Tuesday, 18 March 2025

NEHL Druridge Bay 23-03-2025 - Cancelled

 DRURIDGE BAY FINAL FIXTURE CANCELLED

Hi all, apologies, but we've had notification that the final fixture has had to be cancelled. Due to the condition of the start-finish field and some of the parking area (see attached images and film) the landowners have emailed Ralph at Blyth RC to cancel (email text below).
Hi Ralph
After looking at the fields this morning and looking at forecast for this week I think conditions will stay the same and it would be a sensible decision to cancel the event due to unsafe conditions of field and lack of safe parking space.
Kind Regards
We've tried to quickly re-arrange the fixture and move to Thornley but John (landowner) has sheep on the land now.
Again, sincere apologies. We'll be in touch with clubs regarding the awards presentations and AGM in due course.





Saturday, 8 March 2025

NEHL Alnwick 2025 Race Report

 CHARLOTTE AND LEWIS STORM THE CASTLE


UNDER the backdrop of the imposing Alnwick Castle around 1,000 competitors converged to take their chance in the penultimate fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League. 

An excellent course laid out by Alnwick Harriers’ Seve Studley and his team was to prove a real test of cross-country running though what muddy sections there were was nothing to compare to last weekend’s English National Championships at Parliament Hill. 

The weather stayed dry throughout the day and the cool breeze was soon forgotten once athletes were called up to the start while the coffee outlet was kept busy throughout the day.

SENIOR MEN

LOUIS HEAD, having his first harrier league outing since Lambton back in 2022, took full advantage of the generous handicap of 2:30 and 5:00 over the medium and fast pack to storm home by over a minute. 


The Heaton athlete led throughout cutting a lonely trail over the three testing circuits of Alnwick Pastures as fellow slow pack runners Andrew Morgan (Newcastle University) and one of the region’s leading Masters athletes, Darlington’s John Clifford, kept their second and third places respectively throughout the contest as the chasing packs tried to haul the trio in. 



Morpeth’s Tom Balsdon came closest finishing in fourth place from the medium’s while Jarlath McKenna (Tyne Bridge) was quickest from the fast pack working his way through to sixth position after a battle with Birtley’s Adrian Bailes throughout the contest, one place and 13 seconds separating the pair at the line. Third quickest on the course was Bailes’ Birtley team-mate Lewis McConnell. 

Morpeth came out on top in the Division One team race with 49 points followed by Tyne Bridge (96) and Gateshead (165). With just the re-arranged fixture to come at Druridge Bay, Durham City head the table with 12 points with Morpeth one point adrift on 13. No doubt team managers will be rallying the troops for Sunday, March 23! There were 391 finishers.

 

SENIOR WOMEN

THE first two across the line warmed up nicely for this coming weekend’s Inter-Counties XC Championships with eye-catching performances, victory going to 2002 Commonwealth Games 800 metres finalist, Charlotte Penfold who spreadeagled the huge field from her 2:20 and 5:00 start over the medium and fast packs respectively. Penfold led throughout the race but Durham City’s Lucy Storey, running from the mediums, worked her way through into  second place at the completion of the first lap where she remained until the line. 


However, Storey was rewarded with quickest overall time of the day (26:26) with Penfold second quickest with 27:04. Ciara Sinclair (Jesmond Joggers), also from the medium pack, crossed the line in third place while third quickest overall and running from the fast pack was Ellen Downs (Tyne Bridge) finishing in seventh place in actual time of 28:13. 

Tyne Bridge came out on top of Division One with 39 points followed by Jesmond Joggers on 59pts with Sunderland in third place with 60pts. In a tight overall league, Sunderland lead with 11pts, Jesmond are on 13 and Morpeth on 15. There were 351 finishers.

UNDER-17 MEN

IN A sprint finish Durham City’s Aidan Richardson got the verdict by just one second over Morpeth’s Ben Moll while next across the line was Alnwick’s Liam McDonough, who ran from a handicap of 2:05, finished with the quickest time of the day of 14:15. Second quickest was Harry Armstrong (Morpeth) in 14:38 with Morpeth team-mate Oliver Tomlinson next best with 14:53. 

Morpeth were clear winners of the team section with 14pts; Low Fell finished second on 34pts and Sunderland third with 46pts. Despite not closing in a team Durham City still lead the way with 10 points followed by Sunderland and Tyne Bridge on 11. There were 24 finishers.

