December round up - what a great month for Junior Striders!

It has been the busiest December on record for Sydney Striders Juniors - very exciting. 

First of all we had juniors Adam Halmy, Ben Jagger & Fraser McKinlay getting parts as extras, running, in Angelina Jolie's film 'Unbroken'. They had a great experience 'on set' and were paid too! They were in the papers - see links below....

http://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au/story/1960967/angelina-jolie-shoots-movie-in-camden/?cs=1184#slide=9

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/macarthur/angelina-jolie-films-scenes-for-upcoming-film-unbroken-at-camden-showground/story-fngr8h70-1226778972514

Next up we had Josh Phillips winning Australian All Schools - Nationals - under 16 boys 2K steeplechase, and he is 14. His time was 6:14. Lachlan Cooper, Daniel Francken, Hannah Gibson, Nicola Hogg & Jack Stockeld also made it to Nationals, all caming in the top 8.

Below we have Lachlan Cooper & Josh Phillips in the ANSW mile race at Wollongong. Lachlan won the u16 boys race in 4:30 and set a new state record. Josh was just behind in 4:32. These two are making us proud, and they are only 14. 

Will they catch the Sydney Uni guy?? Lachlan Cooper leading from Josh Phillips - EJ had one lap to go.

The boys have narrowed the gap...

Middle is Lachlan Cooper - new state record holder. To the right is Josh Phillips, 2nd and 2 seconds behind Lachlan.

Our 10K runners attended the Striders Xmas Brunch to claim their rewards and enjoy the good food, spot prizes and mingling with all the lovely Striders from the rest of the club. 

Gus Wong, Emma McGlinn, Hannah Gibson, Davis Gardiner, Angus Webber & Harlan Mulherin.

Treloar shields have been very well attended, and there has been a lot of camaraderie. Tessa Constantine usually runs the 400m and 400m hurdles, but she has usually left by the time the 800m, 1500m, 3K and 2K steeplechase runners arrive. Competitors include Adam Halmy, Bethany Halmy, Paul Loader, Ben Jagger, Will Law, Gus Wong, Josh Phillips, Lachlan Cooper, Daniel Cooper, Amelia Gorman, Liam Gorman, Nicola Hogg, Olivia Hogg, Sophie Gocher & Tom Davies. A determined group of parents have been running too.

Daniel Cooper aged 11 - 2K steeplechase

Gus Wong aged 17 - 800m

Olivia Hogg & Nicola Hogg - 800m

Tessa Constantine

On Thursday 19th Dec. Fraser McKinlay won the VERY windy Xmas 5k handicap in Manly. He improved his PB by 27 seconds to 19.19. David Gardiner set a new course record in 16.39 while Hannah Gibson was the fastest female. An honorable mention for Harlan Mulherin, who was first scratch runner home in a very good time of 18.15. 

Fraser McKinlay wins the 5K Xmas handicap at Shelly Beach, Manly.

Also, some of our runners went off travelling over the holidays and ran races in their Striders tops while there.

Tom Davies  & Gemima Davies running a race in Geneva. 

The Christmas mile handicap Monday 23rd November 2013

Nineteen ran in the Christmas mile handicap, which may not sound like many, but it was a rainy night and thunderstorms were possible. Thanks to excellent helpers Wally Phillips, Anne Gardiner and Greg Constantine. Alexander Sinclair aged 8 won - improving by 1:23. Other than Alexander, 5 improved and won prizes. Josh Phillips and Lachlan Cooper both improved and ran the exact same time of 4:40, smashing the course record held jointly by Taiki Nakaya and Luke Gorman of 4:47. Tessa won best dressed, and you can see why in the pictures below.

Alexander Sinclair, handicap winner, with Christmassey Caroline

'The Boys' with their famous she collections. Liam Gorman, Josh Phillips, Harlen Mulherin, Dan Cooper, Lachlan Cooper, Jack Mills and Will Law. Josh and Locky are the record breakers.

Tessa Constantine - best dressed, with last year's winner Ciara Sinclair

All those who dressed up - even a little bit. At the back, Tessa Constantine and Caroline. At the front Ciara Sinclair and Torren Mulherin

 

 

NSW Sate relays 16 - 17 Nov. 2013

 

 

This proved to be a very exciting weekend of racing and we had for the first time a NSW Track Relay Champion, thanks to the Under 16 boys in the 1500m relay. We put in a whopping 12 teams - 4 girls' teams and 8 boys teams. The age groups start at under 14, so a lot of our 9, 10, 11 and 12 year olds were racing much older athletes. Overall we came away with 1 gold (under 16 boys 1500m), 2 silvers (under 14 boys A 800m and u14 girls 1500m)  and 2 bronze medals (under 18 boys 1500m and under 14 boys A 1500m). So, overall, it does look like as a club we are best at the 1500m. There was even a dads team in the 200+ 1500m on Sunday - Michael Halmy,Tony Wong, David Jagger and John Law. You can see how wet it was on Sunday in the pictures below.

