SEDGEFIELD PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR A SUPERB CHAMPIONSHIPS – A NORTH EAST VIEW
AFTER an interlude of 13
years – Herrington Country Park in 2011 -the Northern Cross-Country
Championships returned to the region with Sedgefield Harriers, only formed in 2005,
hosting what, on reflection, was an excellent day’s sport enjoyed by
competitors and spectators alike. With the championships being on our doorstep
there was an extremely healthy turn-out from North East club athletes with a
number of them making it onto the podium and a number near misses. East Park
was the venue and despite the recent heavy rains in the region and cold wind
throughout the day, the twisting course was relatively mud-free much to the
delight to those facing a long trip home.
SENIOR MEN (12.1K)
The last event on the 10-race programme had anyone with North east connections smiling throughout as the three-lap contest unfolded. Despite a cautious start it wasn’t until around 1,500m that eventual winner Calum Johnson joined the leading group of four, which included Morpeth’s Carl Avery, though it was a ploy the Gateshead and 2020 champion had planned prior to lining up.
Closing in on the completion of the first circuit Johnson decided it was time to stamp his authority on proceedings and quickly opened up a gap of 30 or so metres which he had extended to 100m at the bell as he strode out relentlessly weaving in and out lapped runners to come home to a rousing cheer from those lining the finishing straight.
At the line Johnson had opened up a 30-second cushion over double Yorkshire and European Cross representative and last year’s Northern under-20 champion Angus McMillan (City of York) with Blackburn’s Matthew completing the podium placings a further similar distance back in third place. Despite a gritty final lap Avery was just outside the medals finishing in fourth spot 23 seconds behind the bronze medallist.
Next home from the region was Avery’s Morpeth team-mate Phil Winkler in 15th place followed by Birtley’s Aidrian Bailes (23rd), Ellis Hetherington (Blyth) in 26th and Sunderland’s Stephen Jackson one place and one second further adrift. Special mention to Sedgefield’s Chris Lines, the main instigator on making the championships happen who actually found time to face the starter and cross the finish in 298th place! It was a double whammy for Avery for his
Morpeth team also missed out on making it onto the podium after closing in
their six counters in fourth place. Sunderland finished seventh, Gateshead 10th,
North Shields Poly 11th, Durham City 12th, Darlington 13th
and Crook 15th.
Before making it to the
presentation I caught up with a beaming Johnson who was by no means out of
breath after his sterling effort and commented: “I didn’t feel I had to go off
really fast at the start and maybe suffer a bit in the later stages so the plan
was to pull back the leaders gradually before the completion of the first lap
and that’s what I did. Once I hit the front I felt really comfortable and just
concentrated all the way to the finish. It was great having so much support all
around the course which I greatly appreciated. I can now go into the National –
he won in 2020 – and the Inter Counties – which he also won in 2022 – with a
lot of confidence.”
SENIOR WOMEN (8.1K)
North East champion Phillipa Stone came agonisingly close to making it onto the podium for the second year after finishing runner-up 12 months ago at Blackburn. Unfortunately, the Middlesbrough Mandale athlete had to be content with fourth place on this occasion just nine seconds behind the leading trio.
Finding 8.1k no problem to former Commonwealth Games 800m representative, North Shields Poly’s Charlotte Penfold was next North East finisher in an excellent 16th place followed by Durham City’s Louise Mitchell (19th), Catriona MacDonald (Morpeth) was 24th, Gateshead’s Shona Haston 30th, former under-17 national champion Elswick’s Justina Heslop 31st, Wallsend’s Jenny Berry 37th and Durham City’s Nicole Burlinson was 39th. Former Gosforth athletes, now competing for Sale, Helen Warburton and Hariett Buswell, finished 18th and 44th respectively.
Durham City
were the region’s first team to close in in seventh place followed by Elswick,
9th, North Shields Poly were 10th, Jesmond Joggers 13th,
Birtley 14th and Tyne Bridge 15th.
JUNIOR MEN (8.1k)
Last year Josh Blevins finished in 13thth place in this age group in Blackburn, however the Gateshead athlete made a mockery of that result with an exhibition of how to front run despite it not being in the pre-race plan. Blevins took an early lead on the first of two circuits and was never headed as the field spreadeagled behind him and at the line, Blevins, who won the Northern at under-13 level back in 2005 as a North Shields Poly athlete, had 22 seconds over his nearest rival.
Afterwards, Blevins commented on his performance saying: I was happy with that, two laps over 8k is a tough ask for me but I think I handled it rather well though on the second circuit I was wondering to myself ’had I gone too early.’ I worked really hard on that second lap which sets me up nicely for the BUCS next weekend.”
Just missing out on an individual medal was Morpeth’s William De
Vere Owen. After putting in a strong second lap the Northumbrian crossed the
line just 13 seconds adrift of the bronze medallist. Next home was fellow
Morpeth athlete Joe Dixon in seventh place followed by Blackhill’s Duncan
Hughes in 11th. Middlesbrough’s Max Creasey finished 18th,
followed by Bertie Marr (Morpeth) 20th, Zak Kettle (Tyne Bridge) 23rd
and Sunderland’s Alex Seed 24th. With their three scorers inside the
top 20 Morpeth were clear team winners; Gateshead finished sixth and Durham
City seventh.
