Archived News follows below:
June 2010
Another busy month saw group members record significant performances. In the County Secondary Schools’ Track & Field Championships three of our athletes took individual medals: Andrew Halliwell took silver in the Inter Boys 800m (2-11.4); William Rawlinson took Silver in the Junior Boys 1500m (4-45.1); & Phillip Maddocks took Bronze in the Junior Boys 400m (58.0 seconds). Other notable track performances during the month saw personal bests recorded by: Josh Phillips (200m: 28.4); Fraser McHale (200m: 26.9); Joe Tambini (400m: 57.8); Ben Dijkstra (1500m: 4-59.4); Robbie Moulding (1500m: 5-02.3); Ben Sendall (5-03.1); James Tambini (5-06.0); Alfie Thompson (5-08.2); Ben Tansley (5-18.4); & Elizabeth Mulvaney (5-41.1). On the roads significant performances included top 5 finishes @ the King Lear Mile Races @ Watermead Park for Ben D. (5-25) and Robbie M. (5-43) in the 11-13 Race, & Andrew H. (5-10) and Joe T. (5-20) in the Age 14 & Above Race. Top 5 performances were also recorded by Ben D. & Alfie T. @ the Long Eaton 2 Miles Junior Race. To cap off a busy month, Phillip M. took second place in the Under 16 race @ the Kibworth Magic Miles (5-32), and was part of the winning 4 x 400m relay @ the same event.
May 2010
The month of May saw some top performances on both road & track. On the road members of our training group filled 5 of the top 6 places at the Wymeswold Waddle 2K FR on Sunday, May 16th. Ben Dijkstra (Year 6) was an emphatic winner covering the 2K course in a very impressive 7 minutes 00 seconds. Ben was followed home by Robbie Moulding (Year 8: 2nd.), Edward Thomas (Year 6: 3rd.), Josh Phillips (Year 7: 5th), & Ben Masser (Year 6: 6th). On the track William Rawlinson (U15B 1500m: 4-53) & Phillip Maddocks (U15B 800m: 2-18) recorded personal best times in both finishing 4th in strong fields in the middle distance races @ the Leicestershire County Track & Field Championships held at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham over the weekend of May 8th/9th. William & Phillip continued to record impressive personal best times throughout the month. William improved his 1500 best with a 4-42.9 in the Area Round of the English Schools’ Cup before running 4-37.7 @ the British Milers Club PB Classic @ Milton Keynes on the evening of Saturday, May 22nd. Phillip focused his attention on 400m racing, improving his personal best throughout the month from 59.6 to 58.47 @ the Midland Counties U15 Boys Championships in Birmingham on Saturday, May 29th. Another of our athletes to make a mark on the track was Andrew Halliwell who recorded a 2-16.2 personal best for 800m @ the Charnwood Open Track Meeting @ Loughborough on Thursday, May 13th.
April 2010
The month of April started with a bang with eleven year old Alfie Thompson recording a stunning victory against all age opposition in a Derbyshire Fell Race on Easter Sunday. Competing in the short (2.5 miles) race @ the Shining Cliff Woods Fell Race, Alfie finished over 40 seconds ahead of his nearest pursuer. Later in the month William Rawlinson (5-23) & Phillip Maddocks (5-24) recorded new personal best times for the mile in finishing in the top 10 of a competitive Derby Midweek 1 Mile Race. Six other group members also recorded personal bests on the night. These were: Alfie Thompson (5-31); Robbie Moulding (5-58); Ben Sendall (6-00); Christopher Mulvaney (6-12); Elizabeth Mulvaney (6-32); & Gabriel Rawlinson (6-52). To round off the month five members of the training group (Alfie Thompson, Ben Dijkstra, Elizabeth Mulvaney, Phillip Maddocks, & William Rawlinson) represented the East Midlands Region in the Virgin London Mini-Marathon on Sunday, April 25th. Running in fields of between 200-250 runners representing the Regions and the London Boroughs our athletes performed with distinction running over the final 3 miles of the London Marathon course. The highlight was Alfie Thompson’s 14th place finish in the Boys’ 11-12 Years category, in the process recording the highest placed finish by a Leicestershire runner in all the Mini-Marathon races.
