NEHL Thornley Hall Farm 2024 - Race Report

ACTION RESUMES DOWN ON THE FARM

 

AFTER two cancellations last season at Thornley Hall Farm the Start Fitness North East Harrier League returned to action at the County Durham venue for the opening fixture of the 2024-25 campaign.

After heavy rain prior to the weekend the weather could not have been kinder with bright sunshine the order of the day. Thanks to landowner Jon Taylor the car parking facilities were deemed fine with the £3 charge once again going to a local charity.

The course, laid out by Stewy Bell and his team the previous day was in excellent condition though it had been tinkered with due to a huge lake appearing at the lowest part of the start and finish field. Stewy was more than happy that the day’s proceedings went well though he was not so overjoyed at losing his car keys somewhere round the 2-mile circuit! However, the passionate Toon supporter and season ticket holder – as is the NEHL treasurer Alan Elders who also missed the game due to officiating duties – loss of his keys wasn’t the be-all-and-end-all as his beloved Newcastle’s well-earned point against champions Manchester City eased the disappointment somewhat! With a number of weary athletes taking advantage of the on-site bar facilities – the only income for the landowner – it certainly is a date to pencil into the diary for next season.

SENIOR/UNDER-20 WOMEN 

IT WAS a delight to see Birtley’s Lydia Turner back to something like her old self as she eased into an early lead from the off taking full advantage of a 2min 20sec start over the medium pack and a 5-minute advantage over the fast pack. Tracking the former GB&NI international were under-20 athletes – taking part in senior action for the first time – Houghton’s Charlotte Dillon and Blaydon’s Ellie Fellows. Turner kept on cutting out a lone furrow at the head of affairs over the two testing circuits to eventually cross the line in 23mim 03secs - a time which proved to be the fastest overall figures of the day - and 23 seconds clear of Dillon (2^nd Fastest overall) with Fellows completing the one-two-three over a minute further adrift.

A beaming Turner said after receiving her award: “Naturally I’m delighted with my run for I didn’t know what to expect as it was my first cross-country race for six-years. Now I can’t wait for the next one to come around!”

Wallsend’s Jenny Berry was quickest from the fast pack and third overall quickest after a race-long tussle with Morpeth’s Jane Hodgson while Sunderland’s Grace Carroll was the best from the mediums after working her way to finish in 10^th position.

With five fixtures to go North Shields Poly are the early leaders of Division One followed by Sunderland and Elvet Striders; Washington head Division Two closely followed by Tynedale with Wallsend in third place; Birtley lead Division Three closely followed by Newcastle University with Gosforth in third spot.

MEN OVER-65

Ten competitors lined up contesting two circuits and it was Ponteland’s Mick Meaney who claimed the bragging rights followed by Robert Hewitson (Durham City) with Crook’s Mark Standbridge next fastest ahead of former Olympian Ray Smedley (Ponteland).

SENIOR MEN/UNDER-20 MEN 

ENTRIES were down on previous years possibly due to Newcastle’s early kick-off, however, it turned out to be stroll in the park for Morpeth’s Josh Fiddaman who led throughout the contest.

The former Blyth athlete and former NE County champion at under-13 level, not only won handsomely from Birtley’s Alex Below and first under-20 Rory Hart (Crook) but his winning time of 30min 16secs was the fastest overall time of the day.

Second quickest was Tyne Bridge’s Jarlath McKenna who worked his way through to 20^th place from a five-minute penalty to cross the line with an actual time of 30:46.

Third quickest on the course was Newcastle University’s Monte Watson who finished one place behind McKenna, also running from the fast pack. In the team section, prolific champions Morpeth, got off to a good start with victory in Division One followed by Durham City and North Shields Poly while Newcastle University top Division Two by two points from Wallsend with Crook back in third. In Division Three Blyth lead the way followed by South Shields and Wearside Tri.

UNDER-17 WOMEN 

THIS season this age group ran on their own rather than with the under-20s and it was a convincing win for Jarrow and Hebburn’s Emily Boot whose time of 20:15 was the second quickest overall, the fastest being Chester-Le-Street’s Lucy Buckle who recorded 19:05 working her way through into second place from a 1:15 handicap. Durham City’s Grace Carter crossed the line in third place while Elswick’s Erin Bright, running from the fast pack, was third quickest on the course. Durham City topped the league placings followed by Tynedale and Elswick.