 

More on that gold medal winning group. It was a very wet Sunday afternoon, Josh Phillips set off in the teeming rain in the first leg of the Under 16 Boys 4x1500 and came home first in 4.14. Fraser Mckinley and Ben Jagger kept us in touch on the second and third legs. Lachlan Cooper made up 60m on the last leg and regained the lead with just over 200m to go to claim gold. On Saturday Josh, Fraser, Lachlan and Harlan Mulherin won bronze in the under16 boys 800m.

Ben Jagger, Lachlan Cooper, Josh Phillips and Fraser McKinlay - gold in the 1500m

The Under 14 boys’ team of Liam Gorman, Will Law, Tom Davies and Kieran Gorman won a gallant silver in the 800m to go with their bronze in the 1500m. The two B teams did very well too and got some good practice.

The Under 18 boys had a mixed weekend. The team of Daniel Francken, Gus Wong, Adam Halmy and David Gardiner won bronze yesterday in the 1500m. Daniel’s 4.11 was the fastest time over 1500 this weekend. On Sunday the team of Gabe Corke, David Gardiner, Gus Wong and Adam Halmy finished 7th in a very competitive 800m relay.

Under 18s and Under 14s together. Daniel Francken, David Gardiner, Liam Gorman, Will Law, Adam Halmy, Gus Wong, Cam Gorman being carried and Tom Davies and Kieran Gorman helping carry Cam.

 

The 1500m start - Tom Davies, Tom Kirkland and Daniel Francken all on first leg.

Under 14 boys with their silver medals for the 800m: Liam Gorman, Will Law, Tom Davies and Kieran Gorman.

The Under 14 girls team of Olivia Hogg, Ciara Sinclair, Emily and Sophie Gocher won silver today in the 4x1500 relay. Sophie made up the length of the straight in the last leg from 3rd to 2nd. Her time of 5.05 was the fastest time for a girl Strider over the weekend. On Saturday the team of Sophie, Emma Kirkland, Nicola and Olivia Hogg came in a very good 7th out of 12 in the 800m relay. We also had an under 14 girls 200m team with Sophie Wickham, Amy Polikowski, Emma O'Reilly and Nicola Hogg, which did well. Our under 16 girls 400m team with Tessa Constantine, Emma O'Reilly, Amy Polikowski and Sophie Wickham put up a good fight against girls much older than them.

Sophie Gocher, Ciara Sinclair, Olivia Hogg and Emily Gocher - silver medal winners in the under 14 girls 1500m.

Sophie Wickham in the under 14 girls 200m

Tessa Constantine, the only girl who actually was a true under 16 girl in the 400m relay.

A scene from the stands on a rainy Sunday - the Hoggs.

State 3K Championships November 9th at SOPAC - spectacular results

It was an enthralling night of racing at the NSW 3000m Championship with most of us on our feet cheering on our athletes who were on the hunt for personal bests. Conditions however were far from ideal. The temperature did drop with the arrival of the cool change which also brought a gusty head wind blowing down the home straight.

Lachlan and Josh, shoe experts, superstars, friends and rivals limber up.

 First up was the Men’s H race with Michael Halmy (Bethany and Adam’s dad), David Jagger (Ben’s dad) and our president, Joe Degabrielle sporting his new spikes. Michael was first home in 11.42 while David held off our president.

 

 In the Men’s G race, Dan Cooper limped off the track mid-race through the race after injuring his hamstring. We wish him a speedy recovery, hopefully in time to run in next weekend’s State Relays. New member, 17 year old Joe Jones, in his track debut came second in 10.14.08 while 15 year old Ben Jagger ran a PB of 10.28.82 not far behind.

Left to right: Ben Jagger, Dan Cooper before he hurt his hamstring and Joe Jones

It's exciting to see your result on the board.

12 year old Tom Davies ran a personal best of 10.15.39 in the Men’s F race. Incidentally, Tom ran faster tonight than Josh Phillips when Josh was 12.



Tom Davies up with the big guys

14 year old Lachlan Cooper launched his usual late run for glory with 600m to go and finished second with a time of 9.09.33 in the Men’s D race which had most of us thinking this was going to be the fastest time of the night. Behind Lachlan, Adam Halmy ran a solid 9.38.70.

 

The start of the men's D race

 

Look at the effort: Adam Halmy and Lachlan Cooper

The series of men’s races were interrupted by the Women’s C race which was won by 12 year old Sophie Gocher on her debut in the event. Sophie took the lead in the last kilometer and came home in 11.06.06. Not far behind was another 12 year old, Olivia Hogg again in her debut finished strongly in fifth place in 11.20.10. Another 300m behind was one Caroline Yarnell, the only Senior Female Strider and the oldest female competitor in the event finished in 12.25.85.

