NECAA XC Championships 2023

 MUD FEST FOR LATEST EDITION OF CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

OVER 800 hardy souls supported the 117^th North Eastern Counties Cross-Country Championships hosted by Sunderland Harriers at Temple Park, South Shields. While the weather was miserable throughout the day, especially for the young athletes’ contests, those who ploughed their way through ankle-deep mud and sometimes even deeper on a course not for the faint-hearted, will remember their exploits for many a year to come and can only now reflect and say proudly: ‘I ran the North Eastern’s in 2023 when conditions were horrendous.’

 

SENIOR MEN (11.9k)

With eight events already completed the course was now like a quagmire in places and while the driving rain had ceased conditions underfoot were at best slippery and worst gruesome. However, it didn’t deter the 250 or so starters setting off with utmost enthusiasm. 

The contestants quickly settled and, with the field already well strung out by the completion of the first of three circuits a bunch of five or six had already taken up the charge with in-form Chris Coulson (Houghton) prominent at the head of affairs despite making his debut in the senior age group. Also in the group were his Houghton team-mate Cameron Allan, Morpeth pair William Cork and Sam Hancox, Blyth’s Ellis Hetherington, Sunderland’s Liam Taylor and Middlesbrough and Cleveland’s Greg Jayasuriya. 

Tail-enders were beginning to be lapped as the leaders entered the final lap and the leading group was now down to three Allan, who last ran the championships in 2019 at Alnwick when he finished in fifth place, and the Morpeth duo with Coulson digging deep to hang on 10 metres or adrift. 

Allan, whose only other NE Championship encounter was as an under-13 in 2012 where he finished 13^th at Hartlepool, decided it was time to push on and while Cork and Hancox tried desperately to stay in touch Allan managed to pull away and win comfortably by 41 seconds. Cork won the Morpeth bragging rights to hold off Hancox to claim second place by just one second. Coulson can be pleased with his fourth place after just moving up from the junior ranks while Hetherington, in fifth, produced arguably his best-ever run though he maybe argue the fact for 16 years ago he finished sixth and ahead of Allan in the under-13 Championship at Hartlepool! 

It was pleasing to see former GB junior international Josh Cowperthwaite back in action and finishing 10^th after being sidelined for sometime. With Connor Marshall (11^th), Tom Balsdon (15^th) Robert Balmbra (16^th) and Peter Smallcombe (23^rd) backing up Cork and Hancox it was another resounding team victory for Morpeth. Sunderland finished in second place and Gateshead third followed by Tyne Bridge, Darlington and North Shields Poly.

 

SENIOR WOMEN (8.2k)

Philippa Stone certainly likes the Temple Park course for she had no difficulty in retaining her title she won 12 months ago though the conditions were slightly better on that occasion. The Middlesbrough Mandale athlete set out her stall from the off and quickly opened up a good lead as dusk was rapidly approaching. Morpeth’s Catrriona MacDonald was a lonesome second going into the final lap of two with Durham City’s Louise Mitchell in third followed by Shona Haston (Gateshead), Molly Pace (North Shields Poly), Anna Pigford (Houghton), Wallsend’s Jenny Berry and Durham City’s Nicole Burlinson. 

On the run for home, Stone extended her advantage to cross the line over a minute-and-a-half clear of MacDonald who had to be content with another silver medal to add to her gold she won at Sedgefield in 2021 and bronze she won at Alnwick a year earlier. Haston moved through into third place to receive the bronze award after overtaking Mitchell who just missed out on a medal in fourth. Pace finished fifth, followed by Burlinson, Berry and Pigford. Good packing by Jessica Eaton (9^th)’ Hannah Stewart (10^th) Kathryn Stevenson (11^th) and 15^th-placed Alison Dargie saw Tyne Bridge claim team victory ahead of Durham City and Morpeth with Jesmond Joggers a close-up fourth ahead of North Shields Poly and South Shields.

JUNIOR MEN (8.2k)

Gateshead’s Josh Blevins, who just missed out on a place in the GB&NI team for the European XC Championships, retained his title comfortably and topping the podium for the third year running having won the under-17 title at Sedgefield in 2021. At the line Blevins, now based in Leeds, came home 38 seconds clear of Morpeth’s Joe Dixon with Luke Davis (Weston Tempo) a further 12 seconds adrift in third place. Morpeth, with four athletes in the first seven were easy winners of the team title with Liam Roche (5^th), Ethan Phillips (6^th) and seventh-placed Bertie Marr backing up Dixon. Durham City finished in second place led home by 15^th-placed Joshua Wraith.

