46 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, December 27th, 2007
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KIBBLE VALLEY SPORTS STARS OF 2007 - Adrian I
. sport and skiing to name just a few.
months, here are some of the high lights of individual sporting and outstanding team achievements the Ribble Valley had to offer in 2007.
JANUARY
■ SWIMMING starlet Tom Carter struck gold in his beloved sport at the Bolton and District Championships. The 12-year-old Ribblesdale High School pupil took first place in the 50m back- stroke as well as bronze in the 100m backstroke.
■ WHALLEY-based former Blackburn Rovers Reserves strik er Joe Garner made his profession al debut for Carlisle against Crewe.
■ BOWLAND High School pupil Michael Roberts set his sights high in the world of clay pigeon shooting by finishing third in the country at Under 16 level. The 13- year-old achieved 20th overall in the country and stated his driving force was to make the 2012 Lon don Olympics in five years time.
FEBRUARY
■ JOE Garner hit his first senior goal for Carlisle. On loan from Blackburn Rovers, he netted in his fifth game for Carlisle United in their 4-1 defeat to Yeovil at Brun- ton Park.
Jonnic Schofield, (s)
■ RIBBLE Valley Athletics Club enjoyed a very successful weekend at the first major meet of the indoor season. At the North of England Indoor Track Champi onships, Robbie Schofield and Leigh Lennon led the team to glory with a gold and silver medal apiece. Schofield finished first in
ing brought Britain’s attention to the world of UFC in March and recorded two victories in front of bumper crowds at the MEN Arena in Manchester and the 02 Arena in London, only to lose his undefeated status across the pond in November. So, looking back over the last 12
thin line between success and fail ure and there have been highs and lows for some of the area’s sport ing stars. Ultimate fighter Michael Bisp-
three and four wheels, on the pitch, in the ring, on the track and in the water. But, as always in sport, it’s a
There has been success on two,
Diverse disciplines such as archery, sailing and, once again, cage fighting, lined up alongside the likes of football, tennis, motor-
NTERNATIONAL, nation al and regional success has been celebrated in close to 20 different sports by Ribble Valley residents in 2007.
the 800m and second in the 1,500m, while Lennon did the reverse with first in the 1,500m and second in the 800m.
■ BLACKBURN Rovers Ladies were named team of the round in reaching the semi-finals of the FA Women’s Cup thanks to two Katie Anderson goals against Leeds United. Earlier in the month the Shawbridge-based side won the Lancashire Cup for the fourth year running.
MARCH
■ THREE Pendle Primary pupils propelled the Clitheroe school to a top-10 finish in the British Schools’ Biathlon Championships. Year 6 girls Bethany Jones, Katy Oliver and Emily Pietrzak run and swam their way to ninth place in the national championships at the University of Bath.
B BLACKBURN Rovers Ladies made FA Women’s Cup history as they were named “team of the round” for a second successive time.' Following their Sixth Round victory over Leeds United, the Shawbridge-based side emulated their fifth round success with a second FA award.
B IT was announced tha t the Ultimate Fighting Championship would come to Great Britain and Clitheroe’s Michael Bisping would face his first fight on home soil at the MEN Arena in Manchester,
fl GYMNASTS from St Mary’s RC Primary School in Langho beat fierce competition from other regional schools to be crowned inter-school champions.
B RIBBLE Valley Athletics Club picked up another three medals at the English Indoor Champi onships in Birmingham. Under 20s 1,500m runner Nathan Riding took home silver, which was matched by Leigh Lennon in the Under 17s 800m. And Robbie Schofield ran a personal best to pick up bronze in the men’s Under 17s 800m.
fl WHALLEY golfers Roger Altham, Mike Conroy and Danny Liles, accompanied by professional David Shacklady from Mossack Hall, won the team prize at the PGA Northern Region Pro-Am in Portugal.
APRIL
fl CLITHEROE Hockey .Club clinched promotion and the First Division title at the expense of Garstang.
■ HURST GREEN, long-time leaders of the East Lancashire Football League, took the-First Division title with victory over Settle United.
