COUNTY ASSOCIATION FARMS OUT THE AWARDS
AFTER some sleepless nights for organiser Archie Jenkins the
North Eastern Counties Cross-Country Relay Championships eventually got the
green light after a flood of entries were received on deadline day which came
as a huge relief to Jenkins whose thoughts were that the fixture would have to
be cancelled for a second time. Jenkins, who was one of the last people to
leave Thornley Hall Farm last weekend just as the heavens opened, was a happy
man knowing that a successful Championship event had taken place when it seemed
that would not be the case a few days before entries closed.
Jenkins, who now has his work cut out in preparation for the
NECAA Cross-Country Championships – hosted by Newcastle clubs Elswick and
Heaton Harriers – at Temple Park, South Shields on Saturday, December 10,
confessed that it was touch-and-go whether the Relay Championships would go
ahead.
“One of the Association’s remits is to provide championship
events for our athletes and at the same time try to break even without
over-charging those who want to take part. Like everything else at the moment
prices are going up and while we are indebted to Jon Taylor for letting us have
the use of his land for free, the costs for the team of first aiders and the
hiring of portable toilets and a minimum allowance for the officials digs heavily into
what we receive in entry fees.
It’s not about making a profit it’s all about not making a
loss and that’s the way it looked a few days before entries closed. Happily, I
can report that, after all my concerns, we didn’t make a loss and, by all
accounts and the feedback we have received, it turned out to be an enjoyable
event all round so, while I would have liked to have seen a few more clubs on the
start line, I would like to say a huge thank you to those who did enter teams
and I now look forward to a bumper entry for our main championships in
December.”
SENIOR MEN (4x3.2k)
Houghton got off to a flying start thanks to Chris Coulson
whose 10min 40sec proved to be the fastest overall time of the day. That was
just the springboard Houghton needed as Johnny Evans, Lee Dover and Luke
Pickering kept the black and golds in pole position throughout.
At the first changeover Tyne Bridge (Tom Charlton) were in
second place followed by Sunderland and Elvet Striders. Sunderland moved into
second place on leg two thanks to Craig Gunn with Gateshead (Jack Douglas)
moving through to third after being fifth on the opening stage. On the
penultimate leg, Sunderland were still in second place behind Houghton with
Tyne Bridge (Marc Fenwick) now back up to third. On the run to the line
Pickering came home to give Houghton a winning time of 44:50 with Sunderland claiming
the silver medals just 13 seconds adrift as Gateshead, with Dan Alexander
posting the third fastest time of the day, completing the podium placings ahead
of Elvet Striders and Tyne Bridge.
MASTERS MEN (3x3.2k)
South Shields led at the first changeover thanks to the
second quickest time of the day by Ross Jarman. Sunderland (Stephen Potts) were
in second place followed by Elvet Striders (Michael Mason) and Wallsend (Mark
Covell). Tyne Bridge moved into the lead on the second stage thanks to Kevin
Richardson with Elvet Striders (David Milligan) moving into second place ahead
of Sunderland (Steven Gordon). South Shields had slipped to fourth followed by
Wallsend and Ponteland Runners. Paul Turnbull extended Tyne Bridge’s advantage
on the run to the line with Michael Littlewood and Chris Jackson consolidating
Elvet’s and Sunderland’s second and third-place finish respectively. Fastest on
the course was Richard Bateson who brought Blyth through from 11th to fourth on
the final leg in recording 10:51.
SENIOR WOMEN (3x3.2k)
Shona Haston had Gateshead in the lead at the first
changeover after posting the fastest time of the day of 11:52. Houghton (Eva
Hardy) were in second followed by Sunderland (Jessica Fox) then came South
Shields, Wallsend and Aycliffe. Houghton moved into the lead on stage two
thanks to Danielle Coulson with Gateshead (Lydia James) now in second followed
by South Shields (Fay Carter) with Sunderland fourth, Gosforth fifth and
Wallsend sixth. Approaching the tape the leading positions remained the same
with Anna Pigford bringing Houghton home in pole position followed by Gateshead
(Gillian Manford) and South Shields (Michelle Douglas). Sunderland finished
fourth followed by Wallsend and Gosforth.
MASTERS WOMEN (3x3.2k)
At the first changeover North Shields led through Becky
Coleman who was followed by Felicity Smith (Elswick) and Morpeth’s Jane Kirby.
South Shields were in fourth place followed by Sunderland. Remarkably the top
five places remained the same all the way to the finish with Alison Smith and
Claire Harlow, whose 12:35 was the fastest of the day, bringing the Poly home
in first place. Andrea Banner and Joanne Brown did likewise for silver
medalists Elswick as did Julie Vermass and Gemma Floyd for Morpeth. South
Shields finished in fourth place followed by Sunderland.
JUNIOR MEN (3x3.2k)
Only two teams faced the starter and it was a gun to tape
victory for Morpeth trio Ralph Robson, Matthew Walton and Peter Smallcombe, Walton
posting the fastest overall time of 10:17. The Durham City trio of Joshua
Wraith, Callum Wilkinson and Thomas Wraith were awarded the runners-up medals.