JUNIOR WOMEN (5.7k)
In the smallest field of the
day – just 37 finishers – North Shields Poly’s Holly Waugh was the region’s
leading athlete finishing in 13th place. Birtley’s Katie Francis was
next in 18th followed one place behind by Elswick’s Imogen Bungay
with the Poly’s Katie Joslyn next at 28th. Gosforth’s Alice Lewis
finished 31st, NSP’s Mili Diddee was 32nd and Durham
City’s Shauna Portwine 37th. North Shields Poly were the only NE
team to finish a team in fourth place.
UNDER-17 MEN (5.7k)
North Shields Poly’s Ben
Sproats missed out on making the podium by an agonising 11 seconds despite
producing a strong second lap. It was an excellent performance after going into
the contest on the back of his victory in the Sherman Cup three weeks earlier.
Elliot Kelso (Morpeth) was next NE athlete to finish in 11th place with
Crook’s Rory Hart finishing 20th, Alex Boyer (Darlington) 21st
followed by Middlesbrough’s Jacob Brown one place further back. North Shields
Poly were the only NE outfit to close in a team in seventh place.
UNDER-17 WOMEN (4.7k)
North East champion Charlotte
Dillon just missed making it onto the podium for a second year running after
finishing runner-up 12 months ago in Blackburn. This time round the Houghton
athlete finished in fourth place just 13 seconds behind the bronze medallist.
Following her home was Darlington’s Zara Zones in fifth position. Blaydon’s
Ellie Fellows was next NE athlete to finish in16th place then came Iona
Johnstone (Gateshead) 20th closely followed by Blackhill’s Hatti
Stead in 22nd place. Poppy Old was next in 27th leading
the Poly to team bronze medals, the other members being Amelie Sillence (36th),
Darcy Tullis (47th) and Hannah Atkinson in 57th place. Elswick, led
home by 42nd-placed Erin Blight, finished fifth.
UNDER-15 BOYS (3.8k)
TS Harriers’ Dawit Asmelash led the region’s charge to finish an excellent 10th just getting the bragging rights over Gateshead’s Alfie Cook who finish just one place and four seconds adrift of the Teessider.
New Marske’s Zander Gribbon was next NE runner
home in 17th position then came a host of NE representatives: Arthur
DiLullo (Tynedale) 23rd, Noah Williamson (NE Project) 24th,
Freddie Palmer (Tyne Bridge) 26th, Rowan Steel (Darlington) 27th
and Middlesbrough’s Charlie Jones in 28th spot. In the team stakes
Darlington finished fifth, Tyne Bridge were eighth and Sunderland ninth.
UNDER-15 GIRLS (3.8k)
Anna Johnson was first NE
athlete home finishing in 15th place one place and two seconds ahead
of Houghton’s Holly Robison. Durham City’s Grace Carter was next across the
line in 20th spot closely followed by Houghton’s Kathryn Pye in 21st
place. Then came Darlington’s duo Matilda Owens (25th) and Charlotte
Owens (29th) with Durham City’s Evie Hall in 31st
position three seconds behind Charlotte. Durham City finished 10th
and Darlington 12th in the team section.
UNDER-13 BOYS (2.9k)
A great result for the region
with the first two athletes home representing NE clubs. Victory went to
Middlesbrough’s Thomas McCartie, Thomas admitting afterwards that it was a
tough course but was extremely happy to have won. Morpeth’s Ewan Line came through
strongly in the later stages to claim the silver medal, crossing the line 16
seconds behind the Teessider. Tynedale’s Wilfred Pugh was next NE athlete to
finish in 10th position; Darlington’s Ollie Curran finished 12th
and a superb run by Henry Engelhart saw the Phoenix Flyers’ athlete finish 16th,
two places ahead of Elswick’s Dominic Kelso. In the team section, Darlington
finished sixth, Tynedale were eighth, Elswick ninth and Tyne Bridge 11th.
UNDER-13 GIRLS (2.9k)
Gabrielle Pinder (New Marske)
missed out on a medal place by the narrowest of margins as she crossed the line
just one second adrift of the bronze medallist. It was an exceptionally good
run by the Teessider who finished runner-up in the NE Championships at Temple
Park before Christmas. Next NE runner home was Alnwick’s Emilia Waugh in 14th
place, Birtley’s Izzy Hall was 18th, Elswick’s Aylia Blight was 19th,
Kitty Graham (Birtley) 23rd, Emma Blackburn (Gateshead) 32nd,
Sasha Patterson (Darlington) 36th, Faye Heatley (Morpeth) 41st
and Evie Kleiser (Phoenix Flyers) 44th. In the team section Morpeth
finished in eighth place and Elswick ninth.
**A great Championship thanks
in a big way to Sedgefield Harriers whose marshalls were superb giving
encouragement to everyone throughout the long day. Congratulations to all the
region’s athletes who took part whether a medal winner or not. Thanks also go
to Start Fitness for their continued support to Northern Athletics and to all
the NE officials who manned their posts diligently from first to last event.
Results: Here
Photos - Stuart Whitman Photography & Mick Hall Photos
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