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Razor-sharp Barber cuts the opposition down to size
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JUST seven days removed from racing in no fewer than five sprint events in the opening senior track and field meeting of the season, Harborough AC’s Roy Barber again found himself on the start line among serious competition.
This time it was in the throes of the 2012 Leicestershire County Championships.
Having elected not to try to defend his 400 metres title from the previous year, Barber chose to ply his trade across the traditional sprint double of the 100m and 200m, in the under-20 age bracket.
First up was the shorter of the two distances, and the one in which he had registered a new personal best already this term. That mark was, however, quickly expunged from the record books, as he blasted through the rest of the field, taking the tape in 11.4secs – some 0.2 quicker than his previous best.
Twenty-four hours on, and Barber was at it again, this time in the 200m. In somewhat windier conditions than enjoyed on day one, Barber fought hard from lane five, to secure gold medal number two.
Such early-year success is testament to the hard work he has put in during the winter months, and certainly augurs well for the remainder of the campaign.
Barber was not the only Harborough AC member in action during the weekend. Nor was he alone in tasting success, as a further six golds were won. In the longest sprint – the 400m – Dave Ward took victory, along with a new PB of 73.6secs, in the MV35 category. Over twice that distance, daughter Sarah then ensured double delight for the family as she claimed the U23 800m title in 2:56.5. Sam Edwards did likewise over the two-lap sojourn, dominating the U15 class to win in a new PB of 2:08.1. Also enjoying success on the track – and showing no lingering effects from his 10,000m exploits, Will Clapp garnered the 5,000m MV35 title, with 17:30.3.
In the field events meanwhile, both Andy Wilkinson (in the MV45 group) and Lianne Brooks (senior women) proved themselves to quite literally be poles apart in comparison to their competition; each gracing the top step of the podium. Brooks cleared 2.20m for her win, while Wilkinson went to 3.20m for his.
Elsewhere, there was plenty more to suggest that a good season could be in the offing for a number of the club’s athletes; with six more personal bests: Charlie Blencowe was timed at 14.4s for the 100m (in sixth place in the U13s), with Charlotte Ellis at 32.7s also for sixth (U13), and leaping to 3.57m (fifth position) in the long jump (both U13). Charlotte’s older sister – Bethany – just missed out on a medal, as she placed fourth in the U17 800m with 2:23.5. The other PBs came from Alice Tansey in the U13 800m (fifth, in 2:54.5) and in the long jump (3.33m for seventh spot), while Martha Clapp took over five seconds from her 1500m best, placing fifth in the U15 race in 5:31.3, and younger sister – Lizzie – reduced her 600m time (as part of the U11 Quadkids event) by some nine seconds; clocking 2:20.8.
Lottie Edwards just missed out on a medal, as she took fourth place in the U13 800m, in 2:53.8. That result came just days after Edwards ran both the 70m hurdles and 800m at the midweek Charnwood Open. A time of 14.06s for the first of those was reinforced by a 2:57.32 in the second. Blencowe took fifth in the 200m, with 32.5s.
Contesting the Northamptonshire Championships, twins Niamh and Mollie Watson both registered lifetime best marks for both the U13 800m and long jump. Of the duo, it was Niamh who took bronze in the 800m with 2:40.2, with Mollie in fourth with 2:42.0. However, when it came to the sandpit, it was Mollie who edged her sister, leaping to a club record distance of 4.03m for silver medal position, while Niamh recorded just 2cm less, taking bronze. Elder brother, Jake, also brought home a bronze medal; this time from the U20 1500m, and in a seven-second PB time of 4:13.6.
Meanwhile, on the roads, husband and wife pair Ady and Jackie King tackled the Hinckley Half Marathon. Just a matter of weeks removed from his marathon debut, Ady covered the 13.1-mile undulating route in 1:22:26, for 28th overall. Jackie clocked 1:52:09 (436th) among the 1,112-strong finishing contingent. Also lacing up his racing flats for the Bosworth Water Park-based event was George Nolan. Nolan benefited nicely from his park run practices with 315th place in 1:43:07.
Also lacing up his racing flats for the Bosworth Water Park based event was George Nolan. Having sharpened up for the race by supplementing his longer training runs with a series of 5km parkrun races, Nolan benefited nicely from his preparation, taking 320th place in 1:43:07.
The opening East Midlands Grand Prix Series event of 2012 took place at the traditional curtain-raiser location of Silverstone race track.
And a quartet of Harborough runners raced around the 10km motorsport circuit, ensuring the colours of the club featured among the 1,110 finishers.
First across the line was Michael Burke, who claimed 54th overall in 37:32. Alan Fordham clocked 44:40, for 309th – ably tracked by Kenny Anderson (381st, 46:10). Kate Southern rounded off proceedings, placing 550th in a time of 49:46.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
