Monday 16 December 2019

North Eastern XC Championship Report

ALNWICK HOST AN ANNIVERSARY TO BE PROUD OF

AFTER an absence of 25 years the North Eastern Counties returned to Alnwick for it's annual Cross-Country Championships and those who ventured north of the county to support the event witnessed an exciting day's sport despite having to endure constant high winds whIch kept the temperature to just above zero. The NECAA is indebted to Alnwick Harriers for their superb work on the day and prior to the championships in making sure things went smoothly and smoothly they did though there were a number of tongue-in-cheek comments by athletes that the course laid out should have been a bit tougher!

A number of athletes who competed at the same venue a quarter of a century ago came along to present awards including John Caine who was working in his capacity as the link between the region hosting the inaugural European Cross-Country Championships which were held in tandem while three of the long-serving county officials - Les Venmore, Kevin Carr and Bill McGuirk - who were at their posts that day were involved once again this time round. To make it an occasion to remember Championship Secretary, Archie Jenkins, had produced an excellent booklet full of information and statistics many of which were snapped up by those who had a couple of quid in their pocket. To those who had an input, however large or small, the Association thank you all, without your support we would not have a championship so, once you all have recovered, we look forward to returning to the pastures in a couple of month's time when you start all over again for the final fixture of the season of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League.

SENIOR MEN

FORMER Alnwick Harrier Carl Avery lived up to being billed as favourite as he lifted the impressive Wilkinson Sword for the very first time. Now running for Morpeth Avery tried on numerous occasions to claim the title but never managed to top the podium. However, the rolling Alnwick hills certainly proved to his liking as he took an early lead and was never headed after that. At the completion of the first of three circuits Avery had a lead of around 80 metres over Calum Johnson (Gateshead) with Houghton's Cameron Allen holding down third place ahead of defending champion Greg Jayasuriya (Middlesbrough and Cleveland), Adrian Bailes (Birtley) and Houghton's Alex Brown.




The gap between the leading two athletes stayed roughly the same as they entered the final lap though it was evident that Allen, who could have ran in the junior men's race, was slipping further behind as the rear of the near 300-strong field was being lapped. As the leaders came into view for the final time it was Avery who still held the advantage over Johnson and as he crossed the finishing line he stopped the clock at 40min 50secs, 12 seconds ahead of the Tyneside athlete. The race for the bronze medal changed dramatically over the final 4k with Brown proving the stronger and managing to overhaul Jayasuriya and Allen. Naturally, Avery was delighted to finally have won the North East title admitting he thought it may never happen after going close a couple of times. "I've been second and third before but never won until today,'' said Avery after receiving his award from old warhorse Stewy Bell who finished runner-up in the senior race at Alnwick 25 years previously. "I'm over the moon to eventually win especially here at Alnwick were I have a lot of friends who seemed to be cheering me on at every corner. I felt pretty good throughout even though the wind was pretty strong at times. The win sets me up nicely for the rest of the winter. It would be nice to regain the Northern title after finishing second earlier in the year and it would be even better if I could improve on my third place in the National.''

Johnson, meanwhile, wasn't too downhearted in finishing runner-up as it was his first cross-country outing of the campaign. "I have to be happy with my run today,'' said Johnson, whose recent main sporting activity has been competing as a tri-athlete. "That was my first cross-country race since the Inter-Counties in March so I was a bit rusty and didn't really have the confidence to go with Carl in the early stages though, to finish just 12 seconds behind, gives me a boost before the other championships after the turn of the year.''






With two inside the top three it was no surprise that Morpeth came out on top in the team stakes once again after totalling just 79 points in the six-to-score contest. Gateshead claimed the silver awards finishing with 138 points while Sunderland, with 173 points finished in third place just three points ahead of Darlington with Tyne Bridge a further six points back in fifth position.

