MACCLESFIELD HARRIERS & A.C. - MOVED TO NEW WEBSITE

Created on Monday, 26 July 2021 08:39

Last Updated on Monday, 26 July 2021 09:09

Written by Neil Gunn

MACCLESFIELD HARRIERS & A.C. - ARCHIVE

This is the 'old' Macclesfield Harriers & A.C. website which now acts as an archive since 26th July 2021.

There will be no new material added to this site which has been retained so that some historical documents are not lost.

The new website can be accessed at the same address - www.macclesfield-harriers.co.uk

New Club Website - Monday 26th July

Created on Sunday, 18 July 2021 14:38

Last Updated on Saturday, 24 July 2021 09:08

Written by Neil Gunn

The new club website will go live on Monday 26th July - there may be a small amount of disruption as the migration takes place - hopefully not to much.

The new club website is now ready for 'go live' - a small group of people have been working hard behind the scenes to add 'content' to the new site and to iron out the technical gremlins alongside the site developers.

The new site will provide the club with the following features:

- A fresher and brighter feel (magazine style)
- Easier to navigate on all devices
- More responsive
- The ability to share the workload of adding news items (we are looking for volunteers!)
- More secure
- more online forms for contacting the club, claiming club records, accident reporting, reporting website faults

Please take time to look around the new site - there will be more news items, a more comprehensive calendar & more pictures. There may be the odd broken link - please let the admin team know if you find problems so they can be fixed (there is an online form to submit corrections).

Club Committee & Club Website Team

YDL Report (Longford Park - July 2021)

Created on Thursday, 22 July 2021 15:46

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 July 2021 15:47

Written by Neil Gunn

It was a blistering hot day at Longford Park for the second round of the Lower age group YDL (for U13 and U15 age groups) on Saturday 17^th July. There was a good turn out from the U15 girls and we had a representative in nearly all the events. Olivia Bagley started out for the team with her first race for a long time in the 75m Hurdles and she did a great job to get us going with a fifth place that was close and could easily have been higher.

We then had our first personal best of the day for Marianne Knuckey coming second in her heat of the 200m.  Isla Keay produced a determined 800m in a very strong field that must have been challenging in the heat.  The 100m had three Macclesfield representatives. Millie Egerton, Phoebe Davidson and Eliza Duffy. The two 3rd places and a fourth across their heats earned the team strong points and Eliza and Phoebe both had personal bests. Millie`s race was particularly close with 3rd, 4th and 5th all being given the same time but Millie was awarded the third place.  The 300m finished the individual events on the track for the U15 girls and in two challenging races Marianne came home in fourth and Matilda Birks finished second in her race.   In the field events the U15 girls were again well represented with Lola Whitlock taking on three of the throwing events and earning the team significant points. Her Javelin throw was another personal best. In the same javelin event Marianne Knuckey came fourth. The long jump kept the momentum going for the team with Beth Wootton and Grace Allen again building the score for the team. The high jump saw another personal best from Millie Egerton to come 4th in an event where the winner achieved AAA grade 1 standard. All these results were good experience for the future with all but two of the U15 girls being in the younger half of the U15`s age group.   

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COVID - Guidance regarding training and group runs after 19th July

Created on Friday, 16 July 2021 14:48

Last Updated on Friday, 16 July 2021 18:40

Written by Neil Gunn

Please can I urge you to continue to exercise caution while taking part in club activities and training from the 19th July. My best advice is to carry on training in the same manner as now.

Small groups (max 12) pre-booked through a group leader operating from locations that minimises interaction with the general public should continue to be the norm.

With people going away for breaks and holidays it is doubly important that anybody training/competing has complied with current regulations and has taken the necessary tests to try to ensure they are fit and healthy.

Covid-19 is still being transmitted so space and hand hygiene remains a prerequisite for your health.

Here is the latest EA Guidance

I hope you understand my request for caution and can comply.

Bob Lynch
Club President
01625 829229

English Schools Qualification Success for Juniors

Created on Wednesday, 07 July 2021 21:33

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 July 2021 08:03

Written by Barbara Murray

Many congratulations to the two Macclesfield Harriers junior members competing in the prestigious English Schools Championships this coming weekend at Sportscity Manchester.   Callum Wain (long jump) and Albert Bradshaw (200m) achieved the selection for this competition and will be representing Cheshire and Greater Manchester Schools, respectively – good luck lads!

Congratulations are due also to Hayden Blunn for his excellent bronze medal in the North-West Regional Intermediate Age Group Octathlon Championships at Telford recently.  Representing Cheshire Schools and in his first year in this age group, Hayden registered personal best performances across 6 of the 8 events to post a total score of 4282, and has qualified for the English Schools Combined Events final later in the year. Callum Wain, also in his first year in this age group, finished a creditable 6^th scoring 3786 points.