 

UNDER-17/20 WOMEN (5k)

Houghton’s Charlotte Dillon had no difficulty in retaining her under-17 title after coming home in first place in the combined age group. It was Dillon’s third championship win in a row having also won the under-15 title at Sedgefield in 2021. 

Millie Breese (Morpeth), just as she did last year, followed Dillon home in second place to claim the under-20 gold medal. Crossing the line in third place was Birtley’s Katie Francis to receive the under-20 silver medal. Fourth athlete home was Darlington’s Zara Jones to claim the under-17 runner’s up award; next home was third under-17 Blaydon’s Ellie Fellows and third under-20 Jess Sails (Tynedale). 

A pleasing figure for the under-17 contest was that there were record number of 37 finishers. North Shields Poly with the trio of Poppy Old (7^th), Mili Didi (14^th) and Darcey Tullis (16^th) won the team race ahead of Gateshead and Tynedale.

 

UNDER-17 MEN (6.6k)

Morpeth’s Elliot Kelso proved the strongest with a superb judgement of pace to come home 12 seconds clear of Blaydon’s Maximus Murray with Alnwick’s Liam McDonough a further eight seconds adrift in third place. North Shields Poly’s Daniel Watson was fourth and it was pleasing to see a Crook athlete come home fifth in a junior race at the NE Championships. Morpeth, with Oliver Tomlinson (6^th) and Joseph Close (15^th) backing up Kelso won the team race ahead of North Shields Poly.

 

UNDER-15 BOYS (4.5k)

Runner-up last year and under-13 champion in 2021, Dawit Asmelash (TS Harriers) added a second NE title to his name with a comfortable 18-seconds victory over New Marske’s Zander Gribbon who was chased home to claim the silver medal by Tynedale’s Magnus Riddell who was just two seconds adrift at the line with Alfie Cooke (Gateshead) unfortunate to miss out on a podium place finishing in fourth spot one second behind Riddell. Riddell, backed up by Arthur Di Lullo (5^th) and Morgan Vincent (16^th) led Tynedale to team victory ahead of Darlington and Tyne Bridge.

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS (4.5k)

It was a Houghton one-two with victory going to Holly Robison who pipped team-mate Kathryn Pye by just three seconds to claim the gold medal. It wasn’t surprising the black and gold-vested pair claimed the major honours as Robison was quickest in both Wrekenton and Druridge Bay harrier league fixtures while Pye was fastest at Thornley Hall. The pair were pushed all the way to the line by North Shields Poly’s Anna Johnson who finished just two seconds adrift of Pye with Durham City’s Grace Carter a further five seconds behind in fourth place. Despite having the first two runners home Houghton missed out on team medals as they didn’t have a third counter which left the door open for Durham City, led by Carter to take the team award ahead of Darlington and Gateshead, the Tyneside club being awarded the bronze medals on countback ahead of North Shields Poly who totalled the same number of points.

 

UNDER-13 BOYS (3.6k)

Middlesbrough Mandale’s Thomas McCartie, runner up in the latest North Yorks South Durham Harrier League, got the better of Elswick’s Dominic Kelso, younger brother of under-17 winner Elliot, by just six seconds with Morpeth’s Ewan Line finishing a close-up third a further three seconds behind. Darlington, led home by ninth-placed Ollie Curran, won the team race ahead of Elswick and Morpeth.

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS (3.6k)

Birtley’s Oliver Murphy retained her title she won last year over the same course though it was a much closer affair this time round as she only had three seconds in hand at the line over New Marske’s Gabrielle Pinder. Alnwick supporters cheered home Emilia Waugh in third place. Birtley, with Izzy Hall (5^th) and Kitty Graham (7^th) backing up Murphy were comfortable team winners ahead of Elswick and Gateshead with Alnwick a close up fourth.

 

UNDER-11 BOYS (1.6k)

As he has done this season and last North Shields Poly’s Noah Penfold led from gun to tape to knock up another success. Alnwick’s Finlay Waugh finished runner-up with Allerton’s Alfie Clarkson finishing in third position followed by Darlington’s Acer Tarn and Prudhoe Plodders’ Zach Harrison. Good to see the Prudhoe outfit now attracting quite a number of youngsters to their fold.

 

UNDER-11 GIRLS (1.8k)

Ada Penfold made it a family double with a 29-seconds victory over Gosforth’s Ruby Collins with Wallsend’s Isla Aiston completing the one-two-three a further nine seconds back. Good to see around ninety youngsters testing themselves out in the ‘Try Cross-Country’ contests which have been going for nearly 10 years now.