SENIOR WOMEN

SONIA SAMUELS (then Sonia Thomas, competing for Wallsend) was crowned under-17 champion at Alnwick 25 years ago and has been in competitive action ever since culminating with a Rio Olympic marathon appearance in 2016. Now based in Loughborough, Sonia was delighted to be on hand to present the medals to the under-17 and under-20 winners earlier in the day before rushing back to the comfort of her car before it was time to warm up for her race. Having lifted the senior title on two prior occasions - Hartlepool in 2007 and Redcar two years ago - Sonia was the overwhelming favourite to make it a hat-trick of victories. And that's the way the race panned out after she took an early lead in what was the final contest of the 11-race programme. Two 4k circuits faced the near 200-strong field which had cut up slightly in places though otherwise the running surface was quite firm.




 Going into the final lap Sonia, now competing for the Sale Harriers Manchester club, had opened up a significant gap over Philippa Stone (Middlesbrough Mandale) with Morpeth's Catriona McDonald a significant distance back in third place as Helen Warburton (Gosforth), last year's champion Georgia Campbell and Morpeth's Jane Hodgson kept in touch a short distance behind. There was no change in the top three on the way to the line with Sonia, a proud Geordie, coming home in a superb time of 31min 21secs, 47 seconds clear of Philippa with Catriona a further 32 seconds adrift in third place. While it was a third win for Sonia the result was equally pleasing for the runner-up who was having only her second cross-country race in two years after being sidelined for the majority of 2018 through injury but the former junior international showed she is close to her best with a storming performance.





Sonia, who was back in the region staying with her mum, one of the many who braved the cold to lend her support, said she was over the moon to win her third senior title in what she described ''real cross-country'', before adding: "I love coming back home and being able to get a race in and the championships fitted in nicely and to win my third senior title here in Alnwick will be something I'll remember for a long time, or will it be the freezing cold wind I remember!? Naturally, I'm pleased to win again and now I'm looking forward to the turn of the year and the National - she has finished second and third but never won - and the Inter Counties where it's always a pleasure to represent the North East.''

Jarrow and Hebburn, led by Georgia Campbell, won the team title for the third consecutive year, a feat never equalled as far as the senior women's championship goes, The South Tyneside outfit totalled 57 points in the four-to-score contest with Tyne Bridge finishing in second place on 111 points. However, the biggest roar of the day came when Jesmond Joggers were announced as bronze medallists edging out Elswick by just two points. It was a great result for the Newcastle outfit, one of the fledgling clubs in the region.





JUNIOR MEN

LAST year's under-17 champion Sam Charlton went into the race as favourite after his exploits of last winter that saw him go unbeaten in all of the major domestic championships and he looked as though he was on track to justify that favouritism after the completion of the first short lap when he held the advantage over Morpeth's Daniel Dixon who was followed by Gateshead's Charlie McMillan and Dixon's team-mate Ross Charlton. However, things changed dramatically on the second circuit and when the first athlete came into view it was McMillan who had eased past his rivals to open a significant gap which extended to 28 seconds at the finish with Charlton, who complained about the recurrence of an ankle injury, having to be content with second place with Dixon managing to hold off Ross Charlton to complete the podium spots.





Only two teams managed to close in the three-to-score contest with victory going to Morpeth who finished on 14 points 13 better than runners-up Middlesbrough Mandale.





UNDER-17/JUNIOR WOMEN

THE first three to finish in the combined age group came from the older section with Darlington's Lucy-Erin Hunter, in her first North East Championship for four years, claiming the gold medal. Hunter was chased home by Gateshead pair Elisha Tait and Chloe Wellings with Tait following the winner across the line 11 seconds behind while Wellings was a further three seconds adrift in third place. In recent under-17 contests Chester-le-Street's Emily Chong has played second fiddle behind Gateshea's Ines Curran. However, on this occasion Chong managed to turn the tables to take the title comfortably by 21 seconds as Birtley's Tess Graham finished a close-up third. Gateshead, with just 10 points, claimed a runaway victory in the combined team contest with Houghton second on 30 and Blaydon third on 49.






