Tickner runs for Great Britain

Harriers report Aug 15th 2005

Whilst the nation’s eyes might have been glued on the efforts of the senior GB team competing at the World Athletics Championships in Helsinki at the beginning of August, one Wells City Harrier was competing for the U’23 GB team in an international match against France, Spain and the Czech republic. Bruton’s Frank Tickner followed up his England XC selection earlier in the year when he was selected to compete at the 3,000m Steeplechase event for the junior GB team at the Manchester Sportscity stadium. 21 year old Frank follows in the footsteps of his elder brother Ben who ran as part of the full GB team at the World XC Championships back in March.

The U’23 GB team finished 2nd of the 4 nations, with Frank running 9.04.49 in a tactical race for 3rd place in the Steeplechase. He was headed by the 2 stronger French athletes. Frank, who is currently a 2nd year student at Birmingham University, and Ben, are part of the senior Harriers squad coached by the Club’s former senior international Clive Thomas. Clive is Chairman of the Somerset Athletic Associatio as well as being the Club’s Deputy Chairman.

Both Frank & Ben will feature when the Harriers look again to contest next month’s South of England 6-stage road relay, and attempt to improve on last year’s 5th place out of the 400 or so Clubs from across the Region. Also tuning up recently for the Harrier’s relay squad are Carl Morris, easy winner of the past weekend’s Sturminster Half marathon in 70.08 and clubmate Peter Grist who finished 2nd in the same event in 73.52.

At the August edition of Yeovil 5km race, 26 senior Harriers toed the start line amongst the field of 136. Despite having only just returned from living in Germany, being a bit ‘race-rusty’ and borrowing a pair of his brother Frank’s racing shoes, Ben Tickner played with the field to finish a convincing winner in a steady 15.17. The Club’s top Veteran, Jon James took 3rd place with 15.29, whilst Peter Grist was 4th in 15.33, and Tom Bush ran a steady 16.05 for 8th place. Amongst the other Harrier’s, Ann Taswell was 3rd senior woman home in 19.24 ,whilst Bruton’s Tim Hamblin tuned up for his marathon next month by taking almost 30 seconds off his personal best with 18.52 for 45th, and Ben Exell made his Harrier debut with a steady 22.58.

Other Harrier positions and times:
16th Dickie Wythe 17.05; 28th Jon Sharp 18.03; 43rd Dave Stanfield 18.50; 62nd Paul Chadwick 19.54; 63rd Nick Edwards 19.55; 68th Neil Jones 20.28; 75th Jospeh Lewis 20.41; 81st Tracey Halliday 21.08; 82nd Martin Collins 21.15; 83rd Ian Roberts 21.16; 86th Colin Money 21.48; 91st Carol Buckland 22.03; 101st John Sutton 23.04; 106th Chris Storie 23.56; 108th Terry Exell 23.38; 112th Ian carpenter 24.13; 117th Pat Challis 24.38; 119th Tatiana Storie and Sue Hamblin 25.14.

At the Dennett Trophy track and field match on August 13th , the Harriers again bolstered their partner club, Yeovil Olympiads, in this open, non-league, match. Despite many athletes being away or taking a break from competition there were some good performances from the combined team. Pick of the Harrier juniors was undoubtedly U’13 girl Mazeie Phillips of Shepton Mallet who won both the Long Jump, in 4.11m, and the 100m sprints in 14.35. In the latter event the photo-finish technology that was in use at the match helped to clearly show that Mazeie’s dip for the line was the best. Also competing hard was Callum Batten in the U’13 boys with his 16.72 in the 75m hurdles and a useful 2.50.27 in the 800m race, despite a headwind on the back straight. Club stalwarts and anchor members of the Harrier’s Veterans squad Dickie Wythe and Dave Stanfield picked up good points in their 3,000m race with 9.57 and 11.07 respectively, with Dave currently returning after a short lay off due to injury.

Fixtures:
Wed Aug 24th Crook Peak 3m Fell Race, Cross (7.15pm); Sat Aug 28th Battle of Sedgemoor 10km Race, Langport; Sun Aug 29th Baltonsborough 5m Road race and 1.75m junior race (11.30am); Sat Sept 3rd Women’s Southern League Div 3 fixture (as part of Yeovil team); Sun Sept 4th South West Athletic’s League Div 1 fixture, Exeter.