 

The start of the C race

 

Sophie Gocher who ran 11:06:06 to win the race

Olivia Hogg has just overtaken no. 12

The men’s C race was arguably the highlight of the evening which featured 14 year old Josh Phillips, 17 year old David Gardiner, Joe Burgess who recently left us to join Sydney University and one Nick Bromley whose Little Athletics 3000m record was broken by Josh last year. The start was fast and had us spectators wondering whether the field was going to try to run 8 minutes. Like all the races that took place earlier, the field stretched out into the back straight with the wind blowing behind and came back together on the home straight in the head wind. David and Josh did everything right and covered all the breaks. Soon after 4 laps, the field began to split into packs. Josh looked the strongest and began to move through the field which had us all on our feet. Josh eventually came in eighth in a time of 9.02.10, a massive personal best and the fastest time by a Strider on the night. Not far behind, David came in 15th with a time of 9.14.81.

Soon after the start. David Gardiner is ahead of Josh Phillips

 

 


David Gardiner moving through the field

 

David Gardiner now ahead of Nick Bromley

Josh Phillips pulls away from Joe Burgess to finish in 9:02:10

Buffalo Sports NSW All Schools 10/10/2013 - 13/10/2013

A lot of our juniors competed at NSW ALL Schools. See full results at www.nswathletics.info/liveresults/2013/nsw_as/  or elsewhere on the ANSW website if looking at this post long after the event. Now, at these races athletes can choose to wear either their school singlet or their Striders top. It is those that chose to wear their green and white Striders tops with pride that we feature here. They did incredibly well, and I leave it for you to decide whether wearing the Striders top brings out the champion in our athletes :)

The finish of what was arguably the most exciting race of the whole 4 days, with Lachlan Cooper pulling through the field to win the 14 boys 1500m with a sprint finish.

Lachlan Cooper gets his gold medal for the 14 boys 1500m.

Daniel Francken wins the 16 boys 3K. He also won the 3K 2 years ago. He was 3rd in the 1500m.

Daniel Francken gets his gold medal for the 16 boys 3K.

Hannah Gibson came 2nd in the 17 girls 2K steeplechase. Although she is not in her Striders top, we can see Amelia Gorman in her Monty top just behind her.

I love this photo. Here we see Ben Jagger have a go at the 2K steeplechase for the first time.

Paul Loader in the 16 boys steeplechase. You can also see Adam Halmy in his school top (the one in the yellow shoes and red top).

Josh Phillips won the 2K steeplechase in 6:24. He also won the 14 boys 3K in 9:18.

Josh Phillips with Youssef Abdi.

On the Sunday, just before Josh Phillips's 3K race, a fire started in the nearby car park, with cars actually exploding. This delayed the race start. Daniel Francken posted this picture on facebook.

Sydney Striders Juniors Party Extravaganza! Sept 7th 2013

What a wonderful party! We always have good parties, but this one has to be up there with the best. We had a great venue (The Hogg's house), fantastic sunny weather, good food and lots of entertainment, competitions and, of course prizes!! 

Entertainment: Rachel Underwood came along to teach everyone exercises to prevent injuries using thera bands and foam rollers, there was an ongoing slide show with music, heated pool, table tennis, football game, gorgeous singing from Jemima Davies and Nicola Hogg, election special comedy from Gus Wong, Kyle Wong and mum (playing the old peasant woman), and a celebrity interview with Josh Phillips.

Competition: a keenly fought trivia competition won by our intellectual giants - the girls only team, which beat the boys and the parents. We also had a hula hooping contest won by Jemima Davies, with Emily Gocher second. The party finished with pinata bashing.

Prizes: Trophies for the teams which made the top 3 in the state in the ANSW winter season, Breakthrough trophies, club record certificates, choccy prizes for all activities, an hour's massage, an hour of bio-mechanical gait analysis and spot prizes GALORE.

Some of the trophies glistening in the sunlight

Tony Wong giving out the 

breakthrough awards and
club record certificates

Tessa Constantine receives her breakthrough award for the 400m hurdles

Samuel Greenland, Benji Wilson, Tom Stockeld and Lachlan Francis - the under 12 boys team, get trophies for coming 2nd in the winter premiership.

Ben Sinclair and Wally Phillips - top helpers, as identified by the juniors themselves.

The under 12 girls celebrating in the pool - Alexandra Sincliar, Emma Kirkland, Jemima Davies, Nicola Hogg, Emily Gocher and Ciara Sinclair.

Caroline Yarnell conducts the celebrity interview with Josh Phillips

Kyle Wong, Gus Wong and Caroline Yarnell in a Monty Python skit - the election day special. Kyle followed this with a solo performance from 'The dictater'.

Fraser McKinlay, Josh Phillips, Lachlan Cooper, Jack Mills and Dan Cooper drag themselves from the pool to watch the performances.

Kyle Wong - 'Where can a young couple go, hungry and in search of a frog and peach?'

Jemima Davies and Nicola Hogg singing Price Tag beautifully and word perfect

Some of the crowd watching the interview and performances

Tony Wong organises the hula hoop contest

Tom Davies hulas

Jemima Davies hulas

Pinata bashing.

A bit of bonding amongst the under 18s - Joe Burgess and Gus Wong versus Hannah Gibson and Bethany Halmy

Age groups mingle :) Daniel Francken and Paul Loader take on Tom Davies and Lachlan Francis