Liverpool XC Challenge 28/11

A small group of older junior athletes travelled the 270 miles to Liverpool on 28/11, for the Liverpool XC Challenge and performed well against some very high quality field.

Melissa Courtney and Abigail Jones ran in the combined U17 and U20 race. Melissa battled well to stay with the leading group over the 4.4K and finished strongly in 15th position (4th U17) in 15.48

Abigail Jones continues to progress in only her 2nd season of top ranked cross country, finishing 104th (49th U17) in the joint race.

Adam Sloan continued his return to full fitness with a solid 21st position in 18.28 on what was turning into a quagmire of a course.

2nd claim Poole AC member Benadict Westhenry was just pipped on the line in the U15b race and had to settle for 3rd position that still leaves him in a good position to take the McCain U15 series title for the 2009/10 season.

Elisabeth Hood & Melissa Courtney

Crowned British Milers Club Champions for 2009

Poole AC's Juniors returned from Clifton Down with 2 of their numbers being crowned British Milers Club Champions for 2009, as Elisabeth Hood and Melissa Courtney dominating their age groups on the fast lapped course above the city of Bristol.

Elisabeth seemed to thrive from the enforced rest due to a recent knee injury and raced off on the 2K course followed on her heels by Emma Butterworth. Elisabeth sustained the pace to finish in 7.22 with Emma, who is in hard training, having to settle for 4th in 7.42. The fast improving Rebecca Warrington finished very strongly in 11th in 8.12, behind Poole Runners Alexandra Phillips (2nd claim member of Poole AC).

The Poole Girls also had the added delight of winning the BMC XC Team award for U13's.

The Under 15 girls had their race combined with the U17 Women and Danni Burry continued her progress in this age group with a 6th place finish over the 3K course in 12.29. Melissa Courtney ran a very high tempo race with fellow Schools XC International Amber Watson keeping close order over he first half of the event, before Milly opened up a 10 sec gap to win in 10.46.

In a high quality Under 17 men's field (won by Tom Curr), Adam Sloan returning from shin soreness started steadily, but improved on each lap before finishing a close 4th in 9.57. Sam Ham, embarking on his first event of the season finished 17th in 12.15.

UK Challenge at Gateshead 14/11

Abigail Jones' on a very tough muddy and hilly course finished a fine 13th in the U17W event in a time of 21.42, against a high quality field

Poole Ac Juniors did the club proud this weekend with
Several making their debut over the Rushmoor course.

Our under 13 girl’s team of Emma Butterworth, Rebecca Warrington and Elisabeth Hood finished an impressive 11th team with Emma leading off and recording a time just outside the top 20. Rebecca, for which this was her first race over 800M showed her potential with a fine 9.22 for leg 2 before handing over to World Biathle bronze medalist Elisabeth who overtook 6 athletes and brought the team home.

Under15 girls Grace Howie just returned to training recorded the 12th fastest leg. Danni Burry making her debut kept the team in 8th and handed over to Shelby Haysom who battled hard with the group around her but could not quite draw the team up the finish list.

Our Under 17 men finished a fine 20th. Richard Horton, returning to running after a successful summer cycling came through the field to hand over 7th, finishing with the 17th fastest leg, Alex Sampson had another solid run on second leg recording a significantly faster time than in 2008, he handed over to Mylo Ofie Kwatia, the 400M runners fitness showed through and he ran excellently to hand over in 29th. Adam Sloan fought through a bout of illness midweek and ran excellently to bring the team home.

The Under 17 girls put the icing on the cake or Poole AC. Africa Mason led off and on a tough leg held handed over a close 13th. Abi Jones who was struggling with a cold still ran well and handed over in 12th, before Milly Courtney flew around the 3K course to finish with the fastest time of the day with 9.57 to bring home the club in 3rd position, just running out of road as she closed on Bedford and County.

Adam Carpenter and Melissa Courtney put in fantastic performances

Adam Carpenter competed for England Athletics for the Home International Decathlon 8/9 September and wore his countries vest with honours as he finished 3rd U17 with a score of 6041 to help England B win the event. Adam's several PB's included a monster 4.40M Pole Vault which takes him to No 3 in the UK this season.

Melissa ran a brilliant race to win the AAA 1500M to become the U17 women champion in a time of 4:32.90 on the weekend 8/9 August and then followed this by taking the UK Schools Games 800M on the 7th September in a time of 2.10.93, beating some very high quality opposition in a tactically executed run.

ESAA South-West Combined Events Championships 27th/ 28th June 2009
Congratulations to our Athletes who took part in the schools multi events at Exeter.