UNDER-17 MEN 

GATESHEAD’S in-form Alfie Cook led throughout to win in 15:51 which proved to be the quickest overall time of the day. Tynedale’s Arthur Di Lullo finished in second place in 16:04 which was the joint second fastest, the other being Alnwick’s Liam McDonough who worked his way through into 13^th place running from a 2:30 handicap. Third across the line was Durham City’s William Jardine. Durham City topped the league placings followed by Tyne Bridge and Sunderland.

UNDER-15 GIRLS 

BIRTLEY’S Kitty Graham led the 45-strong field home crossing the line in 12:49, 13 seconds clear of Morpeth’s Faye Heatley with Tynedale’s Emelia Stobbart completing the medal places. Fastest on the course was Houghton’s Holly Robison who finished in fourth place from a 1:40 handicap. Second quickest was Darlington’s Matilda Owens followed by sister Charlotte with the sisters leading Darlington to team victory ahead of Houghton and Gateshead. 

UNDER-15 BOYS 

WALLSEND’S Kasper Pearson comfortably won from Tynedale’s Wilfred Pugh with Dominic Lee (Durham City) finishing in third place.Pearson was second quickest (10:52) on the course behind Darlington’s Rowan Steel (10:47) after working his way through into 15th place from a 1:40 handicap. With 11:00 Heaton’s Alex Smith was third quickest. Blyth, led home by eighth-placed Dexter Heatley topped the team placings ahead of Elswick and Low Fell.

UNDER-13 GIRLS

MORPETH’S Heidi Wilkinson held on to win (13:27) by just three seconds to claim victory over Prudhoe Plodders’ Martha Carr (13:30) with Sedgefield’s Jess Davis four-seconds adrift in third place. Birtley’s Izzy Hall was fastest on the course (12:30), working her way through the field from a 1:20 handicap to finish in seventh place. Elswick’s Ayla Bright was second quickest (12:44) followed by Wilkinson. North Shields Poly came out on top in the team stakes followed by Elswick and Wallsend.

UNDER-13 BOYS

MORPETH’S Mason Gaylor proved a comfortable winner crossing the line in 11:41, 26 seconds clear of Gosforth’s Jack McManus with Low Fell’s William McClean just two seconds further adrift in third place. Fastest on the course was Durham City’s Henry Engleheart who posted an actual time of 11:31 on his way to finishing in 14^th place from a 1:20 handicap. Second fastest was Gaylor and third quickest McManus. An excellent team victory by Low Fell followed in second place Gosforth with Elswick third.

UNDER-11 GIRLS and BOYS

A TOTAL of 131 youngsters toed the line in the “Try Cross-Country” and the enthusiasm and enjoyment was to the fore all supported heartedly by parents and grand-parents whether their child was at the sharp end, mid-field or at the rear, of course, that’s the way our sport is noted for. 

In the boys’ section, in which there were 75 finishers, first home was North Shields Poly’s Matthias Gheorghiu (6.00) closely followed by Jarrow and Hebburn’s Jacob Hopper just one second adrift with Aycliffe’s Will Allison completing the one-two-three. 

In the girls contest over the same one-mile course, Ada Penfold made it a double for the Poly club crossing the line in 5:23. Gosforth’s Ruby Colins (Gosforth) came home in second place followed by Penfold’s team-mate Ellie Nelson. Thanks go to the tail runners for making sure the contest went off smoothly.

**THANKS go to NEHL league sponsors Start Fitness, to landowner

Jon Taylor, to all the technical officials, course builders and marshalls, to the first aid team, the new chip timing squad Timing Up North and to the chuck waggon personnel, who unfortunately ran out of food as the day progressed. After contesting the most southerly fixture on the calendar harrier League action continues with a trip up the Northumberland coast on Sunday, October 13^th to Druridge Bay followed a week later when Lambton Estate is the venue.

 

By Bill McGuirk

Photos - Stuart Whitman Photography