 

UNDER-17 WOMEN

TYNEDALE’S Hannah Cutler, the only medium pack runner on the start line, weaved her way through her slow pack rivals to claim first place with the second fastest overall time of the day. Host club’s Xara Purvis crossed the line in second position with Jarrow and Hebburn’s Emily Booth completing the one-two-three and being rewarded with the quickest time overall. Third best was Tynedale’s Esme Pugh who followed Booth home in fifth place. 

Only one team closed-in the three-to-score with Naimah Michla leading Tyne Bridge home from sixth-place. There were 15 finishers.

 

UNDER-15 BOYS

ALL three medallists took advantage of the 1:40 start with victory going to Blaydon’s Aaron Jobson who had a nine-seconds cushion over Jacob Wood of Tyne Bridge with Low Fell’s Daniel Davison in third place a further 10 seconds adrift. North Shields Poly’s James Sturman, running from the fast pack, postest the fastest time in finishing fourth. Durham City’s Joe Shields next quickest overall crossing the line in 10th place with Blyth’s George Bryce next best. 

All three will be at Wollaton Park, Nottingham representing the NE Counties at the Inter-Counties XC Championships. Blaydon won the team section with 25 points; North Shields Poly were second with 29pts and Elswick third with 48pts. Overall Elswick lead the way with nine points. There were 33 finishers.

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS

THE host club’s Emilia Waugh finished a good minute clear of her rivals thanks to a 1:40 start over her fast pack rivals and claim the third quickest overall time of the day (14:28). Second and third girls across the line were fast pack pair Kathryn Pye and Holly Robison of Houghton, Kathryn posting 13:59 against Holly’s 14:15. 

Alnwick came out on top in the team stakes with 14 points followed by Houghton on 26pts with Heaton next on 62pts. Going into the final fixture in two weeks’ time, Houghton lead the table on eight points.

There were 29 finishers.

 

UNDER-13 BOYS

FINLAY Waugh was the host club’s second success of the day with the Alnwick athlete breaking the tape 36 seconds clear of fast pack pair Henry Englehart (Durham City) and Elswick’s Jack Galvin, the second and third giving the winner 1:40 advantage. Third quickest on the course was Low Fell’s William McClean who worked his way through to ninth place.  



Gosforth came out on top in the team section with 35 points led home by fourth-placed Jack McManus; Elswick finished second on 38pts and North Shields Poly were third with 45pts. Going into the final fixture Gosforth look safe to take the overall trophy. There were 43 finishers.

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS

VICTORY went to Houghton’s Chloe Brown who took advantage of a 1:20 start over her fast pack rivals, breaking the tape 20 seconds clear of Birtley’s Izzy Hall with Elswick’s Ayla Blight claiming the bronze award a further 11 seconds adrift, both of whom running from the fast pack. Third quickest on the course was Morpeth’s Heidi Wilkinson in sixth place, with Heidi, Izzy and Ayla members of the NE team for the Inter-Counties XC Championships next weekend. 

Elswick won the team contest with 17 points followed by Morpeth with 29pts then Chester-le-Street with 40pts. Elswick’s win is the third time this season, they were second on the other occasion, so look safe to lift the trophy at Druridge Bay. There were 35 finishers.

 

UNDER-11 BOYS

THE judges had to be on their toes as the first four home finished within two seconds of each other. The verdict went to Jarrow and Hebburn’s Jacob Hopper in first place in 3:44, second was North Shields Poly’s Billy Scrambler in 3:45 and third was Houghton’s Elliott Gorton in 3:46 with fourth-placed Alex Coulson (North Shields Poly), also recording 3:46. 

Once again another excellent turnout despite the school holidays with 70 competitors giving the “Try Cross-Country” a go.

 

UNDER-11 GIRLS

AS SHE has done all season North Shields Poly’s Ada Penfold was first across the line winning this shortened course in 3:27. Gosforth’s Ruby Colins claimed second place in 3:46 with Ada’s Poly team-mate, Elodie Soward, next home in 3:59. In fact the Poly also had the fourth and fifth finishers in Ellie Nelson (4:04) and Emily Mann (4:08). There were 59 finishers.

