BRITISH SPRINT AND MIDDLE DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

Nearly 50 Octavian Droobers club members travelled up to York to compete in the British Sprint and Middle Distance Championships. The Sprint event was held at York University and the morning heats and afternoon finals were run around the campus in quite gloomy and misty conditions. Whereas on Sunday the Middle Distance event was staged at Strensall Common, a technical area on open heathland, quite boggy in places, in glorious sunshine.

Congratulations go to several club members who achieved some great results, in particular to Harrison McCartney, Julie Emmerson and Sheila Carey who completed the double after winning both Championships.

Harrison McCartney, took first place in the Sprint M14 Final completing the 1.9k course in 12.55mins and the Middle Distance event in 17.40mins, nearly 3mins ahead of nearest rival. Julie Emmerson W16 was 1st in the sprint final 2.3k course in 15.46mins and in the Middle Distance 4.1k course winning in 28.20mins. Sheila Carey W65 won the Sprint Championship 1.5k course in 13.01mins and the Middle Distance 3.5k course in 31.00mins.

Club Members produced some fine runs in the Sprint Finals and on the podium were: Hilary Simpson W70 2nd on the 1.5k course in 18.08mins, Mike Hampton M65 3rd on the 1.7k course in 12.59mins and Anne Straube W35 3rd on 2.3k course in 18.10mins. Jane Halliday W50 was 5th as was Trevor Simpson M70. In the B Finals Sue Bicknell W65 was 1st Aimee Morse W16 and Heather Rogers W14 3rd and Karin Kirk W65 4th.

Anne Straube W35 had a fine run in the Middle Distance Championship coming 2nd on her 5.2k course in 42.47mins, Matt Elkington M18 came in 3rd on his 6.5k course in 37.51mins. Hilary Simpson W70 was 3rd on the 2.7k course in 33.34mins, Trevor Simpson M70 4th in 46.22mins on the 4.1k course and Sophie Kirk W20 5th in 38.46mins on the 5.5k course. Other club members achieving championships times in the middle distance event were: Hamish Rogers M16, William Gardner M20, Mike Hampton M65, Jo Halliday W21 and Riina Kuuselo W21.

27th March 2012