UNDER-17 MEN

ARCHIE LOWE was only sixth in last year's championships at Wrekenton but he managed to put many of his peers to the sword this time round. The Middlesbrough Mandale athlete was always in control and came home to win this time round by a margin of 27 seconds. Henry Johnson, who was ninth last year, finished a good second while Johnson's Houghton team-mate Will Bellamy had to settle for third place for the second successive season. All of the medalists are in the second year of the age group however, following them across the line in fourth place was Darlington's John Russell who is having his first season as an under-17. Houghton, with two in the top three, won the team contest finishing with 16 points, Morpeth finished second with 22 and Darlington third on 28.





UNDER-15 BOYS
THIS is one of the region's strongest age group with a number of talented athletes so an exciting contest was envisaged and so it proved. Chris Perkins (Birtley) and Josh Blevins (North Shields Poly) have been two of the leading runners in the country both of whom picked up England Schools' international vests last winter after finishing in sixth and second places respectively. Twelve months ago Perkins got the better of his rival by 10 seconds and again he managed to come out on top this time round by 18 seconds. Morpeth's Joe Dixon finished strongly to claim third place. Perkins has now claimed victory on two occasions at both under-13 and under-15 and for good measure also won the non-championship under-11. Morpeth came out on top in the team stakes finishing with 19 points, Durham City finished in second place with 60 points and, in a close battle for the bronze medals, Houghton celebrated finishing with 73. Both Alnwick and Blaydon missed out after totalling 76 points.



UNDER-15 GIRLS

WHAT a superb advert for girls sport and particularly cross-country running. Like the under-15 boys this is another of the region's strongest and so it proved after a superb contest unfolded. And it was Birtley who had big reason to celebrate when Kate Francis led the field home to come home 14 seconds clear of North Shields Polys Ellie Van Der Merwe with Alnwick's Millie Breese completing the podium places a further six seconds adrift. The chase for team honours could not have been closer and there was a rousing cheer when it was announced that victory went to home-based Alnwick who managed to finish on 25 points just one point better off than runners-up North Shields Poly with Darlington claiming the bronze awards with 39 points.




UNDER-13 BOYS

TWELVE months ago Darlington's Alex Boyer finished in sixth place when the championships were held at Wrekenton. This time round, however, he had plenty in hand to take the major prize. At the line Boyer finished 19 seconds clear of Gateshead's Theo Dragoi with North Shield's Poly's Zac Brannon coming through to complete the medalists. Gateshead won the team contest finishing with 18 points, Darlington finished runners-up on 26 and North Shields Poly were third with 40 points.



UNDER-13 GIRLS

SOUTH of the region claimed all the individual honours in this age group and it turned out to be the closest finish of the day. Victory went to Darlington's Zara Jones who managed to hold off the challenge of first year under-13 Sophie Quinn by just one second in what was a tremendous result for the Billingham Marsh House club. Eden Creasey of Middlesbrough Mandale completed the one-two-three a further 11 seconds behind. While the individual awards zoomed their way south the leading team medals went to Newcastle club Elswick. It's been a while since the 'West Enders' .produced promising youngsters but the club seem to be on the right track now once again. Elswick totalled 46 points, Tynedale claimed second place with 50 with Middlesbrough just one point further adrift to claim the bronze awards.



UNDER-11

ONCE again the championships got underway with under-11 'Try Cross-Country' events and again there was a healthy turnout with many giving the sport a go for the very first time. Once again it was pleasing to see youngsters from West Jesmond Primary School lining up with seasoned club runners. First home in the boys contest was Middlesbrough Mandale's Chalie Johns who was followed home by Morpeth's Robert Walton with Aidaen Turner (North Shields Poly) holding off Gateshead's Harry Hunter to claim the third place award after the two runners recorded the same time. The girls event, run over the same 1,500m course, was won by North Shields Poly's Katy Otterson with Grace Carter (Durham City) finishing second and Niamh Phillipson from another of the region's fledgling clubs, Derwent Valley Trail Runners, finishing in third place. There were competitors from 20 different clubs which is encouraging for the future of cross-country in the region.