March 2010
The month of March marked the culmination of the Winter’s racing programme with a number of our athletes gaining selection for the county and/or region. Four group members: Junior Boys William Rawlinson & Phillip Maddocks; Inter Boy Joe Tambini; & Senior Boy Stephen Maddocks all competed for Leicestershire Schools @ the English Schools X-C Championships on Saturday, March 20th, with Stephen being part of a very successful Senior Boys' team that finished 2nd. overall from over 30 County Teams. Earlier in the month (Sunday, March 7th) five group members (Andrew Halliwell, Alfie Thompson, Ben Dijkstra, Elizabeth Mulvaney, & William Rawlinson) gained selection through the trials race for the East Midlands' London Mini-Marathon team. (Andrew was unfortunately unable to take up the selection, & his place was taken by Phillip Maddocks as first reserve). At the Leicestershire County Primary School X-Country Championships Ben Dijkstra completed a 100% win record @ Primary School level with a decisive victory in the Year 6 Boys' race. Others to take individual medals at these Championships were Alfie Thompson & Elizabeth Mulvaney. To complete the month’s roll of honour Estelle Bouttier-Butler finish 4th in the National Army Cadets Final held in Cumbria at the end of the month.
February 2010
Further excellent performances were recorded this month. At the annual Ivanhoe Challenge Junior X-C Races six group members recorded top 5 finishes. In the Year 5&6 Boys' race, Ben Dijkstra & Alfie Thompson repeated their 1-2 finish of the previous year, whilst Elizabeth Mulvaney took bronze in the Year 5&6 Girls' race. In the Year 7&8 Boys' race Robbie Moulding was 4th, whilst Phillip Maddocks was third overall in the Year 9 & Above Boys'/Girls' Race. In the same race Christopher Mulvaney running in his first ever X-Country race was 2nd in the Year 11 & Above Boys category. Two of our younger members took centre stage @ the Queniborough Fun Run a week later as in an 80 strong Primary Schools' race Ben Tansley finished 2nd overall whilst Charlotte Heaps was 2nd Girl & 8th overall. To round off the month eight group members represented their clubs @ the English National X-C Championships held @ Roundhay Park, Leeds. Alfie Thompson (58th) & Ben Dijkstra (67th) recorded top 100 performances in the Under 13 Boys' race Running against opposition up to 2 years older than them both, Alfie & Ben showed the potential that could make them future individual medal winners at National level. Other members of the group running at Leeds were: Robbie Moulding (U13 Boys: 195th); Elizabeth Mulvaney (U13 Girls: 183rd); Charlotte Heaps (U13 Girls: 387th); William Rawlinson (U15 Boys: 139th); Phillip Maddocks (U15 Boys: 187th); & Stephen Maddocks (Junior Men: 141st). All of these runners (apart from Robbie) will still be eligible to compete in the same age groups next year!!
