Club News
All club news will appear on this page. All news prior to January 2021 has been archived.
2022
ENGLAND ATHLETICS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS - 12th FEBRUARY 2022
Jack Holmes won the bronze medal in the U17 Men's High Jump with 1.88 metres.
YORKSHIRE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS - 14th AND 15th MAY 2022
We won 7 medals at this year's championships (one more than last year), 1 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze.
Jack Holmes won the gold medal in the U17 Men's High Jump, setting a club record of 1.93 metres.
Harrison Carter won the silver medal in the U17 Men's Discus (23.19 metres), silver in the Hammer (22.48 metres) and bronze in the Shot Putt (8.66 metres).
Will Carter won the silver medal in the Senior Men's Pole Vault (3.20 metres) and silver in the 110 metres hurdles in 21.27 seconds.
Madison Toddington won the bronze medal in the U15 Girls Discus with 17.12 metres.
Eleanor Birden finished 5th in the U20 Ladies 100 metres hurdles, setting a club record of 18.52 seconds.
NORTHERN INTER COUNTIES TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS - 2nd JUNE 2022
3 of our athletes were selected to represent Yorkshire in the Northern Inter Counties Track and Field Championships. Jack Holmes was in tremendous form, winning the Under 17 Men's High Jump with a clearance of 1.95 metres. This set a club record for U17 Men and equalled the club record for U20 and Senior Men. Harrison Carter came 10th in the U17 Men's Shot Putt with 8.60 Metres and Archie Fraser came 11th in the U15 Boys Long Jump with 4.72 Metres.
WEST YORKSHIRE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS - 11th SEPTEMBER 2022
We won 9 medals at this year's championships, 3 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze.
Katie Kelly won the gold medal in the Under 17 Ladies 800 metres in 2 minutes 35.8 seconds. She also won the silver medal in the 300 metres, setting a club record for U17, Junior and Senior Ladies with 43.4 seconds. She also won the bronze medal in the 200 metres in 28.7 seconds. Sienna Lavine won the gold medal in the U11 Girls 600 metres in 1 minute 54.0 seconds. She Also won the silver medal in the 75 metres in 11.3 seconds. Archie Fraser won the gold medal in the U15 Boys Shot Putt with 8.97 metres. He also won the silver medal in the Long Jump with 4.75 metres. Francesca Ward won the bronze medal in the U15 Girls 100 metres in 14.3 seconds. She also won the bronze medal in the 200 metres in 29.2 seconds. Julian Rutkowski finished 4th in the U11 Boys 600 metres, setting a club record of 1 minute 58.3 seconds.
NORTHERN TRACK AND FIELD LEAGUE
MATCH 1 - CUDWORTH - 30th APRIL 2022
We finished 1st out of the 7 clubs in Division 2 East. It was our first ever team victory in the Northern League and we won the match by well over 100 points. The match result was:- 1st Pontefract 475 points, 2nd Barnsley 349, 3rd Mansfield 333, 4th Longwood 313, 5th Penistone 294, 6th Bradford Airedale 204, 7th Worksop 55.
Eleanor Birden set club records for U20 and Senior Ladies in the 400 metres hurdles with 78.8 seconds.
Beatrice Cunningham set a club record for U17 Ladies in the 400 metres hurdles with 79.9 seconds.
Evie Allen set a club record for U17 Ladies in the 100 metres hurdles with 23.0 seconds.
Kevin Waite set club records in the M60 and M55 categories in the 800 metres with 2:31.2 and in the M60 category for 400 metres with 70.5 seconds.
Christine McCarthy set club records in the F60, F55 and F50 categories at 400 metres with 87.1 seconds.
Our Ladies 4 x 400 metres relay team of Alice Dolman, Faye Lightowler, Johanna Sutcliffe and Rebecca Winter set a club record of 4 minutes 45.4 seconds.
MATCH 2 - CUDWORTH - 12th JUNE 2022
This match was successfully hosted by Pontefract AC. We had another outstanding team victory by well over 100 points. The match result was:- 1st Pontefract 470 points, 2nd Longwood 323, 3rd Barnsley 318, 4th Mansfield 306, 5th Penistone 181, 6th Bradford Airedale 176, 7th Worksop 67.
