Cathedral Relays

34th CATHEDRAL CROSS COUNTRY RELAYS

HOSTED BY BIRTLEY AC

INCORPORATING THE NORTH EAST MASTERS ATHLETICS

ASSOCIATION OPEN CROSS COUNTRY RELAYS

(UNDER UKA RULES, permit applied for)

SUNDAY 13th JANUARY 2019 AT LORD LAWSON OF BEAMISH ACADEMY, BIRTLEY, DH3 2LP

TEAMS of 3, 2 laps of 1500m      

ENTRY FEE £15.00 per team

RACE 1 10.00 MASTERS M35-44, M45-54, M55-65, M65+

• All masters must be first claim members of NECAA clubs

RACE 2 11.00 SENIOR WOMEN/MASTERS WOMEN

W35-44, W45-54, W55-64, W65+

RACE 3 11.50 SENIOR MEN

PRIZES: Note only team awards will be presented on the day, full results/individuals later 

Race 1 Winning teams, NEMAA medals to 1st 3 age category teams, Fastest leg awards in 5 year categories, M35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70+

Age must be declared on the team declaration form

Race 2 1st 3 Senior Women`s teams, winning masters teams, fastest legs as above + SW

Race 3 1st 3 teams and fastest leg

RACE CONDITIONS: Teams must be declared at least 20 minutes before the start time

Age group prizes will only be awarded in declared master`s teams

Age category must be specified on declaration sheet

First claim runners only

Strict colours rule UKA 143 S1 (3)

Seniors must be 16 years or over on January 13th

The promoters will accept no liability for any loss or damage to equipment and clothing or for any injuries while competing

NB IN GATESHEAD SCHOOLS THERE IS A STRICT NO DOGS POLICY WITHIN SCHOOL GROUNDS.

ONLINE ENTRIES WILL OPEN VIA THE BIRTLEY AC WEBSITE ON MONDAY DECEMBER 17th  birtleyac.co.uk 

CLOSING DATE TO BE CONFIRMED (online entry form) WEEK BEGINNING JANUARY 7th 2019.

PLEASE NOTE IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED THAT BIRTLEY AC HAVE STEPPED IN TO ORGANISE THIS EVENT AT VERY SHORT NOTICE. 

TEAM AWARDS ONLY ON THE DAY.

NECAA Cross Country Championships - Results

Hi folks,

Congratulations to the winners and a massive well done to all who took part at the 113th NECAA XC Champs held at Wrekenton on Saturday 8th December 2018.

The winning individuals and teams as follows:

U11 (non championship)

1st Boy - Zac Brannon, North Shields Poly
2nd Boy - Jem Henderson, Tynedale
3rd Boy - Alex lienard, unattached

1st Girl - Eden Creasey, Middlesbrough Mandale
2nd Girl - Zara Jones, Darlington
3rd Girl -  Sophie Quinn, Billingham Marsh House

Full under 11 results here

U13 Boys

1st Boy - Tom Slane, Blackhill
2nd Boy -  Ryan Davies, Morpeth
3rd Boy -  B. Pye, Houghton

Teams

1st - Morpeth (21) Davies, Dixon, Hudspith
2nd - Durham City (26) Terry, Glanville, Henderson
3rd - Gateshead (46) Dragoi, Das, Asquith

U13 Girls

1st Girl - Zoe Hill, Middlesbrough Mandale
2nd Girl - Emma McNeil, Middlesbrough Mandale
3rd Girl -  C. Dillon, Durham City

Teams

1st - Middlesbrough Mandale (8) Hill, McNeil, Herbert
2nd - Durham City (19) Dillon, Gibson, Peart
3rd - Gateshead (39) Crowder, Milburn, Milburn

U15 Boys

1st Boy - Christopher Perkins, Birtley
2nd Boy -  Joshua Blevins, North Shields Poly
3rd Boy -  Ethan McGlen, Gateshead

Teams

1st - Morpeth (38) Waterfield, Gooding, Duffin
2nd - Gateshead (38) McGlen, Race, Rooke
3rd - North Shields Poly (39) Blevins, Douglass, Eden

U15 Girls

1st Girl - Innes Curran, Gateshead
2nd Girl - Mille Breese, Alnwick
3rd Girl -  Katie Francis, Birtley