■ THE media spotlight intensi fied on Michael Bisping as his
Michael Roberts (13) who finished third in the coun try for his age in the World of Clay target shooting. (A220107/10a)
UFC fight in Manchester against Elvis Sinosic drew closer. The Count featured in an hour long documentary on sky television, tracking his rise in mixed martial arts. Then, at the end of the month, the undefeated fighter gave his British fans what they wanted, by bloodying his oppo nent to record a second round knock-out.
MAY
■ AFTER his middle distance double in the Lancashire County Championships in Blackpool, Robbie Schofield was athlete of the match as Ribble Valley AC won their Second. Division East Central match at Witton Park. As the locals beat their five rivals by over 100 points, Schofield won the Under 17 men’s 800m, running a time of 1 minute 56.4 seconds, to shoot up the rankings to fourth in the country.
■ CLITHEROE GC member Simon Grayson was the toast of the clubhouse after he led Black pool to success in the League One play-off final at Wembley. The Tangerines manager was looking forward to a more relaxing game of golf after what proved to be a hectic, but rewarding season, for the former Blackburn and Leices ter defender.
■ CLITHEROE archer Barbara Morris added bronze to the gold medal she took earlier in the year at the sport’s second national annual competition. The Read- based Oakleaf Bowmen competi tor was up against 500 other archers in the 3D Championship held in Tavistock, Devon.
■ CLITHEROE Wolves Under 14s completed a magnificent sea son when victory in their last match secured the Warburtons League Championship. The team did the league and cup double hav ing already won the Dolphin Bak ery Cup earlier in the month.
■ JONNIE Schofield stormed to a gold medal at the European Wild Water Championships in Bihac, Bosnia - Great Britain’s first International Wild Water Racing Championship medal since 1995.
■ RIMINGTON Reserves won the East Lancashire Reserve Divi sion title.
JUNE
■ EUROPEAN wild water cham pion Jonnie Schofield raised his profile in the K2 kayak double by winning the 500m event a t a regatta in Nottingham.
■ LANCASHIRE’S number one female tennis professional won the biggest game of her career after forfeiting the chance to play at
m
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Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, December 27th, 2007 47
Wimbledon. Playing in the largest exhibition event in Europe, Lang- ho’s Elizabeth Thomas beat American Ashley Harkleroad in „ the group stage of the 2007 Liver- pool International - a player ranked 72nd in the world at the W time, 657 positions above the for- mer Clitheroe Royal Grammar I P School student. See November’s entry for why Wimbledon doubles champion Jamie Murray chal- @ lenged Thomas to up her game.
■ STAYING with tennis, Jennifer Holgate won the East Lancashire Ladies’ Singles Trophy for the sec ond year running with a two-set victory over Clitheroe team-mate Mary Brass.
■ CLITHEROE Wolves Under 13s goalkeeper Chris Bowness was named Warburtons Burnley Youth League Under 13s goal keeper.
■ JOHN Holden and race partner Andrew Winkle finished second in both Bavaria Sidecar A and B races at the Centenary Isle of Man. Competing in his 14th TT, the experienced Clitheroe biker recorded his greatest finish yet. His previous best in either race was third in 2006 and 2005, he said back in June: "After finishing third last year and the year before, to get two seconds was very pleas ing. “It’s my 14th TT and I've led races there before, only we've always had mechanical problems in the past.”
JULY
■ CLITHEROE Royal Grammar School’s Eleanor Markendale received a Great Britain call-up. The 17-year-old had an invitation from UK Athletics to represent GB and Northern Ireland in the heptathlon at the Under 20 and Under 23 Combined Events Inter national in France.
■ CLITHEROE athletes Leigh Lennon and Robbie Schofield were chosen to feature at the UK Youth games after starring at the Eng lish Schools Athletics Champi onships.
■ GRINDLETON teenager Jon- Lee Fielding linked up with the England volleyball team for train ing ahead of representing the North West.
AUGUST
■ CLITHEROE Ladies Hockey Club had much to celebrate as they were crowned Summer League Champions with a crush ing 9-1 win in their final game against Garstang. The Ribble Val ley locals went into their fixture knowing that the league was very * tight at the top and three teams could have clinched the trophy on s the final day.
Capstick reviews another year of sporting achievement!
■ CLITHEROE Rugby Club cel ebrated 30 years of sporting life in the community. Numerous events were planned for old, current and new members to celebrate this milestone throughout the latter half of the year to mark the club’s history.