 

**A huge thank you to Sunderland Harriers for hosting the Championships supported by Houghton Harriers, the two clubs supplying all of the marshalls around the course; to all the technical officials who were also at their posts for close on six hours; to South Tyneside Council for the use of the land and the adjoining facilities and to the first aid teams who thankfully weren’t called upon too often despite the awful conditions. Also to Start Fitness; the NECAA sponsors; NECAA President Mick Fraser for being on hand to present the awards and to Past President and Commonwealth marathon gold medallist, Jim Alder, who proudly presented the awards to his Morpeth squad for winning the senior men’s team race once more. We return to Temple Park at the turn of the year for the Sherman Cup/Davison Shield where, hopefully, the weather will be a little kinder!

 

BILL McGUIRK

 Results

 Photos: Stuart Whitman Photography

NEHL Aykley Heads - The final hurray

A FINAL HURRAY AS ATHLETES HEAD FOR AYKLEY IN THEIR HUNDREDS

AFTER the postponement of the Start Fitness Harrier League fixture at Lambton competitors couldn’t wait to don their spikes for a final time at Aykley Heads despite it being one of the toughest courses on the North East Harrier League circuit. Once again hosted superbly by the Derwentside, Durham City and Elvet Striders’ clubs it proved to be a true test of character for young and old and the crisp Autumn day did help considerably to keep athletes on the move.

 

UNDER-11 BOYS

With victories already under his belt in the previous two fixtures at Wrekenton and Druridge Bay it was no surprise that North Shields Poly’s Noah Penfold knocked up another success this time coming home 15 seconds clear of Alnwick’s Finlay Waugh with Zach Harrison (Prudhoe Plodders) a further seven seconds adrift in third place to give his club it’s first ever a ‘Try Cross-Country’ award. Sixty competitors finished with representatives from 24 of the region’s clubs.

UNDER-11 GIRLS

Once again Ada Penfold made it a family double with an even more convincing victory coming home 21 seconds clear of Gosforth’s Ruby Colins who finished nine seconds ahead of Sedgefield’s Jess Davis. It was pleasing to see a representative from Corbridge Middle School among the 59 finishers and hopefully she will not be put off by the severity of the conditions and will be on the start line in future events.

UNDER-13 BOYS

For the majority of the contest it looked as though Rodrigo Ribeiro would claim victory thanks to his 1min 40secs start over the fast pack as the Derwentside athlete took an early lead from the gun. However, after hitting the brow of the hill with around 600 metres to go Morrpeth’s Ewan Line, running from the fast pack, managed to overhaul the leader to claim victory by eight seconds. Tynedale’s Wilfred Pugh, also worked his way through the 61-strong field to finish in third place two seconds adrift of Ribeiro. Third quickest on the course was Elswick’s Dominic Kelso. Morpeth came out on top in the league stakes with Elswick second and Blaydon third.

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS

It was good to see a Phoenix Flyers athlete crossing the line in first place as Evie Kleiser took advantage of her 1:40 start to hold off Birtley’s in-form Poppie Phillipson who had worked he way through the 55-strong field to finish second with the day’s fastest time. 

Ella Harwood (Tyne Bridge) claimed the bronze medal with Izzy Hall (Birtley) and Emilia Waugh (Alnwick) the second and third quickest respectively, Birtley came out on top in the team event with Elswick edging out Newcastle rivals Gosforth by one point to claim second spot.

 

UNDER-15 BOYS

Sunderland’s William Young led from gun to tape to take full advantage of his 1:20 handicap and break the tape 14 seconds ahead of Gateshead’s Alfie Cook who found the handicap just too great as he crossed the line in second place eight seconds ahead of Jake Parker (Tyne Bridge) with Magnus (Tynedale) and fifth-placed Arthur Di Lullo, also Tynedale, posting the second and third quickest times respectively behind Cook. Tyne Bridge won the team race with Low Fell second and Tynedale third.

UNDER-15 GIRLS

North Shields Poly’s Maeve Taggart was a clear winner by 15 seconds with Gateshead’s Emily Collinwood finishing runner-up as the duo took advantage of their 1:20 start. Durham City’s Grace Carter just failed to overhaul the Gateshead athlete to finish in third position from the fast pack in the 32-strong field to post the quickest time of the day. Team-mate Evie Hall was second quickest and Darlington’s Matilda Owens third. Durham City held off North Shields Poly by two points to claim team victory with Elswick in third place.

