ELSWICK EARN THE ACCOLADES
NEWCASTLE outfit Elswick Harriers pulled out all the stops
to claim a rare but a dramatic double when South Shields Harriers hosted the
Sherman Cup and Davison Shield at Temple Park, a venue traditionally used for the
popular competition for a number of years.
The West End outfit have only
featured once among the leading clubs in the Sherman in the past 10 years – for
athletes of all ages – when they finished in second place behind Morpeth
Harriers in the season 2021/22 though the female section has been knocking at
the door in recent times having been third in 1922, second in 1923 and third
last year. Despite not having a team winner over the 11 races it was Elswick’s
overall performances throughout the day that brought home both trophies.
SENIOR MEN
THE final event on the programme saw the closest finish of
the day as track specialist Matt Linsley crossed the line just one second clear
of long-time leader Adrian Bailes (Birtley). Bailes and Birtley team-mate Lewis
McConnell ran shoulder-to-shoulder at the completion of the first of three
testing circuits with Linsley and fellow Gateshead athlete Lewis Liddle 15
metres or so behind.
On the second lap Bailes extended his advantage as Linsley
moved ahead of McConnell, however, it was all to change on the final circuit as
Linsley gradually reeled in the blue-vested Bailes and eventually ease to the
front with around 150 metres to go and come home to win by six metres with
Liddle crossing the line in third place 24 seconds adrift of Bailes.
Sunderland’s
Joe Willis was first under-20 to finish crossing the line in ninth place. Gateshead
won the team race with nine points with fifth-placed Dan Alexander backing up
Lindsey and Liddle, Birtley finished second on 19 points and Durham City third
with 47 pipping Sunderland on countback. 282 finishers.
SENIOR WOMEN
WHILE the senior men’s race was a close affair that cannot
be said for the senior women’s two-lap contest. Last year’s defending champion,
Morpeth’s Catriona MacDonald, set out her stall from the gun and quickly opened
up daylight over the rest of the field and by the completion of the first lap
was around 100 metres ahead of team-mate Lizzie Rank with Sunderland’s Grace
Carroll and Elswick’s Justina Heslop a few metres further adrift.
MacDonald continued to cut out a lone furrow
on the final circuit to cross the line nearly a minute clear of Heslop, the
former English National under-17 champion, as Rank clamed third place ahead
Carroll with Blaydon’s Ellie Fellows the first under-20 home in fifth place.
Morpeth won the team section with nine points as sixth-placed Robyn Bennett
backed up MacDonald and Rank, Sunderland finished second with 31 points and
Blaydon were third with 49 points. 238 finishers.
UNDER-17 MEN
IT WAS a Tynedale one-two as Arthur Di Lullo beat off
team-mate Joe Elstob by 17 seconds with Blaydon’s Jamie Lonergan completing the
podium places a similar distance back in third spot. Sunderland, led home by
sixth-placed William Young, won the team race with 33 points the same as
Morpeth with Elswick third on 49 points. 27 finishers.
UNDER-17 WOMEN
NORTH Shields Poly’s Anna Johnson led throughout to come
home nearly a minute clear of Alnwick’s Emma Hobdon who had an equally huge gap
over third-placed Elise Bell of Gosforth. No teams closed-in. 17 finishers.
UNDER-15 BOYS
IN-FORM North Shields Poly athlete James Sturman continued
in that vein to come home 17 seconds clear of Blyth’s George Bryce with
Wallsend’s Joseph Duthie-Brown claiming the bronze award. Sturman led the Poly
to team success with 28 points, Elswick were second on 33 and Low Fell third
with 70. 37 finishers.
UNDER-15 GIRLS
MORPETH’S Faye Heatley claimed victory by nine seconds with Prudhoe
Plodders’ supporters celebrating loudly as their athletes crossed the line in
second and third place. Phoebe Mulligan claimed the silver award four seconds
ahead of team-mate Martha Thomas. Gosforth, won the team section with 39
points, Elswick finished second with 42 and Heaton were third with 59. 29
finishers.
UNDER-13 BOYS
MASON GAYLOR (Morpeth) claimed victory by 20 seconds over
North Shields Poly’s Peter Davies with Tynedale’s Lloyd Vincent a further nine
seconds back in third place. Davies led the Poly to team victory with 20
points, Heaton finished runners-up on 23 with Gosforth third on 35.
UNDER-13 GIRLS
BIRTLEY’S Poppie Phillipson continued her excellent run of
form to claim another superb victory, crossing the line 36 seconds clear of
Durham City’s Evie Kleiser with Birtley all-rounder Izzy Hall completing the
one-two-three. Kleiser led Durham City to team success with 31 points, Elswick
finished just three points behind for second place with North Shields Poly
third on 42 points. 52 finishers.
UNDER-11 BOYS
A SHORTENED course saw Sunderland’s Oscar Paxton claim
victory by two seconds over Tynedale’s Teddy Shephard with Gateshead’s Louis
Gibson third a further second adrift. The top 20 across the line finished
within 20 seconds of the winner. 62 finishers.
UNDER-11 GIRLS
WHILE the under-11 boys contest was a close affair that
certainly wasn’t the case in the girls age group as Gosforth’s Ruby Colins
crossed the line 12 seconds ahead of Rosa Tadele (Elswick) with Robyn Bain,
also Gosforth, finishing in third place a further two seconds back. 72
finishers. Once again a huge turn out in the “Try Cross-Country” events, many
on the start line for the very first time. Well done to you all.
**THANKS go to South Shields Harriers for once again hosting
an excellent day’s sport, your marshals were the tops; the technical officials;
the first aid team and to South Tyneside Council for their continued support
and lastly Start Fitness whose backing for the NEHL is greatly appreciated.
By Bill McGuirk
Photos: Stuart Whitman Photography
Full Results: Results - Harrier League