Teams

1st - Birtley (24) Francis, Graham, Thwaites
2nd - Gateshead (27) Curran, Hughes, Morris
3rd - Chester-le-Street (36) Chong, Scothern, Whitley

U17 Men

1st Man - Samuel Charlton, Wallsend
2nd Man - Daniel Dixon, Morpeth
3rd Man - Will Belamy, Houghton

Teams

1st - Morpeth (15) Dixon, Charlton, Melling
2nd - Middlesbrough Mandale (21) Haycock, Lowe, Currie
3rd - Houghton (33) Bellemy, Johnson, Taylor

U17&20 Women

1st Woman - India Pentland, Darlington
2nd Woman - Holly Peck, Morpeth
3rd Woman -  Elisha Tait, Gateshead

Teams

1st - Gateshead (28) Tait, Wellings, Baker
2nd - Houghton (38) Hardie, Pigford, Greggs
3rd - Morpeth (41) Peck, Hufton, Duffield

U20 Men

1st Man - Josh Cowperthwaite, Middlesbrough Mandale
2nd Man - Taylor Glover, Morpeth
3rd Man - Alexander Brown, Morpeth

Teams

1st - Morpeth (11) Glover, Brown, Briggs
2nd - Middlesbrough Mandale (15) Cowperthwaite, Begstrand, Spence
3rd - Durham (34) Pickering, Horsfield, Stephenson

Senior Women

1st Woman - Georgia Campbell, Jarrow & Hebburn
2nd Woman -  Emma Holt, Morpeth
3rd Woman -  Danielle Smythe, Heaton

Teams

1st - Jarrow & Hebburn (62) Campbell, Pattinson, Rutherford, Robinson
2nd - Morpeth (76) Holt, Floyd, Falloon, Gibbs
3rd - Gosforth (84) Warburton, Mellor, McKechnie, Moffatt

Senior Men

1st Man - Greg Jayasuria, Middlesbrough & Cleveland
2nd Man -  Kieran Walker, Middlesbrough Mandale
3rd Man -  Jack Willis, Middlesbrough & Cleveland

Teams

1st - Morpeth (132) Lawrence, Scott, Floyd, Straughan, Douglass, Innes
2nd - Durham City (142) Jenkin, Garbutt, Hornsby, Cook, Eaton, Everson
3rd - Gateshead (183) Franks, Cripwell, Christie, Alexander, Connolly, Linsley

Full team results here
Full individual results here

Race photos on Stuart Whitman Photography

Senior women's race 2nd (Emma Holt) and 1st (Georgia Campbell)

Senior Men's race winner Greg Jayasuria

The 114th North Eastern Cross Country Championships will take place at Alnwick Castle on December 14th 2019

113th NECAA Cross Country Championships

113^th NORTH EASTERN COUNTIES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Gateshead Harriers host the 113^th running of the North Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the popular Wrekenton North East harrier League venue, with a twist as all races will be ran in the opposite direction.

Saltwell Harriers hosted the 103^rd championships at the same venue ten years ago on a very wet day, resulting in a muddy course. Many of this Saturday`s entrants will have memories of that day and a lot will feature again. 

Highlighting a few of the 2008 finishers, in the senior men`s race Conrad Franks (Gateshead) 9<sup>th</sup> last year and 20<sup>th</sup> in 2008 will be looking for his best north eastern finish after leading home the England Master`s M35 squad to team gold at the annual Great Britain and Ireland annual master`s cross country international in November at Swansea. Dan Garbutt (Durham City), so consistent over the years and 3<sup>rd</sup> Junior Man in 2008 and senior winner in 2013 will also contest a wide open senior men`s field. Last year`s winner Jack Martin does not defend and Greg Jayasuriya (Middlesbrough & Cleveland) 3^rd last year at Redcar should be among the race favourites. 

NECAA Team Manager Stewy Bell, 6^th in 2008 is once again entered by Blackhill Bounders. Morpeth could be under threat from Tyne Bridge in the team event, where Philip Winkler, an U13 bronze team medallist with Alnwick ten years ago may feature as a counter.

