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On Wednesday 19th September four members of our group went over to Doncaster Athletics Club and competed in 1500m/2000m steeplechases for Stockport Harriers.

The training group has got to this point by following a LATE SPECIALISATION, LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT Model. We develop ALL 5 fitness components simultaneously with young developing athletes.

Harry Miller-Reedman (the ONLY U17 to compete in an Octathlon for the whole of the Greater Manchester Region; SHAC's number 1 Javelin thrower ........etc etc) was putting his endurance and hurdling skills to the test and came through this excellent experience & challenge very well.

Lauren Burgess (an U17 who throws U20 Javelin for the club at YDL, is the current Greater Manchester U17 Discus Gold medalist, has achieved UK rankings in 6 very different events .......etc etc) achieved a UK ranking(109th) in this first time attempt at the event, in her first year as an U17.

The coaching group is very proud of these two young athletes who competed in their first Steeplechase as multi-eventers, not specialised endurance runners.

Our U20 athletes come from two different backgrounds and were competing in the 2000m Steeplechase. Sam Johnson has a multi-eventing background (Derbyshire's Number 1 Octathlete last year; still competes in a number of events for SHAC at YDL; but his current main focus is the 400m Hurdles where in his first season as an U20 he was ranked 3rd in the Northwest and 52nd in the UK). He took this tough endurance challenge on, for all the right reasons, with great positive attitude. He continues to leave all options/opportunities open to himself for the future. Luke Farrant joined us just a year ago having specialised early in endurance at another club. As a coaching group we are trying to broaden his opportunities for the future and because of his open-mindedness, willingness to learn new skills and great attitude, he is responding extremely well. Because of the Speed work he has done since joining, he has a UK ranking in the 400m, he is SHAC's fastest 800m/1500m U20 runner and because of the hurdling work that has been introduced, he achieved an excellent, first time, UK ranking (62nd) in the Steeplechase, in his first year as an U20. Lots more to come from this young athlete as his Speed, strength, hurdling skills etc etc continue to be developed.

• Stockport Harriers’ Under-20 Power of 10 rankings

Stockport Athletics Coaching remain an independent, self sufficient, self funded training group with it's own unique training philosophy. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those who support the group for all that we stand for - the parent group; the coaching group (Crazy legs fitness being an inetegral part of it); Stockport Grammar School; Inspire Gym and Lifeleisure. Finally, as it is Steeplechase that we are celebrating successes in, a special mention to Bashir Hussain who continues to support and inspire the young athletes within our group in this event and across all that we do.

We've developed a club-wide Winter Competition guide that aims to inspire and provide key information for TEAM STOCKPORT, spanning all age groups and disciplines.

We will update the document later in the season when further events/information becomes available.

Do speak to coaches and relevant contacts if any questions, and look at the notice board and Facebook page for more details about individual events.

We hope all members find this useful.

• Winter Competition Guide 2018/2019

Saturday, 27th October.

Wythenshawe Sports Ground, Willenhall Road, Wythenshawe M23 0BD.

Men's and Mixed teams, 6 legs of 3.01km, women's teams, 3 legs of 3.01km.

This is a great afternoon of cross country racing at a local venue.

Last year we had 5 women's teams and three men's teams taking part at this event.

There is a great atmosphere with clubs and universities from throughout the UK taking part, and athletes of all abilities competing.

Kevan Garner will organise the men's teams and I will organise the women's teams, please contact us as soon as possible.

Many thanks

Alongside all the super positive news stories coming out of Stockport Harriers on a regular basis, we are sorry to report that a number of newspaper articles featuring a small number of Junior athletes on display in the clubhouse have been wilfully defaced.

Following this discovery, the Welfare Secretaries, on behalf of the entire committee, would like to appeal to all users of the club house, members, and non-members alike, that they behave sportingly at all times, and do not resort to this kind of ill treatment of their fellow athletes.

These are just kids, and they don’t deserve to be treated like this for any reason, especially not for doing well. We should all be proud of them!

They should be able to expect to feel safe and supported, not hated.

This incident could have a huge effect on their self-esteem and desire to be part of the club.

We have probably all read the stats on the drop off rate among teens in athletics, so shouldn’t we be giving our talented teenage athletes as much positive reinforcement as we can to encourage them to stay?

Unsporting behaviour has no place at Stockport Harriers.

If you know anything about these incidents or have other welfare issues you would like help with, please contact Jen and Rachel your Welfare Officers.

You all follow Stockport Harriers, and we should all support and encourage one another each other in the name of sport regardless of our coaching group, parkrun time, or how many marathons we have run.

Let’s celebrate Team Stockport rather than bring our team mates down and our club into disrepute.