A fine performance by all who took part. New Club Records being set in the Octtathlon by Alex Lee (U17M) and in doing so broke the 400m record and Gaby Rowsell setting a record in the 200m (U17W)

An extra well done to William Evans, Alex Lee and Gaby Rowsell who have qualified for the English Schools Championships.

Junior Boys Pentathlon
William Evans 3rd 2387

Intermediate Boys Octathlon
Alex Lee 3rd 4599 (New Octathlon Club Record, also set a club record in the 400m)
Anthony Fitch 7th 3767
James Wright 15th 3210

Intermediate Girls Heptathlon
Gaby Rowsell 2nd 4083pts (New Club Record set in the 200m)

Senior Girls Heptathlon
Jessica Oliver, 4th, 3495
Lizzie Gourlay, 10th, 2618

South of England Champs 25th May 09

Melissa Courtney ran in the 800m U17w came 4th in final and new club record and PB of 2.13.0. Grace Howie was 3rd in U15G 1500m (4.42.40 PB) and Ben Mogg 9th in final for U15B 1500m his debut in the event (4.31.24 PB). Standard in south very strong again, if Melissa had ran in Midlands she would have won and 2nd in North!

New Club Records set in April 09

Alex Lee U17M – 100m, Octathlon
Lewis Shepard U11 – Howler
Flora Lickiss U13 – Quadrothlan
Adam Carpenter U17M – Long Jump
Gaby Rowsell U17W – 300mh, 100m & Heptathlon

Somerset & Dorset combined Championship 26th April 09

Flora Lickiss won every single event in the girls U13 Quadrathon beating both the Dorset and Poole Ac Records with a score of 777!
Gaby Rowsell winning the U17 Heptathlon setting a new club record.
Alex Lee U17 Finished in third and also set a new club record for the Octathlon

Hampshire XC Salisbury 14th February 09

The final event at Salisbury saw a small team
Of Poole AC athletes perform well on a fast course.

U13 Boys
Louis Kellaway produced an excellent 3rd position and overall 4th in the league. George Walker finished 50th and is making good progress in his 1st season of running.
U15 Girls
Sophie Allen made huge strides forward to finish 20th.
U15 Boys
Benadict Westhenry (new second claim signing) finished an impressive 7th with James Wright again proving his versatility to finish 43rd
U17 Men
our young men put up a fantastic effort to win their section, but missed out on count back as they won the team race on the day.
Frank Bailey finished 3rd, (6th overall) Richard Horton 4th (3rd overall) and Adam Sloan 5th (5th overall) backed up well by Freddie Cook 13th and Alex Sampson 18th. All 5 are Under 17's still next season, so they may well get their rewards next time.
Seniors
Steve Horton brought home the team in 78th (14th vet overall in the season), James Whittle continued his fine season with 107th with ever present George Wright 170th.
Our senior men ended up relegated to Division 3 but we hope for more support in 2009-10 as we battle for an immediate return.

SOUTHERN XC CHAMPIONSHIP

Uxbridge Middlesex 24th January 2009
A significant team of Poole AC members took part in the event at Uxbridge and everyone performed heroically on what was a very testing wet and muddy course.
Pride of place must go to Adam Sloan who made steady but significant progress through the field to end up 5th in the U17 Men. Our Under 15 girls, despite having to turn out for the county schools on Thursday finished 4th team, our best ever finish
U13 Girls Danielle Burry 105th
U13 Boys Louis Kellaway 54th
U15 Girls Grace Howie 17th, Danni Shrosbree 48th, Africa Mason 49th, Shelby Hayson 60th, Lauren Welch 65th, Sophie Allen 144th, Kirsten Holmes Evans 198th
U15 Boys Ben Mogg 27th, Sam Ham 170th
U17 Women Melissa Courtney 10th, Abigail Jones 45th, Kathryn Lewer 59th
U17 Men Adam Sloan 5th, Alex Sampson 101st
U20Men 60th Joe Walden, 88th Gregg Shrosbree.

Dorset County XC Championship January 2009

U17men: Frank Bailey, Adam Sloane and Richard Horton a fantastic 1,2,3 finish
U15 Boys: Ben Mogg 2nd
U13 Boys: Louis Kellaway 1st
U17 Women: Millie Courtney, Abigail Jones, Katie Allen a super 1,2,3,finsh and Kathryn Lewer a close 5th
U15 Girls: Grace Howie, Danni Shrosbree, Africa Mason and Shelby Haysom a fantastic 1,2,3,4, finish
Vet Women: Sarah Chalaner 1st vet35 and Jane Neal 1st vet 45

South-West XC Championships 4th January 2009
Frank Bailey and Richard Horton a fine 1st & 2nd for the u17men