Luke Murphy won the mens Long Jump, setting a club record with 6.23 metres. Jack Holmes won the High Jump (1.90m). Will Carter won the 110m Hurdles (21.4 seconds), Pole vault (3.20m) and Triple Jump (10.75m). Richard Howes set M60 club records in the Javelin (32.36m), Hammer (18.09m), Discus (20.38m), Shot Putt (7.65m) and Triple Jump (7.77m).
In the womens events, Beatrice Cunningham won the High Jump (1.50m) and Long Jump (4.20m). Eleanor Birden won the 100m Hurdles (18.9 seconds) and Triple Jump (9.74m). Katie Kelly won the 400 metres (64.8 seconds) and Rebecca Winter won the 3000 metres (11:24.7). Jane Williams set an F45 club record in the Discus (15.78m).
MATCH 3 - CLECKHEATON - 10th JULY 2022
We recorded our third successive team victory in this match and this has assured our promotion into Division 1 next year. The match result was:- 1st Pontefract 456 points, 2nd Mansfield 437, 3rd Longwood404.8, 4th Barnsley 353, 5th Bradford Airedale 250.8, 6th Penistone 198.8, 7th Worksop 59.
Numerous club records were set at this meeting. In the womens events, Katie Kelly won the 400 metres, setting club records for U17, U20 and senior women with 63.6 seconds. Katie set club records in the same 3 age groups when finishing 2nd in the 200 metres in 27.3 seconds. Beatrice Cunningham set club records for U17s in the 400m Hurdles (78.9 seconds) and in the Triple Jump (9.79m). She also won the High Jump with 1.45m. Faye Rhodes set a club record when winning the Discus with 35.29m. She also won the Shot Putt (9.41m) and Javelin (22.26m). Johanna Sutcliffe won the 800m (2:29.5) and the 1500m (5:14.4). Eleanor Birden won the 100m Hurdles (18.7 seconds) and the Triple Jump (9.85m). Our winning 4 x 100 metres relay team of Evie Allen, Isobel Sutton, Katie Kelly and Eleanor Birden set a club record of 54.0 seconds. We also won the 4 x 400 metres relay with Beatrice Cunningham, Vicki Harris, Johanna Sutcliffe and Katie Kelly setting a club record with 4:38.8
In the mens events, Luke Murphy won the Long Jump, improving his own club record to 6.44 metres. He also equalled the club record in the 100 metres when finishing 2nd in 11.8 seconds. Richard Howes improved his own M60 club records in the Javelin with 32.89m and in the Triple Jump (9.21m). Will Carter won the Pole Vault with 3.20m.
MATCH 4 - MANSFIELD - 6th AUGUST 2022
We finished 2nd in this match, which was more than enough to end the season as East Division 2 Champions. The league positions at the end of the season were:- 1st Pontefract - 27 points, 2nd Mansfield - 22, 3rd Longwood Harriers - 20, 4th Barnsley - 19, 5th Bradford Airedale - 10,
6th Penistone - 9, 7th Worksop - 5. In this last match, Luke Murphy was in excellent form. He won the 100 metres in 12.0 seconds, the 200 metres in 24.3 seconds and the Long Jump with 6.35 metres. Jack Holmes won the High Jump with 1.70 metres. In the women's events, Eleanor Birden was in excellent form. Eleanor won the 100 metres hurdles in 18.6 seconds and the triple jump with a personal best of 9.91 metres. She was also 2nd in the 400 metres hurdles, equalling the club record with 78.8 seconds. Katie Kelly also produced some outstanding performances. Katie won the 100 metres in 13.6 seconds and she also won the 400 metres in 64.8 seconds. Faye Lightowler won the 1500 metres in 5 minutes 23.1 seconds. Christine McCarthy set a club record for women over 60 in the 3000 metres with 12 minutes 50.2 seconds and Jane Williams set a club record for women over 45 in the Javelin with 13.43 metres.
YORKSHIRE AND DISTRICT ATHLETICS LEAGUE
MATCH 1 - CLECKHEATON - 1st MAY 2022
We finished 3rd out of the 4 clubs in a very competitive match. The scores were:- 1st Barton - 332,
2nd Keighley - 308, 3rd Pontefract - 265, 4th Halifax -264. Beatrice Cunningham won the U17 Ladies 300m Hurdles, setting a club record of 53.1 seconds. Evie Allen ran well to finish 2nd in that race in 55.4 seconds. Beatrice also won the Long Jump with 4.46 mtrs. Katie Kelly won the U17 Ladies 800m in
2 minutes 32.9 seconds. Francesca Ward won the U15 Girls 100m in 14.4 seconds and she also won the 200m in 29.1 seconds. Madison Toddington won the U15 Girls Shot Putt with 7.83 mtrs and she also won the Discus with 17.92 mtrs.
