8th place in the A string hammer whilst in the B string Brett Foster threw 26m27 for 7th. In the long jump A string Kevin Brown jumped 6m44 for 6th and in the B string Greg Goodrem jumped 5m48 for 8th in the B string.

Full results for Southend's match can be viewed here

Dave Smale in action in the 800m B race

Adam Hickey on his way to victory in the 1500m 

37 First Timers take part in Southend Parkrun

Saturday morning saw the weekly Southend Parkrun take place at Gunners Park, Shoeburyness and this week saw 37 newbies take part. A total of 169 runners took part with 54 personal bests being set on the day!

The top three male finishers on the day were:

1st: 17:09 Neil Spicer (Leigh On Sea Striders)
2nd: 17:23 David Johnson (Thurrock Harriers)
3rd: 17:34 Stuart Smith (Cosmic Hillbashers)

The top three female finishers on the day were:

1st: 22:32 Rosemarie Jane Fuller (Pitsea RC)
2nd: 23:24 Marita Neville (Unattached)
3rd: 23:27 Louise Young (Unattached)

Well done to everyone that took part, the latest Southend Parkrun results can be viewed here

Photo courtesy of Southend Parkrun

Weekend Round-up 29th/30th June 2013

Jess Judd-ges finish to perfection to win Diamond League in new PB!

Canvey's young athletics star Jessica Judd ran a superb tactical race to take the victory in the 800m in a Personal Best and World Qualifying A standard of 1:59.85. Always in contention, Judd powered home down the last 100m to take the win, continuing the fine form she has been showing this season and booking her place in the Great Britain squad for the World Athletics Championships in Moscow in August. You can see Jessica's last 100m of her 800m win on the BBC Sport website here

Other local athletes that competed at the Diamond League in Birmingham included Gianni Frankis (Newham & Essex Beagles) who ran well in the heats of the 110m Hurdles to record 13.64s and finish 6th in his heat. James Shane (Newham & Essex Beagles) unfortunately pulled out of the 1500m just 500m into the race.

Full results from the Birmingham Diamond League can be viewed here

McLean tops UK Junior Rankings with PB in Germany

Hayley McLean has shot to top of the UK Junior 400m hurdles rankings with a fantastic win in Bauhaus, Germany in a personal best of 57.38s which has also put her top Junior in Europe. The Stanford-Le-Hope athlete took almost half a second off her previous best set in Belgium in May.

Local schools perform well at English Schools Cup Final

Southend was well-represented at the English Schools Cup Final competition held at Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday as many of our local young athletes performed extremely well, with all but one overall title going to one of our schools.

In the Junior Boys competition Southend High School for Boys were 2nd with Westcliff High School for Boys 7th. In the Inter Boys final, Rayleigh's FitzWimarc School competed well as a team to take the  overall crown with Southend High School for Boys 2nd.

On the girls side of the competition, three Essex schools took the top three postitions in the Junior Girls event with The FitzWymarc School 1st, Southend High School for Girls 2nd and The Coopers School 3rd. Southend High School for Girls were able to go one better in the Inter Girls event to take the overall crown, ahead of The King John School in 3rd, The Coopers School in 4th and The Brentwood School in 6th.

Overall results from the championships can be viewed here

Record attendance at Southend Parkrun

A total of 205 runners completed the popular Southend Parkrun last weekend with a record 55 first timers and a fantastic 69 personal bests being set!

The top three male finishers on the day were:

1st: 17:12 Ian Anthony (Havering Mayesbrook AC)
2nd: 17:57 Adam Jordan (Southend AC)
3rd: 18:32 David Walpole (Unattached)

The top three female finishers on the day were:

1st: 20:32 Jordan Lacey (Southend AC)
2nd: 21:34 Felicity Galbally (Basildon AC)
3rd: 21:49 Hollie Boyd (Leigh On Sea Striders)

Well done to everyone that took part on Saturday, the latest Southend Parkrun results can be viewed here

Over 500 runners take park in Horndon 10k

Organisers Sunday's Horndon on the Hill 10k were very lucky with the weather as a total of 506 runners completed their annual 10k.

The top three male and female placings were as follows:

Male:
1st: 33:04 Alexander Short (Chelmsford AC)
2nd: 33:34 Tom Heslop (Victoria Park Harriers)
3rd: 33:59 Anthony Jackson (Unattached)

Female:
1st: 42:36 Elizabeth Davies (Unattached)
2nd: 42:36 Emma Deary (Bishops Stortford)
3rd: 43:49 Samantha Monk ( Dagenham 88 Runners)

Provisional results can be viewed here

Local athletes compete at Watford BMC Grand Prix

A host of local athletes made the journey to Watford Athletics Stadium for the British Milers Club Grand Prix Sunday afternoon. There were several athletes representing Southend Athletics Club including Adam Hickey (14:08 - 5000m), David Smale (1:58 - 800m), David Gibbon (3:55.31 - 1500m), Tom Frith (3:57.14 -1500m), Paul Whittaker (14:41.50 - 5000m), as well as other local athletes from Basildon (James Tydeman 1:58.91 - 800m and Gemma Kersey - 4:20.11 - 1500m), Chelmsford (Mark Woodley 3:51.54 - 1500m and Sophie Riches 4:36.76 - 1500m).

Full results from the BMC Watford Grand Prix can be viewed here

Congratulations to everyone who got out and ran last weekend, wherever you were!

The RunSouthend team