Northern Athletic Club Athletics on the Isle of Man 2018-05-15T18:46:59Z https://www.naciom.org/feed/atom/ WordPress Graham Davies <![CDATA[NAC on TOUR – Lancashire T & F Champs 2018]]> https://www.naciom.org/?p=2209 2018-05-15T18:46:59Z 2018-05-15T18:46:59Z The 20 strong NAC team returned home tonight after an excellent weekend at the Lancashire Track and Field Championships in Blackburn. Over two days at a very warm and sunny Witton Park, the team of athletes in the u13, u15, u17 and u20 age-groups came home with a fantastic haul of medals.
Leading the way on Saturday were James Margrave who comfortably won Gold in the high jump in his first year of the u17 age-group. Not to be outdone, Jack Coates performed brilliantly in the u15 high jump and whilst delighted with Silver, was unfortunate to lose the win on count-back. The 300m is a tough event for the u17 ladies and after coming through a fast heat, Alice Cashin had a very good run and was rewarded with a Bronze medal. Twin sister Kate and Lydia Morris were unfortunate not to progress to the final after good runs. Ella Crowe ran a PB in the u15 300m , but it wasn’t quite enough to make the final.
Samuel Perry was competing in his first Lancs T&F Champs just a stone-throw from where he won the Lancs Cross Country in January and had a great run in the 1500m, narrowly missing out on a medal in finishing 4th. Catherine Perry, Madison McMullan and Charlie Teare had good runs in strong 1500m fields. The triple jump competition proved fruitful, with Callum Sherry jumping strongly to take Silver in the u17 contest. Stephen Teare also picked up a Silver in the u20 class. Abi Teare and Ella Crowe jumped well in the u15 long jump, whilst Kate Cashin jumped a PB of 4.47m and was just away from the medals in 4th place. Grace Pritchard ran well in the u15 hurdles, making the final in her first Champs.
James Margrave took advantage of his ‘long levers’ in throwing the discus out to a great Bronze medal.
The 100m races are always eagerly awaited (yes, I’m biased!) and they certainly lived up to expectations. Will Lashley ran another PB in his first year of u15 and thoroughly deserved his place in the final. Will is getting quicker with every race and ran well in the final, though outside the medals. Bethany Carridge and Anna Lashley ran strongly in the heats and both qualified for the 8 places in the u17 ladies final. Bethany was competing in her first Lancs Champs and ran a big PB, whilst Anna is getting closer to full fitness after serious injury. In the final, Bethany finished a shade outside the medals in 4th, whilst Anna was right in the mix in finishing 5th. In the u17 men, all three NAC entrants – Callum Sherry, James Margrave and Jack Perks ran great heats and qualified for the final. In a quality field, Callum took Bronze, with Jack and James finishing strongly in 7th and 8th.
The u20 men was a straight final, won in a quick 10.8secs, Andy Curphey ran well to finish 7th, with Stephen Teare in 8th.

So ended Day 1 and the athletes, coaches and parents took the opportunity to refuel overnight, before readying ourselves for day 2.

Another sunny day greeted us on our return to Witton Park and the action got underway with Callum Sherry taking Bronze in the long jump, James Margrave and Harry Grant jumped well in support. At the same time Ella Crowe was also jumping well, though in the u15 high jump. Despite equaling her PB of 1.50m, Ella just lost out on a bronze medal on count back, though still has another year in the age group. Also with another year in her new u17 age group, Alice Cashin comfortably won Gold with 1.58m. Alice’s winning height was better than the u20 and senior ladies winners!
Catherine Perry took on the 3000m and ran strongly to come away with a well deserved Silver medal.
The 800m is one of the toughest events to qualify for at the Lancs as there is an abundance of quality across all age groups. Charlie Teare ran a very strong heat and qualified comfortably in u13, whilst Samuel Perry got tangled up in a physical start to his race and limped off with severe ‘track-burn’ to his shoulder (a great war-wound being proudly displayed!). Madison and Ella were not quite able to make their finals in u13 and u15. Charlie then ran a brave race in the final, but was unable to finish in the medals, whilst Kate and Alice also finished outside the medals in a straight final in the u17 ladies.
The sprinters then turned their attention to the 200m and with Blackburn being only a 6 lane bend, qualification was always going to be tough. Charlie wasn’t able to progress in u13, whilst Madison (u13) and Catherine (u15) also went out in the heats. Will ran a fantastic bend to qualify in the u15 boys, whilst in the u17 class, both Bethany Carridge and Lydia Morris ran well and qualified from their heat. Callum Sherry looked comfortable in qualifying in the u17, with James, Harry and Jack not managing to progress to the final. Andy Curphey had a good run in the u20 and his place in the final was well-deserved.
In the 200m finals, Will again ran strongly for 5th place. Bethany Carridge ran superbly and won an excellent Silver medal, Lydia finished outside the medals. Callum was in the leading group off the bend and was unfortunate to miss a medal on the dip. Andy had a strong bend too, but just faded in the final part of the race.
And so the competition finished and the usual mad dash to the coach to hopefully catch the SeaCat ensued. I’m typing this on the boat, so we made it (in good time this year). As I look around, i see a load of very tired, slightly sunburnt, athletes. They all did fantastically well and were a credit to the club and the island.
There are some performances I will have missed as I couldn’t get to see all of the action – apologies for any oversights.

Gordon Crowe

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