MATCH 2 - CLEETHORPES - 5th JUNE 2022
We finished 2nd in Match 2. The result was:- 1st Barton - 393, 2nd Pontefract - 301, 3rd Halifax - 258,
4th Keighley - 56. Beatrice Cunningham and Archie Fraser both won 3 events in this match. Beatrice won the U17 Ladies 80m Hurdles in 17.3 seconds, Long Jump with 4.36m and High Jump with 1.40m. Archie won the U15 Boys 100m in 13.1 seconds, Long Jump with 4.67m and High Jump with 1.40m. Francesca Ward won the U15 Girls 200m in 28.4 seconds and the 300m in 46.8 seconds. Abi Teece won the U15 Girls Long Jump with 3.87m and High Jump with 1.25m. Other victories came from Madison Toddington (U15 Girls Javelin - 13.21m), Harrison Carter (U17 Mens Shot Putt - 8.90m), Rudy Burgoyne (U13 Boys 80m - 12.7 seconds) and Trudie Robson (U15 Girls 1500m - 5 minutes 46.0 seconds).
MATCH 3 - CLECKHEATON - 3rd JULY 2022
We finished 1st in Match 3. The result was:- 1st Pontefract - 329, 2nd Keighley - 301, 3rd Halifax - 287, 4th Barton - 271. Beatrice Cunningham, Archie Fraser and Francesca Ward all won 3 events. Beatrice won the U17 Ladies 300m Hurdles in 53.9 seconds, Long Jump with 4.78m and High Jump with 1.50m. Archie won the U15 Boys Long Jump, setting a club record of 5.29m, Shot Putt with 8.24m and 100m in 13.0 seconds. Francesca won the U15 Girls 100m in 14.0 seconds, 200m in 28.1 seconds and 300m in 47.2 seconds. Katie Kelly won the U17 Ladies 800m, setting a club record of 2 minutes 31.4 seconds. She also won the 200m in 27.6 seconds. Madison Toddington won the U15 Girls Shot Putt with 8.91m and she also won the Discus with 18.69m. Abi Teece had 2 victories in the U15 Girls age group - 75m Hurdles in 15.4 seconds and High Jump with 1.30m. Harrison Carter also won 2 events in the U17 Mens age group - Shot Putt with 9.58m and Discus with 21.23m. Emily Kelly won the U15 Girls Long Jump with 3.62m.
MATCH 4 - CLEETHORPES - 31st JULY 2022
We finished 2nd in Match 4. The result was:- 1st Barton - 409, 2nd Pontefract - 250, 3rd Halifax - 246. Keighley did not attend. This resulted in the final league positions being:- 1st Barton - 13 points,
2nd Pontefract - 12, 3rd Halifax - 7, 4th Keighley - 7.
In Match 4, Katie Kelly and Francesca Ward both won 3 events. Katie won the U17 Ladies 100m in 13.6 seconds, 200m in 27.6 seconds and 300m in 45.3 seconds. Francesca won the U15 Girls 100m in 13.6 seconds, 200m in 27.9 seconds and 300m in 47.4 seconds. Abi Teece won the U15 Girls 75m Hurdles in 15.0 seconds and she also won the High Jump with 1.30m. Madison Toddington won the U15 Girls Shot Putt with 8.87m and she also won the Javelin with 14.53m. Archie Fraser also had 2 victories in the U15 Boys Shot Putt (9.33m) and Long Jump (4.81m). Other victories came from Emily Kelly (U15 Girls Long Jump - 3.75m), Elizabeth Teece (U17 Ladies High Jump - 1.25m), Harrison Carter (U17 Mens Shot Putt - 8.99m) and Holly Jackson (U15 Girls 1500m - 6 minutes 31.4 seconds).
ROAD RUNNING
BRASS MONKEY HALF MARATHON, YORK - 16th JANUARY 2022
Nathan Doy finished 41st in a high quality race, setting a club record for Senior Men with 73 minutes 37 seconds.
DEWSBURY 10K - 6th FEBRUARY 2022
Nathan Doy was again our top finisher. He was 34th out of 2026 in 33 minutes 35 seconds. Scott Daly set a club record for Men Over 50 with 38-06 and Johanna Sutcliffe set F45 and F40 club records with
38-20. Christine McCarthy clocked 43-59 to finish as the 2nd F60.