In the senior women`s field, Jane Hodgson 3<sup>rd</sup> in 2017 and running under her maiden name  Mooney was 7<sup>th</sup> in 2008 she is entered in the Morpeth team who finished runners up in a close team race with Jarrow last time out. Morpeth`s Emma Holt, second at Redcar will be a strong favourite with Jarrow`s Georgia Campbell definitely in the mix leading the defending team champions. Sonia Samuel`s the 2017 winner is unlikely to run and both Kate Avery (Shildon) and Lydia Turner (Birtley) are on Great Britain duty at the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg in Holland. Ten years ago, Lydia finished 3^rd in the U13 girls race.

From a list of forty odd technical and ancillary officials in 2008, twelve still remain on duty this year in various capacities. Keith Wood (Saltwell H), 2008 Clerk of Course will lead his course set up team to an early start once again.

In 2008, 183 finished the senior men`s race, with 501 entries this year, 400+ could finish.  62 completed the 2008 senior women`s championship and this year`s entry of 317, points to an impressive 250+ finishers. Ten years ago,  all ten age groups saw a total of 500 complete the challenging course on the day, this should easily be doubled on Saturday.

The U11 Boy`s non championship gets proceedings underway at 10.35am, with the championship events at 11.00, with the feature senior men`s and senior women`s races at 1.00 and 1.55 respectively.

Archie Jenkins

Championship Secretary

NECAA Cross Country Championships 2018

NORTH EASTERN COUNTIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

CROSS COUNTRY COMMITTEE             

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

CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

WREKENTON, SATURDAY DECEMBER 8^th 2018

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

Thank you for entering this year's championships hosted by GATESHEAD H & AC, Birtley AC, Low Fell RC, Saltwell Harriers.

The course is on the land behind Cardinal Hume School, NE9 6RZ.

CAR AND COACH PARKING

NB VEHICLES IMPROPERLY PARKED WILL MEAN THE END OF USE AS A CROSS COUNTRY VENUE.

Cardinal Hume School Car Park & land opposite (as NE Harrier League)

PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE HOUSING ESTATE ADJACENT TO THE COURSE or ON THE MAIN ROAD.

TENT DROP OFF: At the end of the housing estate adjacent to the course THEN RETURN TO DESIGNATED CAR PARKS.

TEAM MANAGERS ONLY TO COLLECT NUMBERS ON THE COURSE.  Race headquarters and presentation will be at the Jarrow & Hebburn AC Marquee tent & Card Connection Van.

U11 entries can be made at the number pick up tent before 10.00, alternatively please email info@harrierleague.com and enter your under 11 runners in advance.
I need name/date of birth/club/ and boy or girl if it is not obvious from the name.
Under 11s must be aged at least 9 on the day.

Under 11 start lists and results are available on the NEHL site

Forecast is for strong westerly winds during the event, make sure tents are well pegged down, with doors facing the course.

GENERAL

THE COURSE MAP is above. Those familiar with the Wrekenton Harrier League course, there may be slight variations, including distances and competitors will run in the opposite direction.

RACE ENTRIES can be seen on the SPORTSOFT 2018 RACE RESULTS website.

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

TOILET FACILITIES on the course.

REFRESHMENTS there will be no outlet provided.

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` on the New Marske Harriers 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).

2017 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 Pontefract. Accommodation / travel arrangements will also be available following selection. All cross country races up to January 26^th will be considered.

The NECAA welcomes bids for future championships (contact the secretary). The 2019 venue will be announced on December 9^th.

10.35   U11B Non-Championship                10.40   U11G Non-Championship

11.00   U13B                                                   11.15   U13G

11.30   U15B                                                  11.40   U15G

12.00   U17/20W                                            12.25   U20M

1.00     Senior Men                                        1.55     Senior Women

2.30     U17M

 ENJOY THE DAY

NEHL Aykley heads - Round up and team photos

Hi Folks,

Many thanks to Derwentside, Elvet and Durham City for hosting another successful harrier league fixture at Aykley Heads.

