2007 Northern League Match 2
Match Report
Hello and welcome to my second match report of this year's Northern League Campaign. Match two of the northern league saw us on our home track, Robin Park, and what a match!
The team was hit with a 20 plus casualty list of which 17 were from the women’s squad. This was due to once again the North of England’s incompetence in their failure to anticipate fixture clashes - so you can imagine what a nightmare it was for me to put together a team sheet for this match. Before this match I was adamant that this would be my last in charge. However, life as a manager isn’t always about the good times like we had last year, it’s also about the bad times and how you deal with that. Every time you get knocked down you have to get back up and keep moving forward and that is what will make this team the dominant force it once was. I know that I am Wigan through and through and my passion will keep me driving forward till we achieve our team goal.
Firstly, I would like to begin with a note of thanks to the following people who all contributed to the match. Kay Large for preparing all the official's lunches, Margaret Grayston for all her tireless work behind the scenes, Tony McDonald for once again timekeeping, Francis Griffiths for track judging and to the field judges, Janet Hind, Steve Forrest and Peter Kevan. Thank you to all of you all, the whole squad understands what hard work you put in as part of the team.
The women’s team was headed by Wigan’s and Loughborough’s newly crowned superstar Anna Griffiths. Anna fulfilled her full quota of events by competing in all three disciplines. Anna’s value to the squad is priceless and it’s her attitude which places a silver lining on the dark clouds which covered the Wigan team this day. She was joined in the throws by National League Athlete Bethan Lishman and making a welcome return to the team Kirsty Forsyth. Both athletes picked up good points in the field and threw some encouraging distances. In the high jump, Amy Richards and Debbie Jukes opened their league account for this season with impressive performances which they can build on for the rest of the season. The last of the women’s side saw 16 year old Melissa Forest run in the 100m and 200m respectively. You would never have noticed that she was running two age groups above her own with Melissa running so maturely obviously gaining on her experience from last year's Northern League campaign.
The men’s field team dominated the throwing events. Led by skipper Carl Fletcher the team of Steve Killen, Geoff Clare, Adrian Cawley and our latest international signing Christian Schutte all posted first place finishes in their respective events. This demonstrates Wigan’s strength and depth in these events.
John Forshaw made his first appearance this year competing in his usual multi events and picking up his usual high number of points. The men’s sprints saw Danny Whittaker, Danny Hind and Tom Bolan-Ashworth in action. On a blustery day the times were not the most impressive, however the placings were with all bringing home vital points. Also in the 400m Tom went head to head with Tom O’Brien, but it was O’Brien who posted the more impressive performance finally fulfilling his potential and running under the 50 second barrier achieving 49.7. Chris Bryant once again took to the distance double running over both the 800m and 1500m. He was paired with Danny Kevan and Danny “Prefontaine” Griffiths in these races. All ran strong and controlled races but special mention has to go to Danny Griffiths who after watching the film “No Limits” believed he was the reincarnation of Steve Prefontaine with an opening lap of 59 seconds in the 1500m. Needless to say Danny was tiring in the latter part of the race but did well to finish. Phil West eventually ran the 3k steeplechase after some confusion and delay finishing in a season’s best second place. The over distance events saw Wigan Phoenix regulars Mo Manier and John Worthington run over the 5k. In the heat of the day this was a challenging event to do but both athletes shone finishing the race with respectable times. And finally, James Harrison made his senior team debut in the long jump. It was encouraging to see and hopefully he will become a more permanent fixture in the team in time to come.
Down to the relays now. With only one female running athlete to select from, sadly their wer no female relay teams. The men, however, fielded both a 4x100m and a 4x400m team. But the most worrying part of it was that it was so difficult to rally a side together. It just seemed the heads of the athletes were down and they where exhausted from their efforts. Maybe this was down to the feeling that their efforts on the day were for nothing as it was always inevitable that we were going to end up last. But we all picked each other up and got on to the task in hand and finished 2nd in both.
The day was one to just get through and forget about really. For all those who turned out their efforts cant be questioned - every athlete competed with their heart on their sleeve, but sadly it was for nothing as we came last. The encouraging part is the knowledge that City of York where only 50 points ahead of us and on a race day this is only 5 victories and I’m sure with the return of the absentees this an easily achievable target.
Keep your heads up guys there is still a long way to go in the season and the adventure will keep on going. Be good Danny.
Athlete of the Day - Anna Griffiths
This multi-talented athlete fulfilled her full quota of events by competing in throws, runs and jumps. Her true Wigan spirit shone through.
Performance of the Day - Tom O'Brien
With a fantastically judged and controlled race in the 400m finally running under that 50 second barrier.
Sight of the Day - Danny Griffiths
Obviously suffering from psychological problems during the opening stages of the 1500m Danny believed he was Steve Prefontaine, racing to a 60m lead
with his opening lap of 59 seconds.
Sound of the Day - Carl Fletcher
For his near silence after coming second in the men’s shot. Don’t worry Fletch, as you kept telling us all over and over again, you were ill.
Athlete Performances
The performances of the Wigan athletes at this meeting were as follows.
Men
| Event | 'A' Competitor | 'B' Competitor |
| 100M | Danny Whittaker (11.5) | Tom Bolan-Ashworth (12.3) |
| 200M | Danny Hind (25.1) | Danny Whittaker (23.8) |
| 400M | Tom O'Brien (49.7) | Tom Bolan-Ashworth (51.2) |
| 800M | Chris Bryant (1:51.5) | Danny Kevan (2:04.2) |
| 1500M | Chris Bryant (4:04.6) | Danny Griffiths (4:06.1) |
| 3000M S/C | Phil West (10:38.2) | |
| 5000M | John Worthington (16:48.3) | Mo Manier (17:18.6) |
| 400M Hurdles | Tom O'Brien (56.4) | Danny Hind (59.1) |
| 110M Hurdles | John Forshaw (20.1) | Danny Hind (20.4) |
| Long Jump | James Harrison (5.31) | Danny Hind (4.47) |
| Triple Jump | John Forshaw (10.69) | Danny Hind (8.99) |
| High Jump | John Forshaw (1.65) | Tom O'Brien (1.40) |
| Shot | Christian Schutte (15.51) | Carl Fletcher (15.23) |
| Discus | Carl Fletcher (44.71) | Geoff Clare (41.49) |
| Javelin | Adrian Cawley (45.49) | John Forshaw (29.02) |
| Hammer | Christian Schutte (45.43) | Steve Killen (33.43) |
| Pole Vault | Steve Killen (2.10) | |
| 4x100M Relay | Hind/Bryant/Bolan-Ashworth/Whittiker (45.0) | |
| 4x400M Relay | O'Brien/Bolan-Ashworth/Bryant/Kevan (3:25.7) |
Women
| Event | 'A' Competitor | 'B' Competitor |
| 100M | Melissa Forrest (13.8) | |
| 200M | Melissa Forrest (27.4) | Anna Griffiths (28.7) |
| 400M | ||
| 800M | ||
| 1500M | ||
| 3000M | ||
| 400M Hurdles | ||
| 100M Hurdles | ||
| Long Jump | Anna Griffiths (4.26) | |
| Triple Jump | ||
| High Jump | Amy Richards (1.60) | Debbie Jukes (1.40) |
| Shot | Anna Griffiths (9.54) | Beth Lishman (6.20) |
| Discus | Beth Lishman (20.50) | Kirsty Forsyth (18.47) |
| Javelin | ||
| Hammer | Beth Lishman (39.78) | Kirsty Forsyth (24.88) |
| Pole Vault | ||
| 4x100M Relay | ||
| 4x400M Relay |
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