A huge thanks to everyone who took time to turn up to Alnwick Pastures in what was testing conditions. Whether a competitor, supporter, official or someone just passing by wondering what was going on, the NE Counties AA applaud you all and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in 12 months time when the championships return to Sedgefield when, hopefully, the snow won't make another appearance!

***LATE NEWS***
Elswick Harriers won the overall female trophy with Morpeth Harriers claiming the trophy for the men. The Northumberland outfit won the overall team trophy

Report by Bill McGuirk
Photos: Stuart Alan Whitman

Friday 29 November 2019

NECAA 'Northeasterns' Cross Country Championships 2019




NORTH EASTERN COUNTIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
CROSS COUNTRY COMMITTEE

Hon. Secretary: A.Jenkins, 8 Meadow Riggs, Alnwick, N`land, NE66 1AP

CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
ALNWICK, SATURDAY DECEMBER 14th 2019
Senior Women's winner 2018 - Georgia Campbell
Senior Men's winner 2018 - Greg Jayasuriya 

FINAL INFORMATION

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND PASS THE INFORMATION ON
IF POSSIBLE, ADD TO YOUR CLUB`S FACEBOOK PAGE.

Thank you for entering this year`s championships hosted by Alnwick Harriers

The venue is based at the Harrier League course, NE66 1YU

DIRECTIONS

If taking the first exit for Alnwick on the A1 north, follow the B6341, turn right
at the War Memorial, following the signs for Alnwick Gardens, the car park is ¾
mile on the right, followed by an easy walk to the course.

If taking the second exit for Alnwick – Seahouses, Alnwick, Denwick – follow the
signs for Alnwick, the course is 700m on the right (no parking) and the car park
a further 600m on the left.

TEAM MANAGERS ONLY TO COLLECT NUMBERS ON THE COURSE.

Similarly, U11 entries can be made at the number pick up tent before 10.00.

UNDER 11s - Entry cost is £1
Please enter in advance if possible Email Name, Club and DoB to admin@harrierleague.com

CAR AND COACH PARKING, Alnwick Gardens car park (£3.00).
Additional free disc car parking (with restrictions) is available in the town,
1000m walk to the venue.

NB VEHICLES IMPROPERLY PARKED WILL MEAN THE END OF USE
AS A CROSS COUNTRY VENUE. PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE MAIN
ROAD.

TENT DROP OFF: THEN RETURN TO DESIGNATED CAR PARKS.

Please Note NO DOGS allowed at the venue.



THE COURSE MAP is attached. Similar to the Harrier League with some
alterations - championship distance routes. Distances are approximate.


RACE ENTRIES can be seen on the SPORTSOFT 2019 RACE RESULTS
website.

Anyone wearing their NYSD or NORTH EAST HARRIER LEAGUE number
will automatically be DISQUALIFIED.

TOILET FACILITIES on the course.

REFRESHMENTS will be available and START FITNESS will be in attendance.

FIRST AID and a lost children area will also be adjacent to the presentation
area.

Please can all clubs ensure the venue is left LITTER FREE.

RESULTS will be posted `live` following the link on the NECAA website.

PRESENTATIONS will be made shortly after each race, individual medal
winners should report immediately at the end of their race and team
presentations will be made during the following race.

Please check the attached presentation timetable (approximate).
2018 TROPHIES should be returned, cleaned and engraved, to the presentation
area on the course.

INTER COUNTY SELECTION

Club secretaries should forward the contact details: name, address, email,
mobile number of the first 10 in each race (first 15 senior men and women) and
any athlete of county standard who missed the championships or failed to finish
in the first 10 (15) before December 31 st to the team managers:

Men: Stewy Bell, 12 Lincoln Road, Moorside Consett, DH8 8EB, Tel:
07525484605, email: nufcstewy@hotmail.com

Ladies: Lynn Cooper, 5 Maltby Close, Sunderland, SR3 2QR, 07773 140617,
lynn.cooper@ntlworld.com

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION ONLY.
THE FIRST 10/15 FINISHERS ARE NOT GUARANTEED SELECTION.
THOSE SELECTED WILL BE NOTIFIED FOLLOWING A SELECTION
MEETING IN JANUARY AFTER THE NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS AT
Bedale. Accommodation / travel arrangements will also be available
following selection. The first three finishers in the county championships will
have automatic selection for NECAA teams. The next priority race - Northern
Championships – will indicate current form and teams will be selected the
following day. If athletes are unable to run the Northerns, all other cross-country
races will be taken into account, if the selectors are informed.