Your winners as follows:

U11 Girls - Poppy Wilde, Elswick
U11 Boys - Zac Brannon, NSP
U13 Girls - Abigail Thornley, Tynedale.  Fastest time - Charlotte Dillon, Durham
U13 Boys - Tom Slane, Blackhill (also fastest time)
U15 Girls - Lucy Scothern, Chester-le-St.  Fastest time - Ines Curran, Gateshead
U15 Boys - Harrison Cutler, Tynedale.  Fastest time - Christopher Perkins, Birtley
U17&20 Women - Holly Peck, Morpeth (also fastest time)
U17 Men - Tom Rutherford, Blaydon.  Fastest time - Ross Charlton, Morpeth
Senior & Masters Women - Brigid Dennehy, Gateshead.  Fastest time - Danielle Hodgkinson, Wallsend
Senior & Masters Men - Taylor Glover, Morpeth, Fastest time - Kieran Headley, Morpeth

Full results available on the NEHL website: http://harrierleague.com/results/2018-19/Aykley/

Here are your team photos:

NEHL Aykley Heads - information

North Eastern Harrier League Cross Country (17^th November 2018), Aykley Heads, Durham.

Important Information on Parking, Travel, Registration etc.

Race Parking is at Durham County Hall car park only. It’s free and only 400m from the start – please do not park anywhere else, please do not try to park closer to the course as you will be charged or worse and we could lose this venue!  There will be plenty of parking for everybody at County Hall but please car share and OBEY THE CAR PARK MARSHALS’ INSTRUCTIONS!  There is no parking in the DLI car park this year.

Officials Parking This will be on the tennis courts adjacent to the new Police HQ. Go north from the County Hall roundabout on the B.6532, turn right at the next roundabout, straight over at the next roundabout & then follow the signs.

Tent drop off We have a tent drop off point adjacent to the course. Go north from the County Hall roundabout on the B.6532, turn right at the next roundabout, straight over at the next roundabout & then follow the signs. Only use this if your tent is very heavy! There is absolutely no parking for competitors here and it is not a drop off point for latecomers. Tents must be left with the tent drop off marshals and competitors return to County Hall to park.

Registration is adjacent to the course in the tented area – unless the weather is very bad and then it will be in County Hall reception area (Micky / Vicki to confirm).

Toilets are located in County Hall foyer and there will be portable loos close to the race start area on the old tennis courts.

Do not enter County Hall in muddy shoes – they won’t let us come back next year if you do!

The course is walking distance from County Hall car park (follow the signs) & is on the former Durham Constabulary playing fields.

Timetable : START TIMES.

U11 Boys 1200

U11 Girls 1205

U17 Men 1215

U20/17 Women 1220

U15 Boys 1235

U15 Girls 1240

U13 Boys 1250

U13 Girls 1255

Sen & Vet W 1305

Sen & Vet M 1345

Race HQ will be the Jarrow & Hebburn AC Tent, please collect any pre-entries there, and call in with any queries. Entries will re-open on Thursday 9th November, and close midday on Friday 16th.

Pre entries will cost £3, Lost or replacement numbers are £5

Directions to County Hall (postcode: DH1 5TP)

County Hall is a major landmark in Durham and many of you will already know where it is and how to get there. There are frequent trains to Durham from Newcastle and Darlington. The station is around half a mile from the course (see link to map) please use public transport where possible!

http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/2720/Map-for-County-Hall/pdf/County_Hall_Map.pdf

If you must come by car then directions are as follows:

Travelling south (e.g. from Newcastle):

Use the A.1m and turn off at Junction 62 (signposted for Durham & Sunderland). At the top of the slip road turn right at the roundabout joining the A.690 into Durham. At the next roundabout (where the dual carriageway ends) stay on the A.690 & follow signs to City Centre & Consett (straight over). At the next roundabout stay on the A.690 & follow signs for Crook, Consett & County Hall (straight over - but get in the outside lane). At the next traffic lights turn right signposted for Consett, Chester-Le- St & County Hall. Turn right at the next roundabout into County Hall – you’ve arrived!

Travelling north (e.g. from Darlington):

Use the A.1m and turn off at Junction 62 (signposted for Durham & Sunderland). At the top of the slip road turn left at the roundabout joining the A.690 into Durham. At the next roundabout (where the dual carriageway ends) stay on the A.690 & follow signs to City Centre & Consett (straight over). At the next roundabout stay on the A.690 & follow signs for Crook, Consett & County Hall (straight over - but get in the outside lane). At the next traffic lights turn right signposted for Consett, Chester-Le- St & County Hall. Turn right at the next roundabout into County Hall – you’ve arrived!

