Olympic 800m runner Michael Rimmer bags and third and second place in his first races of the season

Jun 25 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

AFTER an opening European mini-tour starting in Montreuil-sous-Bois, Paris, where Michael Rimmer recorded 1.47.04 in third place, he was off to the Golden League match in Berlin where he stepped up both his time 1.46.31 and position, second.

He and his coach, Norman Poole, will be mightly pleased with such an auspicious start to the season that could well end up again in Berlin for the World Championships.

Club members, all representing Sefton, were very much in evidence at the County Schools Championships There was a good turn out in The Merseysides at the Oval ,Bromborough where Senior Dean Matthews achieved what he has threatened all season leaping to a 13m triple jump victory. His 13.44m was so convincing his sights immediately turned to 14m. At Inter level Adam Thomson again showed his 400m class with a 50.4 win paralleled in the Junior 400m by Andy Williams with 53.9. Perhaps the afternoon`s most interesting result came in the Junior 200m where the club`s new acquisition from Australia Brett Adamson won in 24.3 to add to a third placed 100m(12.3).

Other prominently placed athletes from the Senior ranks included Dave Forrester(2nd 800m in 1.57.7), Chris Hesketh(third 800m in 1.58.8 and Sean Dignam(fourth 800m with 2.02.5). Harry Boyd took the 1500m(4.12.1), Simon Birch (double first Shot 9.09m High Jump 1.60m) and Rhea Ellis(second 1500m 4.54.5). The Inters also provided winners at High Jump(Billy Williams 1.85m), Discus(Mike Carmona-Jones 35.41m), Hammer(Tom Johnson 37.03m) with second placers, Toby Loveridge (1500m 4.10.5) and Olivia Fell(Triple Jump 9.96m). A third slot went to Mike Bride(1500m 4.13.6). Junior success came from long jumper Emily Canning(4.14m). Year 7 provided Amelia McLoughlin(second 75m Hurdles 12.6 and first High Jump 1.45m) with Ben Haines similarly successful at the High Jump with 1.25m.

The Lancashire championships at Blackpool witnessed a very spirited run from Junior Alistair Nelson who chopped a huge seven seconds off his personal best in the 1500m to race away from the opposition in 4.24.9. Sprinters were also prominent with 200m winners in the shape of Stuart Dolman in 23.3 and Joel Hutchinson with 24.5. Inter Annie McLaughlin was second with 27.0. Also in this age group Sean Kirkbride and Adam Goldfarb were on their own in the Steeplechase with 5.15.4 and 5.17.2 respectively.

In a crowded weekend the Junior Leage match at Wigan was a sufferer in terms of attendance. A fairly routine encounter was enlivened by some unexpected hurdling from Chris Hesketh(400m in 59.60), Billy Williams first in the High Jump with 1.85m, still teetering on 1.90m, double victors Nathan Hilton(52.10) and Wayne Ashall(51.80) at 400m.