The NECAA welcomes bids for future championships (contact the secretary).
The 2020 venue (December 12th ) will be announced on December 14th .

Note new start time for U17 Men. All distances approximate.

TIMETABLE

10.35 U11B 1500m 
10.40 U11G 1500m
11.00 U13B 3000m 
11.15 U13G 3000m
11.30 U15B 4000m 
11.40 U15G 4000m
12.00 U17 Men 6000m 
12.20 U17/20W 5200m
12.45 U20 Men 8000m 
13.15 SM 12000m
14.10 SW 8000m

Enjoy the day

COMMEMORATIVE 33 PAGE BOOKLET £2 WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE
DAY or BY CONTACTING THE SECRETARY (A JENKINS)


Sunday 24 November 2019

NEHL Aykley Heads - Race Report

IT'S HEADS UP ALL THE WAY AT AYKLEY

WHAT is it about the Harrier League that, on a truly miserable day and against all expectations, over 1,300 competitors lined up to tackle the Aykley Heads course, noted as one of the more testing on the cross-country circuit. 

Admittedly, young and old athletes have been denied the chance of racing over the country recently due to the previous two fixtures being postponed due parking problems but the heavy rain, which only relented slightly when it was time for the senior women and men's contest's, certainly didn't deter athletes making the trek to the Durham venue which, in itself, was a way of showing thanks to hosts Derwentside AC, Elvet Striders and Durham City Harriers who, together with a number of harrier league officials, were out at first light marking out the course and making sure everything was in place for a great, 'enjoyable' day's sport. 

With the tented village taking shape hours before the first race and marshalls out in position the gloom was still in evidence as the starting team called up the under-11s for the opening event of the day and it showed what a hardy bunch of youngsters we currently have in the region as the 120 or so eagerly set off on their way. 

Four hours later the murkiness was still in evidence as the last competitor in the senior men's event made his way across the finishing line which was the signal for the band of volunteers to leave their posts and set about the task of dismantling the course, a task not always appreciated by many who take part so, a small gesture of thanks goes to all those who had an input, either small or large, in giving so many runners the chance of a cross-country outing after so many barren weeks,

Under 11s - Try Cross Country

UNDER-11 BOYS
THE sport may be competing against football but 72 boys took their chance over a difficult one-kilometre course when the weather was at it's worst. It was Gateshead's Harry Garrett who took the major honours - he was third at Wrekenton in September - winning by seven seconds from Birtley's Noah Williamson with North Shields Poly's Max Cummings completing the one-two-three. Competitors represented 27 of the region's athletics clubs while West Jesmond School once again were among the line-up.

U11 Boys winner Harry Garrett
UNDER-11 GIRLS
DURHAM City's Grace Carter went one better this time round after finishing runner-up at Wrekenton. Grace had to work hard for her victory though as she came home just one second clear of Gosforth's Millie Moat. Derwent Valley Trail Runners, another of the region's new club's, had lots to celebrate when Niamh Phillipson came home in third place to claim the bronze award just ahead of Houghton's Holly Robison.

U11 Girls winner Grace Carter

Under 13s

UNDER-13 BOYS
GATESHEAD have unearthed a new hero in Theo Dragoi who not only took the honours by winning the contest by over a minute his winning time of 14:21 proved to be the overall best of the day. Alnwick's Liam McDonough claimed the silver medal with William Roberts (Durham City) completing the medallists. North Shields Poly's Zac Brannon, who was giving 1:40 start to the winner worked his way through the 50-strong field to finish in fifth place in a time 10 seconds adrift of the winner. Third fastest on the course was Dragoi's Gateshead team-mate Matthew Das five seconds behind Brannon in sixth position.