■ RIBBLE Valley pentathletes replicated last year’s success at the British Modern Pentathlon Championships at Millfield School in Somerset. Youth A Under 19 champion Sam Murray retained her title and last year's Under 13 champion, Alice Fitton, took the Under 15 category.
■ FORMER Whalley-based striker Joe Garner became Carlisle United’s record signing. Garner completed a £140,000 move to Brunton Park from Blackburn Rovers, in a deal which will rise to £150,000 if the Cumbrians are promoted to the Championship.
■ THREE girls from Read Crick et Club created history by being picked for a special Lancashire Under i9s to tour South Africa in March. Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Sixth Form student Rachel Dakin, and 14-year-old Ribbles dale High School pupil Alex Hart ley are both in the squad while fel low Read player Jenny Laycock will travel in a coaching capacity.
a ™
■ CLITHEROE Hockey club were in devastating form at the Brookfields Open a t Leyland Motors to secure another title. After clinching the summer league title the month before, the locals were the team to beat and they had both their first and second teams entered into the 10-team tournament.
■ WHALLEY junior golfer Scott Byrom achieved every golfer's dream with a hole-in-one. The 14- year-old was playing with his dad, David, also a Whalley member, and two friends, and scored his ace over the pond at Whalley's pictur esque 18th hole. Scott, in his first year of competitive golf, saw the ball roll into the cup, and said later: "I was amazed and delight ed. Now my dad wants me to join the hole-in-one club so he can wear the club tie!”
SEPTEMBER , ,
■ CLITHEROE Cricket Club’s Jack Dewhurst was named the North of England’s player of the festival a t the ECB National Academy, at Loughborough Uni versity. The Clitheroe first teamer and Cobras Under 14s player was selected for the North in the regional tournament, following a successful county season, where he has averaged over 50 with the bat, and around 10 with the ball.
■ MICHAEL Bisping was out to
settle a score when he returned to the Ultimate Fighting Champi onship Octagon this month. The Clitheroe cage fighter faced his second UFC mixed martial arts bout on British shores at the 02 Arena in London, but it ended in a controversial win for the Count by the narrowest of split decisions over opponent Matt Hamill. The five-minute, three-round UFC 75 fight went the full distance, and saw Bisping lose the first round by consensus from the three judges, but win the last two by a decision of two to one. It was the first time Bisping had had to rely upon an outside decision, having success fully submitted or ko’d his oppo nents in his 14 previous fights - calling for him to offer up a rematch.
■ SAWLEY’S Jonnie Schofield and partner Ben Brown won bronze in the Under 23 500m kayak doubles at the European Flatwater Championships in Bel grade. There’s was one of four medals picked up by Team GB in Serbia Montenegro, the pair took their favoured lane next to the grandstand and gave it everything as they hauled their boat over the line in third place behind Hungary and Latvia. Twenty-two-year old Schofield switched from Wild Water Racing to Olympic Sprint Racing this year, having won an array of medals, including gold at
the European Championships in May.
received a 25% sell on clause, and the first option on loaning Cofie, who was discovered by the club’s community programme coaches in Germany, back to the club.
■ FOOTBALL-playing Clitheroe GP Dr John Zak proved a safe pair of hands at the 2007 World Medical Football Championships in Australia. Trading his post at Clitheroe Health Centre for an appointment in goal with the British Medical Team, the Pendle- side practitioner helped the side to third in the annual eight-team competition.
OCTOBER
■ CLITHEROE’S John Holden and passenger Andy Winkle were crowned European Sidecar Cham pions in Germany. The motorbike and sidecar racers topped their class in the final stage of the eight-
■ MOORLAND School pupil John Cofie attracted interest from top Premier League clubs this month as Burnley fought desper ately to keep hold of the prodi gious young striker. The 14-year- old was linked with a £lm-plus move to Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea but finally plumped for Manchester United in November. As part of the deal, Burnley
'Fl against much more powerful bikes. Riding his Suzuki 600, Holden finished fifth in both the six-lap and nine-lap race at Fro- hburg to take the honours, follow ing his previous performances at tracks in Ireland, England and elsewhere in Germany since June. This completed a fantastic year for John following his success ear lier in the year at the Isle of Man TT.