 

UNDER-17 MEN

The 3:10 handicap proved to be too much for the fast pack as the medal positions were all filled by slow pack athletes. Victory wen to Crook’s Rory Hart who crossed the line in 18:28, nearly a minute clear of Tynedale’s Joe Elsob (19:32) with North Shields Poly’s Matthew Maley completing the one-two-three a further eight seconds back in third spot. 

North Shields Poly’s Daniel Watson was quickest on the course working his way through the 33 starters to finish in sixth place closely followed by Blaydon’s Maximus Murray who was second quickest and Alnwick’s Liam McDonough who was third best one place further back. North Shields Poly were comfortable winners of the team race followed by Birtley and Morpeth.

 

UNDER-17/20 WOMEN

Durham University’s Kate Sutcliffe was never headed as she cut out a lone furrow thanks to the generous handicap of 1:25 and 2:50 over the medium and fast packs respectively.

Competing in the older age group the student finished in 21:53; Elswick’s Erin Bright (under-17) finished runner-up in 23:00 while Houghton’s Charlotte Dillon (under-17) defied the 2:50 handicap to claim third place and the fastest overall time of the day. Second quickest under-17 was Darlington’s Zara Jones followed by Tynedale’s Ania Stobbart. Morpeth’s Millie Breese was the quickest under-20 on the course followed by Sutcliffe and Blaydon’s Ellie Fellows. Tynedale topped the league placings followed by Elswick and Newcastle University.

 

SENIOR MEN

Durham University student Jack Casalino took the honours after tracking early leader Morpeth’s Peter Smallcombe before edging to the front midway through the third and final circuit as the course became congested due to the huge number of competitors being lapped.

The American-born track athlete was having his first cross-country contest in this country and defied the conditions to come home 51 seconds clear of Smallcombe with Durham City’s Tom Henson completing the one-two-three a further 16 seconds adrift. The leading finishers took full advantage of a 5min 25sec start over the fast pack which saw an intriguing contest unfold behind the pacesetters. Inform NE Counties recently-crowned 10k champion Chris Coulson (Houghton) set out his stall from the gun and for the first two laps had a slight advantage of around 15 meters over Morpeth duo Lawrence McCourt and Sam Hancox. However, the Northumbrian pair managed to reel in Coulson to go on and post the two fastest times respectively with just one second separating the pair at the line with Coulson having to settle for the third best time 10 seconds adrift of McCourt.

There were 552 finishers with last man home Peter Lowe (Prudhoe Plodders) still finding the breath to thank the officials as he crossed the line. Good on you Peter! In the team stakes, Morpeth came out on top in Division One finishing ahead of Sunderland and Tyne Bridge; Tynedale led home Heaton and Jesmond Joggers in Division Two while Gosforth held off Newcastle University and Derwentside in Division Three.

 

SENIOR WOMEN

Druridge Bay runner-up Louise Mitchell went one better on this occasion despite running from the medium pack and giving the slow pack a 2min 25sec start. Mitchell quickly set about winding her through the athletes ahead and she was already at the head of affairs early on the second circuit. Despite hitting the front the Durham City athlete ploughed on relentlessly and by the finish she had opened up a gap of two minutes over Durham City team-mate Alison Thompson with Carrie Collins finishing just two seconds back in third place. 

Morpeth’s Catriona MacDonald once again led the charge from the fast pack’s 2:25 handicap, working her way through the 400-strong field to finish an excellent sixth. Morpeth team-mate Jane Hodgson (9^th) was next quickest on the course 17 seconds behind MacDonald with Mitchell being rewarded with the third best time two seconds slower than Hodgson. 

In the team contest Jesmond Joggers celebrated victory in Division One over Morpeth and Tyne Bridge; Elvet Striders came out on top in Division Two ahead of Sunderland and Sunderland Strollers while Crook led the way home in Division Three finishing ahead of Birtley and Blyth. The over-65 men once again lined up with the senior and masters women to cover two laps of the course and it was former Olympian Ray Smedley (Ponteland Runners) who was first home finishing just six seconds clear of Durham City’s Clifford Feathersone with Crook’s Geoff Hewitson completing the one-two-three. Durham City won the team race finishing ahead of Crook.

**ONCE again a huge thank you to the Derwentside, Durham City and Elvet Striders for hosting a superb fixture, the marshals went above and beyond to give competitors encouragement throughout the day; to Durham County Council for the use of the land and parking facilities; to the HL committee and technical officials who were at their posts until the final competitor finished and to the first aid team. It’s just a pity we can’t all return next year!

 

by Bill McGuirk

Photos: Stuart Whitman

Results: North Eastern Harrier League 2023/24 Sponsored by Start Fitness