January 2010
Group members have excelled throughout the month.At the Leicestershire & Rutland County X-C Championships held @ Brocks Hill Country Park, Oadby on Saturday January 9th, a number of our group members braved the snowy conditions and winter elements to record excellent top ten finishes. In the U13 Boys' race Ben Dijkstra - competing against runners up to 2 years older - recorded an excellent 5th place finish. In the U15 Boys' race Andrew Halliwell (4th), William Rawlinson (6th), & Phillip Maddocks (7th) were all prominent with less than 15 seconds separating them at the finish, whilst in the Under 20 Men's race Stephen Maddocks finished 9th. Three weeks later @ the Midland Counties X-Country Championships @ Stafford Common seven group members took part with three returning home with team medals. In the Under 13 Boys race Ben Dijkstra made his debut at this level with an excellent 19th place finish in the 120 strong field. Ben was followed home by Robbie Moulding (46th). Both Ben & Robbie were part of the scoring four for Leicester Coritanians who took team bronze. In the 120 strong Under 15 Boys race Andrew Halliwell (36th), Phillip Maddocks (42nd), & William Rawlinson (43rd) all ran with great credit with Andrew 4th counter in the silver medal winning Leicester Coritanian team. Stephen Maddocks (Junior Men: 39th) and Charlotte Heaps (U13 Girls: 112th) both ran excellent races against in the main much older opposition. Further top class performances were recorded by members of the group @ the Leicestershire Secondary Schools' X-Country Championships held on Saturday, January 23rd. @ Ratcliffe College, Syston. In the Year 7 Boys race Joshua Phillips excelled once more with an 11th place finish. In the Junior Boys' category William Rawlinson (4th), Phillip Maddocks (7th), Timothy Mulvaney (9th), & Robbie Moulding (17th) were prominent at the sharp end of the field. In the Inter Boys category Joe Tambini was 14th, whilst in the Senior Boys race Stephen Maddocks was 9th. And finally, Beacon Hill Striders Training Group member Ben Dijkstra has created history by becoming the first boy to win the Leicestershire Primary Schools X-Country League Title in each year group (Years 3 - 6 inclusive). This is a remarkable achievement given the 30+ years history of this event. Other group members to feature in the medals for the 2009-2010 Season were Alfie Thompson (Year 6 Boys' Silver) & Elizabeth Mulvaney (Year 6 Girls Bronze).
December 2009
Further notable performances were recorded by group members in December. At the English Schools X-C Cup Final @ Newquay, Cornwall on Saturday, December 5th, William Rawlinson, Timothy Mulvaney, & Andrew Halliwell represented Loughborough Grammar and helped lead them to a fine 23rd. place finish in the Intermediate Boys' category. Nearer home, at the final fixture of the Leicestershire Secondary Schools' X-C League held at Melton Country Park five group members finished inside the first fifteen in the Junior Boys race with Phillip Maddocks (2nd.), William Rawlinson (3rd), Timothy Mulvaney (10th), Robbie Moulding (14th), & James Tambini (15th). Other top 20 performances were recorded by Stephen Maddocks (Senior Boys: 6th), Joe Tambini (Inter Boys: 10th), & Joshua Phillips (Year 7 Boys: 19th). Finally, seven intrepid group members overcame unfavourable elements (sleet/ice/snow) to record excellent performances in the One Mile race at the Derby Midweek Training Races on Wednesday, December 23rd. In a 28 strong field, Stephen M. (5-21) was first U20 in 3rd place overall, Phillip M. (5-46) was first U16 in 4th place overall, & Joe T. (5-49) completed three in the top 5 with a 5th place finish. Excellent runs were also had by James T. (10th: 6-05); Fraser McHale (13th: 6-14); Timothy M. (15th: 6-24); & Christopher Mulvaney (16th: 6-32).
November 2009
With the cancellation of the Primary Schools' League Race 2 on November 7th, some of our younger athletes took advantage by dominating the first 'Link 77' X-Country fixture of the season: Ben Dijkstra, Alfie Thompson, & Edward Thomas finished 1-2-3 in the boys' race; whilst in the girls' race Charlotte Heaps won with Hannah Burton (4th) & Alika Dijkstra (5th) also prominent. In the third fixture of the Secondary Schools' X-C League held at Market Harborough on Saturday, November 7th, six of our athletes achieved top 20 performances, as follows: Year 7 Boys race: Joshua Phillips (13th); Junior Boys race: William Rawlinson (2nd), Phillip Maddocks (3rd.), & Robbie Moulding (10th); Inter Boys' race: Joe Tambini (12th); & Senior Boys race: Stephen Maddocks (7th). Two weeks later at Lutterworth five group members recorded top 10 finishes. In the Junior Boys race William (3rd) & Phillip (4th) maintained their positions in the top five overall and were supported by Timothy Mulvaney making a breakthrough performance in 9th place. In the older age group races Joe (Inter Boys) came 9th, whilst Stephen (Senior Boys) came 6th. In the Regional Round of the English Schools’ X-Country Cup Andrew Halliwell - with a fine 4th place finish - led his school (Loughborough Grammar School: LGS) to team victory in the Intermediate Boys' category on Saturday, November 14th. Supported by fellow group members William (9th) & Timothy (21st) the LGS team qualified for the National Finals @ Newquay, Cornwall in December.
