A&T win bronze medal in 5k North of England Champs

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY Northern Athletics  - 5k Road Champs 2011

The 2011 Northern Athletics 5k road championship returned to Horwich, for their Festival 5k, held on closed town centre roads, this tough  5k course is just over 3 lap which this year had the added difficulty of a strong head wind against them on the long straight.

From the gun Danny Parkinson (Kendal) took up the running, with Dave Archer,
(Hallamshire) second. Local athlete, Anthony Valentine in 3rd place. Tipton’s Mick Hill was chasing hard to reduce the gap as they completed the first lap.

 On the second lap Parkinson and Archer pulled away from a tiring Valentine but as they hit the bell it was still unclear who would prove the stronger on the final lap. As the athletes came into sight of the finish it was Parkinson just ahead of hard chasing Archer, however the climb to the finish took more out of the chasing Dave Archer, leaving Parkinson to win by just 1 second in 15.09 minutes. 

Local athlete Anthony Valentine, and you cannot get more local than living on the course, was third 15.27, he headed the 3 man Bolton team into the silver team  medal position.

With only two finishers Hallamshire failed to close a team which left the door open for Horwich in the shape of Alastair Murray, Gareth Booth and Dave Hunter to claim the team title. ahead of Bolton ahead of Bolton Anthony Valentine, Andy Parker and Paul Rankin. The third team position was taken by the popular Ashley & Tyldesley Road Runners, Gary Stevens, Stuart Adamson, and Marcus Taylor.

In the women race Nichola Squires (Hallamshire), led through the first lap closely followed by  Alexandrea Gosting (Leeds City), with the third Northern Athlete being  Amy Talbut (Warrington), some way back..

Although she lost some ground on the last lap Squires was never passed and came home in 18.05. some 7 seconds ahead of Alexandra Gosting with Warrington’s Amy Talbot taking the bronze in 18:46




Results

 Men.
1st   Danny Parkinson  Kendal          15.09
2nd   Dave Arche         Hallamshire   15.10
3rd   Anthony Valentine  Bolton        15.27

TeamRace
1  Horwich,
2 Bolton,
3 Astley & Tyldesley (Gary Stevens, Stuart  Adamson, Marcus Taylor)

Women
1st    Nichola  Squires      Hallamshire       18.05
2nd   Alexandra  Gosting    Leeds City      18.12
3rd    Amy Talbot               Warrington      18.46.

No complete women's Team

Photos
1st man Danny Parkinson Kendal
1st Lady Nichola Squires Hallamshire
Early leaders in Men's race