North Shields Poly came out on top on the day just as they did in the opening fixture at Wrekenton though Gateshead could well have pipped them if their third counter hadn't been disqualified. The Poly have a four-point lead over Alnwick at the top of the table with Durham City a further three points in arrears in third place.

U13 Boys winner Theo Dragoi

UNDER-13 GIRLS
IN THE closest finish of the day North Shields Poly's Hannah Atkinson was deemed the winner over Jarrow and Hebburn's Hannah McIntosh with both athletes recording the same time of 16:32. Over 60 competitors faced the starter in what proved to be the most competitive on the nine-race programme. Third place went to Catherine Atkinson (North Shields Poly) while Durham City's Charlotte Dillon worked her way through to finish fourth from a 1:40 penalty to record the day's fastest time. Second quickest on the course was Gateshead's Annabel Milburn with Blaydon's Ellie Fellows next best.

Elswick Harriers set the pace in the league table with a five-point cushion over Jarrow and Hebburn with Gateshead and Gosforth a further point adrift while North Shields Poly, who came out on top on the day move up the table to seventh after finishing in 13th place on the opening day of the season.

192 Catherine Atkinson, with winner 195 twin sister Hannah hot on her heels

U13 Girls 1,2,3 Hannah Atkinson, Hannah McIntosh, and Catherine Atkinson

Under 15s

UNDER-15 BOYS
GOSFORTH'S Ethan Bond claimed victory over an  extended two-mile contest pulling away midway to win by nine seconds in 13:49. Durham City's Sam Terry denied the Newcastle club of a one-two as he just got the verdict over Reece Slater with the judges giving the Durham City athlete the verdict though both athletes were given the same time. Fastest on the course was Birtley's Chris Perkins who, from a 1:40 handicap worked his way through to finish in sixth position with an actual time of 12:42. Blaydon's Will Collinson was second fastest (13:10) and Bertie Marr (Morpeth) third best with 13:25.

Durham City were clear winners on the day and now head the table by two points with Morpeth in second place and Gateshead, a further point adrift, in third spot.

U15 Boys winner Ethan Bond
UNDER-15 GIRLS
GATESHEAD'S Jessica Milburn led throughout to claim victory despite being chased down by a number of fast pack runners. The Tynesider, with a 1:40 start crossed the line 33 seconds ahead of fast-packers Alnwick's Millie Breese and Birtley's Katie Francis who was a further 13 seconds back in third place. Elle Van Der Merwe (North Shields Poly) was third fastest on the course when finishing fourth in leading the North Tyneside outfit to their second team victory of the campaign. The Poly head Durham City by three points with Gosforth a further two points back in third place.


2nd place u15 Girls Millie Breeze

U17&20 Women

LONG gone are the days when you could count the number of athletes on two hands who took their chance in this section. Twenty-nine competitors faced the starter on this occasion with victory going to Tess Graham who led throughout after receiving a start of 1:25 and 2:50 over the chasing medium and fast packs. Despite claiming victory the Birtley athlete was being chased down all the way to the finish by Emily Chong (Chester-le-Street) and Morpeth's Robyn Bennett. Chong, running from the medium pack, finished 15 seconds adrift of the winner while Bennett, running from the fast pack, claimed third place with the fastest time of the day.Houghton's Anna Pigford was second quickest while Chong was third.

Birtley and Chester-le-Street are tied at the top of the league with seven points while Gateshead are in third place together with Gosforth and Elswick one point behind.

