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As the team gathered at the Sea Terminal at 6.30am
it was fair to say that there wasn't much excitement
among the competitors. This was I believe entirely
due to the fact that they had all been up for an
hour already but were still half asleep. Making
our way through the security check Bridget was stopped
by one of the check in staff and told that the Steam
Packet were advising people not to travel for a
day trip as they could not guarantee a return journey
that evening. This was a little late for us as most
of the children were already on the boat by this
time. Undeterred we boarded the ship to be met by
Kathy Moore and family who had saved us seats. The
children began to wake up which was a little unfortunate
for me as I was trying to catch up on my sleep having
worked until 4am the previous night.
What are we doing before and after the race seemed
to be the most important thing to the children rather
than anything to do with the race itself. For me
however not having walked since the Manx Games I
was worried that 5km may prove to be 2km too far.
We were met in Liverpool by our taxi drivers
and taken quickly to the race HQ at Birkenhead Park
6th Form College which was a hive of activity at
that time. Unfortunately for us it was nothing to
do with the race walking due to start 3 hours later.
In fact there were no signs any where advertising
the event and speaking to locals during the afternoon
nothing had appeared in the local papers either.
These organisers could do with contacting the Parish
or End to End organisers for a few pointers I think.
Once things got under way we realised that race
walking had yet again taken an opportunity to shoot
itself in the foot. We have already mentioned the
lack of advertising but added to that was the lack
of support form both officials and competitors.
Undoubtedly the Harriers were the best supported
club in attendance but there were two walkers who
had travelled up from Folkestone yet very few from
anywhere else. As befits the RWA Press and Publicity
Officer Chris Smith was in attendance and brought
a small but quality team with him. Chris however
also had a tractor tyre with him which he also carried
around when racing which unsurprisingly slowed him
down somewhat.
The course was a twisting out and back lap of
1km going slightly downhill on the outward leg and
slightly uphill on the return. As the start of the
event got closer the weather got worse and by the
time the first race started it was raining heavily.
Despite the shelter of tress we were unable to avoid
the wind and faced strong winds as well. The under
17, junior, senior veteran men and women all started
together for their 5km race and despite me being
the quickest to react to the gun was Luke Finch
took the race by the scruff of the neck and was
never headed, looking very comfortable he showed
just why he is on of the country's most promising
walkers finishing well clear in 21.26. His brother
Lloyd was second ahead of Neil Bates walking a steady
untroubled 24.29 for third. In fifth place overall
but first woman was Bridget Kaneen 27.57 ahead of
me in 28.50. As I suspected earlier 5km was too
far, I wasn't even good for 3km having blown on
the uphill return on the third lap. (My time at
1km would not have won the under 11 race!!!) Despite
a major surge on the last lap I continued to fall
further behind Bridget but stayed far enough ahead
of the 16 year old behind me to grab 6th place.
Or if Anthony Brand is reading 2nd senior man.
The under 15 boys and girls race was next but
as they were called to the start there was still
no sign of Robert Moore who had gone shopping in
the morning with his family rather than undertake
the arduous race preparation that Peter, Bridget
and I put the remainder of the team through. As
the starter shouted one minute to go a car screeched
to a halt outside the park gates and out jumped
Kathy Moore followed by Robert who's middle name
could well be Traa Da Loure. Also competing over
3km were Ciara Kaneen and Emma Latham for the Harriers
and the very talented Rebecca Mersh of Sheffield.
Rebecca dominated this race from start to finish,
finishing well clear of Robert 17.34, who appeared
very subdued on this occasion. Obviously only arriving
as the gun was about to go didn't help. Emma and
Ciara started together but Emma soon pulled away
and walked her best race ever to smash her pb to
record 18.19. A fast finish by Ciara also brought
her a pb, 19.14, and third place in her event.
Callum Taylor was our only entrant in the 2kn
event and he was up against Mark O'Kane of Coventry
who Callum has raced against twice off Island already
this year each of then experiencing a DQ. Callum
went off with Kathy Granger of Sheffield but a warning
caused him to ease up slightly. However Callum is
very competitive (not sure where he gets it from)
and was soon on her shoulder again. In the end he
played safe and went for the finish rather than
overall victory and came home second overall but
won the boys race in 11.37, 4 seconds behind Kathy
but some 32 seconds clear of his nearest rival.