Club Fell Section Race Series 2021

Created on Wednesday, 30 June 2021 12:53

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 June 2021 13:12

Written by Neil Gunn

The races that form the club fell section High Fell Series, Peaks Race Series & Summer mid-week series have now been announced. More details are available in the fell section Facebook Group (members only).

Tom Whittington
Fell Section Lead

Match Report - Northern T&F League, Ashton

Created on Thursday, 24 June 2021 12:51

Last Updated on Friday, 25 June 2021 09:21

Written by Simon Frith

Buoyed by our winning team performance in Round 1 of the Northern T&F League in Eccles, we travelled over to Ashton-under-Lyne and the home of East Cheshire Harriers for Round 2. East Cheshire pushed us very hard and would appear to be our strongest opponents in this league.

While we managed to cover most events previously, there were a few disciplines that we didn’t compete in, Pole Vault being a case in point. A serendipitous opportunity arose in training last week when Rod, the pole vault coach, had a lack of athletes turn up to train so we offered the chance to “have a go” to the sprints group. Ever obliging, Nick Blore, a very versatile and accomplished athlete, took to it like the proverbial duck to water and an hour later we were working out how to get a 14 foot pole to Ashton.

An inspiring start to the day’s proceedings, Nick went on to jump a very respectable 2.40m to claim our first points and we’ve every confidence that he will continue to improve in his new found talent. His success continued throughout the day with a seasons best of 11.7 in the 100m and a new PB of 1.80m in the high jump.

A rather humid and blustery day kept things entertaining on both the track and in the field. Despite this, Tom Willshaw set a new 200m PB of 24.0 closely followed by Tobias Pearson making his track debut in a Harriers vest clocking 25.8 in the 200m and 12.4 in the 100m to get his season off to a flying start. Fresh from his dominant performances in the 200m at last weekend’s Greater Manchester Schools Championships where he set a new club record of 22.15  seconds Albert Bradshaw made the step up to the 400m running a very well judged race to post a winning time of 51.9 seconds, at just 16 years old he has a very bright future ahead of him. Not to be outdone by the men, Rebecca Dilworth also improved her own PB over the same distance with 61.0 to take the victory and later went on to win the 800m. Philip Goodfellow also making his senior debut in the league ran a very solid 2.03.3 PB in his 800m race.

In a much anticipated return to track competition, our very own V60 world record holder Hilary West ran everything from the 100m to the 3000m acquitting herself very well in the process, with Laurence Manley running the 5000m in a new PB time of 17.13.3.

On the field, Ashley Pritchard scored highly across his four throwing events, adding heavily to the team tally.  And Liliana Carey also had a great day, breaking the 23m barrier in the Hammer for the first time, as well as putting in solid performances in the discus and shot put.

Following the excitement of the relays in Round 1 the senior men put in a heavy baton changing session in training this week, their improvements and slick changeovers earned them a very impressive win over East Cheshire in the 4 x 100m.

Challenging wind conditions made life very difficult for the horizontal jumpers in the field with Callum Wain fairing best, just 7cm short of his PB of 6.22m.

Finally a special mention to the Stockdale family, mum Sue and daughters Ellie and Ruby are our very own answer to the Borlée brothers, competing across 9 different events between them securing vital points for the team.

Such strong performances and a full compliment of Track and Field officials gave us enough points to once again nudge East Cheshire into second place on the day. A superb result for us on their own track.
Round 3 takes place on Sunday 4th July at Trafford. Please speak to your team manager if you would like to compete.

Simon Frith

Polly Lander Orienteering - June 23rd 2021

Created on Wednesday, 16 June 2021 14:23

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 June 2021 15:30

Written by Neil Gunn

Polly Lander Orienteering (Club Members Only)

From 6:30pm - Wednesday 23^rd June – East Erwood Car Park, Goyt’s Lane

Call it a fun run, or call it an elbows-out demonstration of navigational prowess.  Either way Phil Cheek brings the return of the hotly anticipated Macc Harriers summer orienteering event Polly Lander Orienteering, in remembrance of Polly who sadly died of Leukemia.  This is a fantastic event and fitting tribute.

Format: Map supplied at start. You will have 2 hours to visit as many controls as possible, all controls worth 10 points.  But don’t be late back as Phil will be docking points for every minute you’re late!

Teams:  Waves of up to 12 people will set off 5mins apart. Teams can be 1/2/3 people, so whether you are fiercely competitive and don’t trust other’s navigation, or are more interested in a jolly outing with some pals and an opportunity to build some confidence on the hills on a lovely summer’s evening, we can accommodate!