 

**ONCE again a huge thanks go to Start Fitness for their continued support; to Alnwick Harriers’ Steve Studley who managed to round up an excellent team of marshalls who performed car park duties to setting out and dismantling the course; to the NE Counties technical officials and to the first aid team without their involvement the harrier league would never function. See you all at Druridge Bay with celebration coffee, tea and cake!

 

BILL McGUIRK

Photos - Stuart Whitman Photography

Full Results are here: North Eastern Harrier League 2024/25 Sponsored by Start Fitness

Here is the vlog from Darren Fairclough:



 

 

Monday, 3 March 2025

Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships 8 March 2025

Good luck to the North Eastern Counties squads heading for Wollaton Park, Nottingham on Saturday for the Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships.

The NE is sending full squads for the 10-race programme and there is hope of returning home with a number of medals despite the withdrawal of a number of the original squads especially in the senior men. Despite that, team managers Lynn Cooper and Stewy Bell are backing those named in the teams below to do well.

UNDER-13 GIRLS
Poppie Phillipson and Izzy Hall (both Birtley), Ayala Blight (Elswick), Sasha Patterson (Darlington), Evie Kleiser (Durham City), Heidi Wilkinson (Morpeth), Iris Brown (New Marske) and Alice Scrambler (North Shields Poly)

UNDER-15 GIRLS
Gabrielle Pinder (New Marske), Holly Robison and Kathryn Pye (both Houghton), Olivia Murphy (Birtley), Matilda Owen and Charlotte Owen (both Darlington) and Emma Blackburn and Emily Collingwood (both Gateshead)

UNDER-17 WOMEN
Zara Jones (Darlington), Hattie Stead (Blackhill), Isabella Oldfield (Alnwick), Grace Carter (Durham City), Anna Johnson and Darcy Tullis (both NSP), Millie Moat (Gosforth) and Lucy Buckle (Chester-le-Street)

UNDER-20 WOMEN
Charlotte Dillon (Houghton), Imogen Bungay (Elswick), Alice Bell and Iona Johnstone (both Gateshead), Ellie Fellows (Blaydon), Emma Ashman (Gosforth), Tabitha Robson (Morpeth) and Amelie Sillence (NSP)

SENIOR WOMEN
Holly Lawrence (Morpeth), Jennifer Berry (Wallsend), Lydia Turner (Birtley), Charlotte Penfold (NSP), Lucy Storey (Durham City), Anna Pigford (Houghton), Alex Sneddon (Jarrow and Hebburn), Grace Carroll (Sunderland) and Amy Fuller (Kenilworth)

UNDER-13 BOYS
Noah Penfold, Peter Davies and Edward Watson (all NSP), Ollie Curran (Darlington), Mason Gaylor (Morpeth), Hayden Husband (Allerton), Marty Richardson (Darlington) and Henry Engelhart (Durham City)

UNDER-15 BOYS
James Sturman (NSP), Kirsten-Lyle Sridhar (Darlington), Kasper Pearson), Wallsend), Alexander Smith (Heaton), Arthur Darling (Tynedale), Noah Williamson (NE Project), Joe Shields (Durham City) and George Bryce (Blyth)

UNDER-17 MEN
Zander Gribbon (New Marske), Liam McDonogh (Alnwick), Jacob Brown (Middlesbrough), Dawit Asmelash (TS), Daniel Watson (NSP), Alfie Cook (Gateshead), Arthur Di Lullo (Tynedale) and Oliver Tomlinson (Morpeth)

UNDER-20 MEN
Joe Dixon, Bertie Marr, Elliott Kelso and Will De Vere Owen (all Morpeth), Rory Hart (Darlington), Joe Willis (Sunderland), Luke Boothby (Middlesbrough) and Callum Etheridge (Elswick)

SENIOR MEN
Calum Johnson and Matt Linsley (both Gateshead), Philip Winkler and Ellis Hetherington (both Morpeth), Cameron Allen (Houghton), Dan Garbutt (Durham City), Michael Wilson and Stephen Jackson (both Sunderland)and Max Creasey (Middlesbrough)

**Twenty-five of the region’s clubs have at least one representative so well done to all their coaches for giving their athletes the chance of taking part in what, arguably, is the strongest cross-country event on the circuit with teams from all the English counties, together with Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland area teams taking their chance
All reactions:
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Friday, 28 February 2025

NEHL Alnwick Castle - 1 March 2025

ALNWICK PASTURES START FITNESS NORTH EASTERN HARRIER LEAGUE, 01/03/2025.