The last event was the under 11 1km, again mixing
the boys against the girls. Sadly other than the
Harriers there was only one other entrant and how
he would have wished it was different. As I predicted
Helen Anstead won the race but she had it far from
her own way. Lauren Whelan fresh from her week of
warm weather training in Wemm on the outskirts of
Manchester went with Helen and finished a mere 7
seconds behind smashing her pb with 5.31 making
her 3rd on this years ranking list for 1km. Behind
these was a great race between Bronwen Kaneen and
Fay Latham. Bronwen again prevailed but only by
2 seconds as Fay also smashed her pb recording 6.06.
Bringing up the rear in this race but not to be
out done by their faster rivals were the smallest
competitors on the day Kirsty Taylor and Richard
Granger of Hallamshire. A race long battle came
down to the wire with Kirsty getting the nod in
a sprint finish, both athletes been given the same
time 6.22, a pb for Kirsty.
Prior to the first race Chris Smith (Leicester)
laid down a team challenge to the Harriers, in fact
he said that they were the champions elect as we
couldn't field a team as we were unable to persuade
Peter "its too short for me, I'm an endurance
athlete" Kaneen to take part. However at the
presentation it turned out that teams were made
up of anyone who competed in the 5km race. Whilst
Leicester boasted 14 points including 1st and 2nd
in the race with the Finch brothers the combination
of Neil, Bridget and myself also scored 14 points
but took the team title by virtue of our third walker
(thats me) being higher placed than their third
walker (Chris) If I am not mistaken it is probably
the first time that I have ever beaten Chris. Chris
has recorded a sub 90 minute 20km albeit some years
ago, this was in the Manx Airlines race when he
stayed at my house.
The walkers who won medals were not prepared
to imitate the organisers advertising methodology
and medals could be seen swinging from the necks
of the fortunate few in Caesar's restaurant, St.
Johns shopping centre, the Steam Packet check-in
/ prison / waiting room and on the boat. Quite rightly
they should all feel very proud of they achievements
including those who didn't win a prize.
It would be difficult to pick out a performance
of the day as in those conditions all performances
were good and one would expect to be able to improve
upon them in more favourable conditions. But I would
say anyone who was able to set a pb on Saturday
an extra special very well done.
A big thank you must go to Liz Corran who had
made the travel arrangements prior to jetting off
to New York and also to "Mum" to all for
the day Bridget. Excellent support to all the walkers
was given by Peter "Spielberg" Kaneen
on the camcorder, Simon Latham who had travelled
down from Manchester and Carol Bates who flew over
on the day.
The journey back was eventful to say the least,
after a 6 hour delay we were then invited on to
the Super Sea Cat 3 roller coaster which was better
than anything at Blackpool. Next time the steam
Packet say that the boat is delayed or cancelled
due to the weather, take their word for it. We endured
it Saturday night and it wasn't pleasant.
Next event is the winter league at Andreas on
Sunday 17th November, signing on from 9.30am at
the Ayre Utd FC club house. Due to the cancellation
of the first race this event will be a scratch race.
See you all there.
Results from Wirral Grand Prix
5km
1. Luke Finch Leicester 21.26
2. Lloyd Finch Leicester 23.15
3. Neil Bates 24.29
5. Bridget Kaneen 27.57
(1st Lady)
6. Steve Taylor 28.50
1st Team Manx Harriers
3km
1. Rebecca Mersh Sheffield 16.17
2. Robert Moore 17.34
3. Emma Latham 18.19
4. Ciara Kaneen 19.14
2km
1. Kathy Granger Sheffield 11.33
2. Callum Taylor 11.37
3. Mark O'Kane Coventry 12.09
1km
1. Helen Anstead 5.24
2. Lauren Whelan 5.31
3. Bronwen Kaneen 6.04
4. Fay Latham 6.06
5. Kirsty Taylor 6.22
6. Richard GrangerHallamshire 6.22
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