Sale Harriers Manchester

AFTER eighteen cup final appearances and countless near misses, the Women's team from Sale Harriers Manchester have at last lifted the Jubilee British Athletic Cup.

The 1998 final took place at Bedford with the top eight clubs in the UK contesting for the prestigous honour of representing Great Britain in the European Cup in Athens next year.

Current holders Shaftesbury, League Champions Windsor and Edinburgh, including most of the Scottish Commonwealth team, provided awesome opposition, but Sale were more than equal to the occasion being placed in no fewer than twelve of the eighteen events on the programme.

Lorraine Shaw set the ball rolling with a massive new record Hammer Throw of 63.30 metres, followed by a silver medal for Linda Stanton in the Pole Vault.

Although suffering from a heavy cold, talented Keri Maddox came a close second in the 400m Hurdles in 59.59 secs then proceeded to smash Sally Gunnell's eleven year old record in the 10m Hurdles clocking 13.11 sec, the fastest in Britain this year.

Once more the middle distance girls excelled, Amanda Parkinson just missing gold in the 800 metres, Kerry Smithson winning the 1500 metres and Susan Lamb enjoying her best run of the season to outclass her international rivals in the 3000 metres.

In the absence of Phyllis Smith and Diane Modahl, young Sally Evans surprised everyone with a splendid second in the 400 metres and later ran a superb leg in the victorious 4x400m relay.

Margaret Veldman cleared 5.83 metres to collect bronze in the Long Jump, Rachael Atkinson repeated the feat with an 11.76 metre leap in the Triple Jump in opposition to European Champion Aisha Hansen.

Lorraine Shaw added more precious points with a 51.96 throw in the Discus supplementing 13.32 metres in the Shot Putt.

Two sixteen year olds, Helen Griffin in the Sprints and Samantha, Javelin, were a little overawed in the presence of such stars as Linford Christie, but acquitted themselves well and will be richer for the experience.

After being presented with the cup there was a novel ceremony ducking the club's large elephant mascot in the water jump with a cry of 'Athens here we come'!

It was a great day for Sale with the men's team coming a magnificent third, earning top seeding in next year's competition.

European Sprints Gold Medallist Allyn Condon beat John Regis in the 200 metres returning 20.83 secs and there were three other not notable victories with Ross Ballie 13.89 secs over the 100m Hurdles, Stuart Stokes 8 mins 56.39 secs Steeplechase and Kevin McKay 3 mins 48.70 secs in the 1500 metres.

With the league double of 1996 still fresh in the minds of the public, last year's cross country triumphs and now this wonderful cup achievement, Sale Hariers Manchester are undoubtedly on top of the world.

Match Results - Sale, Harriers Manchester - Winners; Edinburgh Woollen Mill 99.0; Windsor Slough & Eton AC 89.0; Birchfield Marriers 85.0; Shaftsbury Barnett Harriers 75.0; Team Solent AC 70.0; Peterborough AC 67.0; Trafford AC 67.0.

Eighteen years later . . .

CUP GLORY FOR HARRIERS

SIMPLY THE BEST

European Cup beckons

for winning Sale girls

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