Big thanks to Steve Studley and all at Alnwick Harriers for hosting the next fixture at Alnwick Pastures. Steve will be posting final parking arrangements this week.

Alnwick pastures is located at what3words graphics.handover.warbler . Take the B1340 turn off from the A1 to the north of Alnwick and follow the road back towards Alnwick.  There is no parking on site. 

NEHL Alnwick Pastures - Parking

All competitor parking is at the Alnwick Gardens car park, what3words
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Car park open to competitors from 09:00, card payment only.
As per John’s previous post no dogs please as there will be sheep in and around the event fields.
Weather looking good, have a good run all.


Tent drop off

Please DO come in to the pedestrian entrance with your car. There is a one way loop through there for cars and you can drop off closer to where they need to be. It is critical that people do not stop their car on the main road as this causes tailbacks in both directions and we have had issues with ambulances trying to get to the hospital that have been held up.
You can drop off, just come in to the pastures and listen or look at what a marshal is indicating for you to do.

Find below map of the course, along with site for tents and toilets. NO DOGS ON SITE.

The timetable is as usual:
12.00 Under 11 Boys
12.10 Under 11 Girls
12.20 Under 17 men
12.25 Under 17 women
12.40 Under 15 Boys
12.45 Under 15 Girls
12:55 Under 13 boys
13:00 Under 13 girls
13.20 Under 20, Senior & veteran women
13:50 Under 20, Senior & veteran Men


Race HQ info, Guests, M65 transfers and Under 11s

Under 11s - must be aged at least 9 on the day.
If you're M65 and wish to run the two lap race you need to inform us in Race HQ.
The cut off for late entries is 15 mins before each race starts. If you arrive after that you won't be added.
Cost of late or guest entry is £10 - keep your number for the whole season.


Friday, 7 February 2025

NEHL Sherman Cup and Davison Shield 2025 - Race Report

 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

Monday, 27 January 2025

Sherman Cup and Davison Shield Cross Country 2025, Temple Park

Sherman Cup and Davison Shield, Temple Park 02/02/2025

Many thanks to Darren Watson and all at South Shields for once again hosting this season's Sherman Cup and Davison Shield fixture. 
Full details are at the Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League website (http://www.harrierleague.com/fixtures/6-temple-park/).

PARKING: 
ALL PARKING WILL BE AT EPINAY SCHOOL, NEVISON AVE NE34 8BT. 
THERE WILL BE A £3 PARKING CHARGE. 
We would like to remind people that Epinay School is a charity.  The preferred payment is cash, but they do have contactless payment.
GATES WILL OPEN FROM 0830

ANYONE OPTING TO PARK AT TEMPLE PARK LEISURE CENTRE, THERE IS ANOTHER EVENT AT THE CENTRE WITH PAY AND DISPLAY BY THE CENTRE WHICH WILL NOT BE MARSHALLED.

FORECAST:
The weather forecast, currently, is for a high of 8 degrees centigrade with 50% chance rain, SW wind 10-15 km/hr. There were some very cold Junior athletes finishing at Wrekenton dressed with crop, tops, no gloves etc. Parents and clubs are reminded they have a duty of care to ensure young athletes are suitably dressed for conditions.

COURSE MAP:



RACE INFORMATION
As it's the Sherman Cup and Davison Shield, all races will be off scratch (NO PACKS), so be on time for your race.
Use your regular Harrier League number

Start Times
12.00 Under 11 Boys
12.10 Under 11 Girls
12.20 Under 17 men
12.25 Under 17 women
12.40 Under 15 Boys
12.45 Under 15 Girls
12:55 Under 13 boys
13:00 Under 13 girls
13.20 Under 20, Senior & veteran women
13:50 Under 20, Senior & veteran Men

Race HQ info, Guests, M65 transfers and Under 11s

Under 11s - must be aged at least 9 on the day.
If you're M65 and wish to run the two lap race you need to inform us in Race HQ.
The cut off for late entries is 15 mins before each race starts. If you arrive after that you won't be added.
Cost of late or guest entry is £10 - keep your number for the whole season.
The numbers are really slippy. Team managers - they may not be in sequence in your bag (you'll see why when you pick them up).

Additional information
Team managers - DO NOT contact the chip timing company with late entries. We (race HQ) have the entry system and the numbers.