UNDER-17/UNDER-20 WOMEN (3x2.2k)
In-form Charlotte Dillon brought Durham City to the
changeover in first place by posting the fastest overall time of the day of
8:36. Darlington (Macy Kelly) were in second spot followed by Gosforth (Emma
Ashman). Darlington moved into the lead on leg two thanks to Marissa Boon who
was followed by Gosforth’s Hannah Wightman and North Shields Poly’s Zoe
Atkinson. Things changed dramatically on the final stage with Amelie Sillence
bringing North Shields Poly home in first place with Alice Lewis consolidating
Gosforth’s second place as Millie Newham brought Durham City through to
complete the one-two-three, Darlington finished in fourth place followed by Jarrow
and Hebburn and Gosforth.
UNDER-17 MEN (3x2.2k)
English Schools’ international Brandon Pye gave Houghton a
sizeable lead on the first leg by posting the overall fastest time of 7:15 but
it was to no avail as Morpeth proved once again how strong they are at this age
group by finishing the three stages in first and second place.
The Morpeth A team of Joe Close, Elliot Kelso and Bertie
Marr led their second string of Liam Roche, Elliot Mavir and Ryan Davies home to
win by 41 seconds despite being five seconds adrift at the first changeover.
Durham City came from fourth to third on the final leg thanks to Ethan Stokes.
With the rules stating that a club can only win one set of medals it meant that
the tangerines moved up into silver medal position and fourth-placed Houghton
received the bronze awards. Elswick finished fifth followed home by Gosforth.
UNDER-15 BOYS (3x2.2k)
Morpeth came from seventh to first thanks to the top two
times by Oliver Calvert and Oliver Tomlinson. North Shields Poly (Dan Watson) led
at the first changeover followed by Durham City (William Jardine) with Blaydon
(Robert Atkinson) in third place followed by Darlington, Gosforth and Houghton
with Steven Craske keeping Morpeth in touch in seventh place. On leg two North
Shields Poly (Elijah Farley) were still ahead as Tomlinson moved the
Northumbrians into second place ahead of Darlington (Daniel I’Anson). Calvert
quickly set about closing down on the leader and midway through the circuit he
edged in front to post the day’s quickest time and bring the Northumbrians home
by a clear margin. Oscar Makepeace brought the Poly home in second place with
Willoughby Croslegh celebrating third place for Darlington. Durham City headed
Blaydon by just one second to claim fourth spot.
UNDER-15 GIRLS (3x2.2k)
Darlington were in pole position from the off after Zara
Jones posted the day’s fastest time of 9:01. North Shields Poly held second
place (Darcey Tullis) with Jess Donnelly bringing Elswick through to third. Freya
Talman extended Darlington’s advantage on leg two as Izzy Yates kept the Poly
in second as Molly Roche brought Morpeth through to third ahead of Elswick and
the Poly B team. Savannah Tarn extended Darlington’s lead even further on the
run to the line as Hannah Atkinson brought the Poly home in silver medal
position followed by Morpeth’s Charlotte Marshall. Elswick finished fourth followed
by the Poly B team.
UNDER-13 GIRLS (3x2.2k)
Kathryn Pye had Houghton in the lead at the first changeover
followed by North Shields Poly (Lily McColl) and Gosforth’s Maggie Handyside.
Elswick were in fourth place followed by Darlington and Morpeth. Houghton
(Holly Robison) had a slight advantage going into the final stage with Emma
Tomlinson bringing Morpeth up to second only to have no one to pass on to. The
Poly (Annie Murphy) were in third place followed by Gosforth and Elswick.
Thanks to Poppy Coleman’s efforts, the Poly moved into the lead while Martha
Taylor, the daughter of landowner Jon Taylor, came home in second place ahead
of Gosforth’s Nina Gumbrill. Elswick finished fourth and Darlington fifth.
UNDER-13 BOYS (3x2.2k)
Darlington were never headed after Rowan Steel’s fastest
time of the day on the opening stage. Elswick (Nicholas Surtees-Brown) were in second
place followed by Gosforth’s George Ponton and North Shields Poly’s James
Sturman. James I’Anson extended Darlington’s lead on stage two with Gosforth
(William Handyside) moving into second place ahead of the Poly’s Charlie
Johnstone. Matthew Foster had the honour of bringing Darlington home in first
place though Gosforth’s Charlie Adlam made a brave effort to catch him but, despite
the second fastest time of the day, he had to settle for a reward of second
place. North Shields Poly (Luke Cummings) finished in third place followed by
Elswick and Blyth.
**Thanks go to Jon Taylor for the free use of his land; to
Start Fitness for their continued support; to the first aiders and to event
organiser Archie Jenkins and all the technical officials and marshals without whom
the event would not have taken place. Finally, to all the competitors, who made
it all worthwhile, a big thank you.
**The next cross-country meeting in the region is the Start
Fitness NEHL fixture at Lambton on October 29.
Report by Bill McGuirk
Photos by Stuart Whitman
No comments:
Post a Comment