■ CLITHEROE’S Town Team pool players took on the big boys and nearly won at the National Knockout Finals in Great Yarmouth. The locals performed a million times better than they thought they would and if they had been more confident in their first match they would have gone further, having lost 11-7 to Brighton before beating Leicester 12-6. However, there was some comfort for Andy Blackburn as he beat professional snooker player and 2007 World Snooker Champi onship finalist Mark Selby from Leicester. While Clitheroe team mate James Whitwell was named player-of-the-tournament.
fl CLITHEROE Royal Grammar School’s four-man ski team were crowned English Schools’ champi ons in Stoke. The Chatburn Road foursome of Zac Rayson, Kaigan Witts, Edward Wilson and Richard Leeson returned the three fastest times on their two runs of the slalom course on the second day of the event. That result was in the Open competition, which followed the Age Group events the day before, where the team slalomed to second in the Under 19s race.
NOVEMBER
■ CLITHEROE Dolphins coach Peter Jones took gold in the 50m backstroke at the ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Short Course Championships at Ponds Forge - to add to his long course win earlier in the year.
■ STONYHURST College pupil and Clitheroe CC member Tim le Breton was chosen by the English Cricket Board to receive coaching from a top spin bowler at a series of special clinics.
■ CLITHEROE’S Pool Town Team booked their place in 2008’s National League Finals in Great Yarmouth after comfortably see ing off Preston City. The 12-man side took the eight, frames they needed to secure one of 96 places in the two-day April competition, before completing a 13-5 win over their visitors at the Royal British Legion.
race, four-stage competition to scoop the F2 challenge title, as well as finish second overall in the
fl LANGHO’S Emily Whiteside was selected for the North West high performance netball squad, following trials earlier in autumn.
■ MICHAEL Bisping went to war with his toughest opponent yet when he took to the Octagon for his a third UFC bout this year against fellow undefeated fighter Rashad Evans. The New Jersey event saw the Clitheroe mixed martial arts expert become the first Brit to headline an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight. Unfortunately it would prove to be the first defeat of his career as the American wrestler won by a narrow split-points decision.
■ LANGHO’S Elizabeth Thomas was challenged to continue her rise up the world tennis rankings and win a doubles place alongside Wimbledon champion Jamie Mur ray for an all Great Britain part nership in the not to distant future.
■ HYNDBURN and Ribble Val ley Schools’ Under 15s District Football Town Team produced a magnificent performance to defeat Manchester in the English Schools Cup at Clitheroe. Against a side considered one of the strongest in the country, the local team, made up of 11 players from Ribble Val ley schools, showed tremendous character to tussle it out and take the game on penalties.
DECEMBER
■ CLITHEROE biker Dave “Buzby” Walker summed up a tri umphant year, with a quartet of club championship victories across the country. Racing his Yamaha R6 600cc machine, the Salthill Road man recorded 16 podium finishes and 10 race wins from events held at Oulton Park, Angelsey, Teeside and Wigan.
■ THOMAS Cornthwaite won this year’s Bolton-by-Bowland Fell Race. And after celebrating his exploits in. the eight-mile Sun day morning event, the Gisburn athlete then travelled to Clayton- le-Moors where he put in a second tremendous performance to win a Red Rose Cross Country League race in the afternoon.
■ NORTH West Young Sailor of the Year Rob Partridge reflected on an outstanding 2007 and his hopes to make the Olympic Devel opment Squad in the new year in order to push on for a place in the 2012 London Olympic Games Team. The 18-year-old former Waddington and West Bradford Primary School pupil met with success around the world in Argentina, Canada and Sweden as he followed the elite path of for mer Olympians.
John Holden with his rae ing sidecar after his 2nd place finish at the Isle of Man TT race, (s)
Rob Partridge, (s)
Blackburn Rovers captain Mel Cook and manager Adam Lakeland (right)
receive their Women’s FA Cup team of the round
award from football secre tary Andrew Pincher. (s)
M 1 1 ; ^ I ^ ; V J I H : t i :T«1 i J I h d d : k l 4
David Walker raced to a quartet of club champi onships. (s)
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