October 2009
Group members produced further excellent performances throughout October. At the opening fixture of the Leicestershire Primary Schools' X-Country League six members of our training group feature in the top 12 finishers in the Year 6 Boys race, including race winner and runner up, Ben Dijkstra and Alfie Thompson. In the Year 6 Girls race 3 members of our training group featured in the top 12 finishers, with Elizabeth Mulvaney claiming a fine 3rd. place finish. Not to be outdone, eight of our athletes recorded top 20 performances @ the second fixture of the Leicestershire Secondary Schools' X-Country League, with 4 of these featuring in the top 10. Our top ten athletes were William Rawlinson (Junior Boys: 3rd); Phillip Maddocks (Junior Boys: 4th); Stephen Maddocks (Senior Boys: 7th); & Joe Tambini (Inter Boys: 9th). In the Area round of the English Schools' X-Country Cup four members of our training group (Joshua Phillips: Y7&8: 9th; Andrew Halliwell Y9&10: 3rd; William R. Y9&10: 4th; & Timothy Mulvaney: Y9&10: 12th) all helped their school (Loughborough Grammar) to qualify for the Regional Round in November. A number of our athletes have also featured in National competitions for their club, Leicester Coritanians. At the National Young Athletes Road Relays in Birmingham, Robbie Moulding (14-46) moved through 5 places on the final lap to secure a top 10 finish in the U13 Boys' race. At Under-15 level, Andrew H. (14-22) and Phillip M. (14-38) also made valuable contributions. At the English National X-C Relay Championships in Mansfield, Andrew (2K: 6-59), Phillip (7-16), William (7-31), & Robbie (7-34) made valuable contributions to excellent performances by Leicester Coritanians' A & B teams in the Under-15 & Under-13 Boys' races, whilst Stephen M. with a 10-21 3K anchored a fine performances by a young Leicester team in the Junior Men's race. Last but not least, in the monthly Derby Midweek races ten year-old Ben D. improved his "unofficial" UK Age Best record for the mile by a further 2 seconds with a clocking of 5 minutes & 27 seconds. Demonstrating the strength in depth of our ten year-olds, Alfie T. (5-33) & Ben Tansley (5-57) also bettered the 6 minute mark.
September 2009
The start of the Autumn season has been marked by a number of outstanding performances by our group members. At the Derby Midweek Races Ben Dijkstra recorded an "unofficial" UK age best record for a 10 year old over an accurately measured mile with a time of 5 minutes & 29 seconds. Only a few seconds back Alfie Thompson equalled the previous mark with a 5 minutes & 34 seconds clocking. Elsewhere on the road four of our group members took part in the Midland Young Athletes Road Relays. Representing their club (Leicester Coritanians AC) Andy Halliwell (14-22), William Rawlinson (14-29), Phillip Maddocks (14-42), & Robbie Moulding (15-00) all recorded highly satisfactory debut performances over the Sutton Park course. Not to be outdone by our younger members, 17 year old Simon Jones (representing his club Charnwood AC) recorded a highly respectable 88 minutes & 02 seconds in his half marathon debut at Nottingham. Further successes were recorded in the opening Leicestershire Secondary Schools' X-Country League fixture with William (3rd.), Phillip (4th), Robbie (12th), & James Tambini (18th) recording top 20 finishes in the Junior Boys' race. Other top 20 performances were recorded by Stephen Maddocks (Senior Boys:10th), Joey Higham (Year 7 Boys:12th), & Josh Phillips (Year 7 Boys:14th). Rounding off a series of excellent performances by our group members during September, Ben & Alfie dominated the 200 strong field in the Crossdale 2K Trail Race with a one-two finish. In the same race Christine Thomas (18th overall) was the third girl to finish, and Ben's sister Alika (25th overall) was the 2nd Primary School girl to finish.