Travelling west (e.g. from Sunderland)

Use the A.690 from Sunderland or from the A.19 for Durham. At the junction of the A.690 and A.1m go straight over staying on the A.690 into Durham. At the next roundabout (where the dual carriageway ends) stay on the A.690 & follow signs to City Centre & Consett (straight over). At the next roundabout stay on the A.690 & follow signs for Crook, Consett & County Hall (straight over - but get in the outside lane). At the next traffic lights turn right signposted for Consett, Chester-Le- St & County Hall. Turn right at the next roundabout into County Hall – you’ve arrived!

Travelling East (e.g. from Crook)

Use the A.690 from Crook to Durham. At the Neville’s Cross traffic lights turn left onto the A.167. At the first roundabout turn right (4^th exit) following signs for City Centre. At the next roundabout go straight over. At the next roundabout go straight over into County Hall – you’ve arrived!

NEHL Gosforth - Results and Team Photos

Evening all,

We at the Start Fitness NEHL would like to thank everyone involved with the organisation of the third fixture in the 2018-19 calendar, held at Gosforth Park, Newcastle on October the 27th.  A special thank you to the host clubs, Gosforth, Heaton and Tynebridge for setting up the course in horrible conditions on Saturday morning, and then going on to marshal throughout the day, and to Micky baker for bringing it all together - you're all stars!

Results from the day may be found here

u13 Mary Stobbs leaping into action

Individual winners are as follows:

U11G - Poppy Wilde, Elswick
U11B - Zac Brannon, North Shields Poly
U13G - Charlotte Payton, NSP.  Fastest time - Freya Clarkson, Chester-le-St
U13B - Tom Slane, Blackhill (also fastest time)
U15G - Rhiannon Hedley, Morpeth.  Fastest time - Cecilia Reed, Blaydon
U15B - Theo Barron, Gateshead, Charlie Daley, Tynedale
U17M - Daniel Joyce, Tynedale.  Fastest time - Samuel Charlton, Wallsend
U17&20W - Olivia Dowle, Newcastle Uni. Fastest time - Holly Peck, Morpeth.
SM - Matthew Briggs, Morpeth.  Fastest time - Adrian Bailes, Birtley
SW - Danielle Hodgkinson, Wallsend (also fastest time)

From Paul:

There were a few disqualifications at Gosforth Park including 2 race winners. One for wearing the wrong race number and one for not wearing club colours.

There were disqualifications in the Senior men's race (no club vest), Senior women's race (wrong number), U15 boys (no club vest), U15 girls (wrong number) and U13 boys (wrong pack), U11 boys (wrong number) and U11 girls (wrong number).

That's over half of the races had a disqualified runner due to carelessness.

Can runners, parents and coaches make sure runners wear the correct vest and the correct race number and run from the correct pack in future.
If in doubt, ask someone. Or, maybe, have a team inspection before the start where you can all check each other out.
Write your name in big letters on the back of your number so you don't accidentally pick up the wrong number.

Numbers and packs are on the Harrier League website in the run up to each race and if you don't know what colours your team runs in then ask someone at your club.
If you really don't like wearing a vest and your club doesn't have an alternative then buy a vest 1 size too large and wear it over the top of whatever you find comfortable.

7 disqualifications in one meeting is a bit much.

Although there were runners in the u11s with disqualifications, they do not get implemented until the u13s and above. The u11 races are meant to be a fun introduction to cross country, and we would like to encourage the kids to come back and compete again.The race categories aged u13 and above have implications for team points, so we have no leeway on how dqs are treated.

It's pretty simple, wear your club vest, and your own number, and run from the correct pack. That's all you need to do - the host clubs and the NEHL do the rest - providing venues & courses, marshals, suitable parking, loos, first aid, numbers & chips, and results, then dismantling it all and doing the same at the next venue.

So please check your pack, and write your name on your number

On the positive side, the number of disqualifications wasn't the only record set at Gosforth Park.

There was a joint record number of senior women with 451 finishers, tying with record from Wrekenton in 2017, and there was a new record of 623 senior men, beating the previous record of 594 from Wrekenton 2018.

Team photos - here they are!