U17 winner Tess Graham


U17 Men

ETHEN McGLEN took full advantage of his 2min 50sec start to claim victory after taking up the running immediately from the gun. The Gateshead athlete, a multi-winner of the Junior Great North Run, showed he is equally at home over the country as he covered the 4.5k course in 19:30, a time which equated to the fastest time of the day. At the line he finished with a 27-seconds cushion over Morpeth's Dylan Davies with Charlie Phillips (Durham City) claiming the bronze award. Phillips' Durham City team-mate, Josua Wraith was second quickest on the course, 10 seconds slower than McGlen after working his way through to finish ninth. Morpeth's Euan Duffy was third fastest 18 seconds adrift of Wraith.

In the team stakes Gosforth, who were led home by Wesley Croome in fifth place, move above Durham City by virtue of two points while Houghton are a further point adrift in third spot.

U17 Men's winner Ethan McGlen

Senior Women

STOCKSFIELD Striders are one of the region's fledgling clubs having only been formed in 2008 however they had plenty to celebrate when Claire Davies led the 385 field home over the undulating two-lap course. It was Davies' Harrier League debut and it was a runaway winning one as she came home over a minute clear of Blaydon's Letha Whitham with Gateshead's Bethany Curran pipping Erin Gallagher (Newcastle University) for third place with both athletes being credited with the same time. 

Fastest on the course was Jarrow and Hebburn's Georgia Campbell who weaved in and out of the field from a 5:15 handicap to finish an excellent eighth with an actual time of 29:57. Next quickest was Morpeth's Catriona MacDonald (30:41) and Alison Dargie (Tyne Bridge) in 30:47.

Tyne Bridge move to the top of Division One with four points followed by Morpeth on six with a trio of North Shields Poly, South Shields and title holders Gateshead on seven.


Claire Davies takes the win in her first cross country
Women's winners 3rd: Bethany Curran, 1st Claire Davies, 2nd Letha Whitham

Fastest time recorded was by last year's Northeastern's winner: Georgia Campbell

Senior Men

AS IS the norm, the senior men's contest (10k) brings the curtain down on the nine-race programme by which time the course was muddy at best and quagmire-like at it's worst. However, that didn't deter Alex Mirley skipping over the terrain to lead from start to finish leaving his 520 or so rivals in his wake. Now running in the Elvet Striders' colours after moving from Durham City, Mirley, who was having his first harrier league outing since the Alnwick fixture in 2016, eventually completed the three testing circuits in 41min 23secs. 

Newcastle University's Chris Larkin, who finished in third place at the season's opening fixture at Wrekenton, was promoted this time round to the medium pack which set off 2min 35secs after the slow pack and though he managed to cut back the deficit by over a minute he had to make do with the runner's up spot on this occasion and an immediate move up into the fast pack for the next fixture at Thornley Hall Farm in February.  Such was the calibre of Larkin's run his actual time of 40:12 equated to the joint fastest of the day, a time shared by Gateshead's Conrad Franks who, from a 5:15 handicap, moved through the congested field to finish in eighth place. Sunderland's Chris Jackson, running from the slow pack, crossed the line in third place while Michael Hedley (Tyne Bridge) was third fastest overall (41:14) behind Larkin and Franks.

In the chase for league honours newly-promoted Blaydon still head Division One with six points despite finishing fifth on the day while Elvet Striders, Tyne Bridge and Sunderland are locked together one point behind. Birtley head Division Two on four points with Gosforth in second place with six points followed by Alnwick on seven and Ponteland on eight. Jesmond came out on top for the second consecutive time and are two points clear of Saltwell in Division Three with Tynedale and Derwent Valley Trail locked together in third place.


Men's winner Alex Mirley on his home course

2nd Place Chris Larkin records joint fastest time of the day
3rd place Chris Jackson
Gent's winners: 2nd Chris Larkin, 1st Alex Mirley, 3rd Chris Jackson
Joint fastest time of the day: Conrad Franks

WELL done to everyone who competed, After walking the course early in the day I thought to myself that we may not see many competitors today. However, how wrong can you be! It was a superb turnout in all of the races which leads into the County Championships in Alnwick next month when, hopefully, the weather will be a little kinder.


Bill McGuirk

NEHL Reporter

Photos: Stuart Whitman Photography
Senior men - Google photos
Senior Women - Google photos