Registration: Register and create your team via MH Fell Group Page on Facebook,  or if you’re not signed up to that group you can email your teams to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Team start times will be posted the day before.  Some places will be available on the day, but pre-registering will make the admin much easier.

Kit:Compass & fell kit suitable for the weather conditions.

Entry fee: Free, but Phil will be taking donations on the night to support the Leukemia charity

Dogs/Children: Welcome if on short leads only/accompanied by an adult (interpret as you wish).

Start & finish: Car park on the eastern climb after Erwoood dam (GR 024752 or Goyts Valley Car park on Google Maps)

After: tbc – Hopefully a pub for prize-giving, otherwise in car park at finish.

Tom Whittington & Phil Cheek

Current Guidance regarding Training & COVID-19 - Reminder

Created on Thursday, 10 June 2021 06:20

Last Updated on Thursday, 10 June 2021 06:21

Written by Neil Gunn

This is a reminder that we continue to operate with the CXOVID-19 restrictions that we put in place from 29^th Mar.

Please reread and ensure compliance .... http://www.mh.k313.com/mh/track/MHACCovidMarch2021.pdf

In addition, if for any reason you are instructed to take a PCR test, you must not return to training or competition, school or workplace until you have returned a negative test. The test results take approx. 48hours to be examined and reported to you.

If you return a positive COVID test, you MUST inform your coach/run leader and refrain from training etc until you have hopefully recovered and been given permission by a designated person from the NHS.

It is strongly advised that other members of a family unit also have a PCR test if someone from the group has tested positive for covid

Please remember - we train outside, we should continue to maintain social distancing and ensure that any equipment we use is sanitised before and after use. Lateral flow tests should also be undertaken routinely as requested.

Bob Lynch
01625 829229

Back on Track

Created on Thursday, 27 May 2021 20:42

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 May 2021 22:16

Written by Simon Frith

Round 1 - Northern League, Eccles, 22nd May.

The role of team manager is often challenging for various reasons, constant emails and pleas for competitors, often with little response. It must be a rare occurrence when said managers have the unenviable task of having to allocate so few places in each event to so many athletes wanting to participate, such was the appetite for a return to club competition following our enforced sabbatical. 

Rob Finnis found himself having to make some difficult decisions to balance athlete enthusiasm with prospective results. The ladies, under the care of Sue Stockdale, were also very well represented although it would be great to see a few more seniors help fill some of the gaps.

The excitement of a return to track competition was palpable in training before we travelled to Eccles for Round 1 of the Northern Athletics League. Harriers, for the first time in a long time, covered almost every discipline, in some cases we were the only team competing.

For a number of athletes this was their first endeavour into senior competition but they were by no means intimidated by the opposition. First making the step up was 15 year old Albert Bradshaw, showing tremendous ability in both the 100 and 200m sprint races, setting PBs in both and a top 20 and top 10 UKA ranking respectively. 

There were 21 PBs set on the day, apologies for not listing all those who did and, including Albert, an incredible 8 top 10 UKA Power of 10 rankings.

Sam Danson, chasing an England U20 team qualifying jump of 6.90m was a mere 3cm short, securing an English Schools qualification in the process while also setting PBs in both shot putt and the 200m.

The middle distance races added more PBs. Aadi Whitlock and Ray O’Keefe in the 800m, Laurence Manley and Rohan Jenson in the 1500m and a special mention to Sue Stockdale who as well as team managing the senior ladies took on both the 1500m and 3000m setting new PBs in both distances.

Out in the field events, Sprints coach Charlie Bird claimed top 10 UKA rankings in all 3 of her events, long jump, shot putt and hammer, with Ashley Pritchard and Simon Frith also claiming top 10 slots in Hammer and Triple jump. 

To cap off a very successful day after winning both her 400m, another PB and top 10 ranking and her 800m, Rebecca Dilworth, another athlete making her first appearance in senior competition, kept her powder dry for the final leg of the women’s 4x400m relay. Coming in to last changeover the ladies found themselves adrift by about 50m but Rebecca found another gear and chased down East Cheshire to take a well earned victory on the line, it was the most exciting race of the day.

As a reward for all the huge amount of effort and support put in by all the athletes, parents and officials, the results have now been checked and published and Macclesfield came out on top, beating a very strong East Cheshire into 2nd place.

A great start to what promises to be a very exciting and enjoyable return to Track and Field competition for 2021. Our next Northern League fixture is at East Cheshire Harriers in Ashton-under-Lyne on 19th June.

Simon Frith