WOKINGHAM HALF MARATHON - MARCH 2022
This was the trial race for selection for the England team in the veterans international against the Celtic nations at Chester in May. Christine McCarthy had an outstanding run, finishing in 93-19 and has been selected for the England team in the F60 age group. Congratulations to Christine on her selection. Faye Lightowler had a good run to finish in 84-40, but just missed out on selection for England.
THIRSK 10 MILES - 13th MARCH 2022
Some more outstanding performances here with Scott Daly setting an M50 club record with 62-30. Alan Boyd was also in outstanding form. He clocked 71-06 to set club records in the M60 and M55 age groups. Christine McCarthy was the 1st F60 finisher in 72-57.
WAKEFIELD 10K - 20th MARCH 2022
Vicki Harris was the 1st F35 finisher in 43-56 and Christine McCarthy was the 1st F60 home in 44-16.
MANCHESTER MARATHON - 2nd APRIL 2022
Some really top performances by our athletes here. Faye Lightowler finished in 2 hours 57 minutes 46 seconds and Johanna Sutcliffe went sub 3 hours for the first time, setting an F45 club record with
2-58-14. Christine McCarthy produced another world class performance with 3-20-49. Molly Cawthorn, who joined as a member a few days later, clocked an outstanding 2-57-04.
CHESTER HALF MARATHON - 15th MAY 2022
Christine McCarthy represented England in the veterans international half marathon, which was incorporated within the race. Christine came 2nd in the F60 age group in 1-38-03.
DONCASTER HALF MARATHON - 12th JUNE 2022
Scott Daly was back in form, setting another M50 club record with 1-25-18.
DARRINGTON 5 MILES - 25th JUNE 2022
We had club records galore in this popular local race. Nathan Doy set a senior mens club record with
28 minutes 37 seconds. Scott Daly improved the M50 club record to 31-01. Johanna Sutcliffe enhanced the club records in the F45 and F40 age groups with 32-18 and Alan Boyd also got in on the act with an M60 club record with 34-17.
PONTEFRACT PARK RUN - 25th JUNE 2022
Sienna Lavine, aged only 9, clocked an amazing 21-42 to set an age group All Time best performance in the Pontefract Park Run for runners aged 10 and under. Incredibly, she will still be in this age group for more than one more year.
20th July 2021
Congratulations to Jack Holmes, who won the silver medal in the Junior Boys (Under 15) High Jump at the English Schools Track and Field Championships at Manchester on 11th July 2021. Jack is the first athlete from Pontefract Athletics Club to win a medal at the English Schools Championships.
15th August 2021
Jack won the gold medal in the Under 15 Boys High Jump at the Northern Athletics Track and Field Championships at Hull with a clearance of 1.78 metres.
22nd August 2021
Jack won the gold medal in the Under 15 Boys High Jump at the Yorkshire Track and Field Championships at York, setting a championship best performance with a massive clearance of 1.91 metres. This performance placed him at the top of the UK Rankings in the Under 15 Boys High Jump.
Faye Calvert won the gold medal in the Senior Ladies Discus with 33.13 metres and Faye also won the bronze medal in the Hammer with 41.16 metres. Niamh Atkinson won the silver medal in the Under 17 Ladies Hammer with 28.11 metres and Harrison Carter won the silver medal in the Under 15 Boys Hammer with 24.87 metres. Eleanor Birden won the bronze medal in the Under 20 Ladies 100 metres Hurdles in 19.64 seconds. The club, therefore, won 6 medals at the Yorkshire Championships (2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze).
11th and 12th September 2021
3 of our athletes were selected to represent England in the veterans road running international against the Celtic nations at Richmond Park, London. Christine McCarthy finished 1st in the women's Over 60 Half Marathon in 93 minutes 51 seconds. Rebecca Winter finished 3rd in the Women's Over 35 10K in 36 minutes 56 seconds and Faye Lightowler came 4th in the women's Over 40 Half Marathon in 81 minutes 46 seconds. Congratulations to all 3 of them.
Also on 12th September 2021, Jack Holmes won the Under 15 Boys High Jump in the last meeting of the season in the West Yorkshire Track and Field League, setting a league record of 1.80 metres. Will Carter ended the season as the overall winner of the senior mens division.