Mark's Column - 18/05/09

Liverpool Women's 10k 10th May

Ellesmere Port's premiere Ladies runner, Nicola Bird made the short trip over to Liverpool for the women's only Liverpool 10k. In good, if a little humid conditions, Nicky was lined up with the elite ladies at the front. Also lining up was one of the quickest ladies over 10k in the county, Helen Lawrence formally of Wirral AC.

Setting off at a decent but not suicidal pace, Nicky tucked into the group which over the first 5k started to gradually disperse with Helen around 20 seconds infront at the 5k marker with Nicky a close second with the other ladies strung out over the course. Nicky put in her best performance of the year to try and stay with Helen finishing only 39 seconds behind the eventual winner and snatching 2nd place in 36:40 (5:54 m/m). Helen won the race in 36:40 (5:47 m/m) with 3rd spot being taken by Liverpool and Pembrook Harriers Kirsty Longley in 37:04 (5:58 m/m).

Shell Chester Half Marathon 17th May

Over 2000 runners made their merry way over to Chester for their annual Chester Half Marathon. In Windy and gloomy conditions
, fast times were not on the agenda, however, 17 Ellesmere Port Runners travelled there hoping for some PB as well as first time half marathon runners.

Up at the business end, Nicola Bird continued her domination of local road running putting in a ladies winning performance finishing 36th over in a time of 1:22:40 (6:18 m/m). Dropping off Nicky in the 2nd half of the race was Graham Earlam running his first half marathon in over 15 months. Posting a superb 1:25:24 (6:30 m/m) Graham managed to secure 60th position. 3rd home for the club was Jason Bennett running a new personal best in 1:26:50 (6:37 m/m) knocking over 2 minutes off his previous best and snatching 80th position.

Following them three were the next 14 Ellesmre Port Runners; Mike Burns 1:30:13 (6:53 m/m 121st), Jon Cole 1:30:49 (6:55 m/m 129th), Matt Whitfield 1:33:57 (7:10 m/m 194th), Mark Dodd 1:35:30 (7:17 m/m 227th), Jon Hawker 1:36:25 (7:21 m/m 270th), Alison MacDonald 1:39:05 (7:33 m/m 361st, Roy Traynor 1:38:57 (7:32 m/m 369th),  Brian Griffiths 1:40:01 (7:37 m/m 394th), Alison Hughes 1:42:27 (7:48 m/m 482th), Debbie Hawker 1:53:23 (8:38 m/m 1017th and NEW PB), Fiona Pickard 2:07:45 (9:44 m/m 1527th NEW PB), Helen Jeffrey 2:26:36 (11:56 m/m 1981st), Carmel Barnett 2:26:42 (11:11 m/m 1983rd) and Gillian Walters 2:26:51 (11:12 m/m 1985th).

The overall winner of the race was Tattenhall Runners Kenneth Svendsen in 1:13:26, the slowest winning time in some years with only the first three men actually quicker than 75 minutes.