DOUBLE A’S CLAIM COUNTY 10K TITLES

DOUBLE A’S CLAIM COUNTY 10K TITLES

ON AN accurately-measured course Adrian Bailes and Amy Fuller were crowned the North Eastern Counties 10k champions after tasting success in the annual Heaton Memorial race on Newcastle Town Moor.

After last year’s course was deemed to be 80 metres short the Newcastle club checked and rechecked that everything was in order this time round for the near-500 competitors who lined-up after an impeccable one minute silence followed by a huge round of applause.

Once underway it was pre-race favourites Bailes (Birtley AC) and Bristol and West’s Jarlath McKenna, who had finished second and third respectively in the race in 2021, who immediately took up the running and couldn’t be separated for much of the contest.

Adrian Bailes & Jarlath McKenna

Despite strong winds blowing across the Moor, the duo reached half- way in 15min 33secs as they opened up a gap of around 30 seconds over a chasing group of three, Michael Hedley (Tyne Bridge), Connor Marshall (Morpeth) and Elswick’s Lewis Liddle with Lewis McConnell (Birtley), Scott McLeod (Edinburgh), Duncan Hughes (Blackhill) and Heaton duo Fred Davies and Lewis Head in close attendance.

The pace at the front was relentless with neither athlete giving an inch until the final turn for home around 500 metres from the finish when Bailes, the younger of the two, made a bid for glory sprinting all the way to the line to claim victory by a matter of just two seconds in a time of 30:41 and while it was over a minute outside Ryan McLeod’s 2015 course record of 29:32 it was only three seconds outside his best for the distance, so, considering the strong winds throughout the contest, it was an excellent effort which bodes well for the rest of the season.

Afterwards the in-form Bailes’ said he was delighted with his victory adding: “Jarlath certainly made it tough but I thought the longer the race progressed I felt I had a good chance of winning if it came to a sprint finish and so it proved.”

The race for the bronze medal behind Bailes and McKenna was sorted around midway through the second circuit as Marshall, who was making his debut over the distance, pulled away from his rivals and it was a happy Morpeth athlete who came home in third place just over a minute behind the leaders and 15 seconds ahead of Hedley with Davies having moved through to fifth place a similar distance back having knocked over two minutes off his previous pb.

In the women’s contest another Bristol and West athlete took the open race honours after leading throughout. Kate Maltby, who is based in the Lake District and an England hill running international, followed up her victory in the Great North 10k on her last visit to the region in July, to claim the winner’s check in 35:28.

Kate Maltby

However, behind the visiting North West visitor, the battle for county success was a much closer affair. Amy Fuller, making her Tyne Bridge debut after moving from Elswick, held a slight lead over Imogen Bungay (Elswick) with North Shields Poly’s Jaqueline Penn a few yards further adrift and just ahead of Morpeth’s Rachelle Falloon.

As the race progressed Fuller continued to keep her rivals at bay to eventually come home three seconds outside her pb in 36:34 to claim the NE County title. Penn finished in silver medal position 14 seconds adrift with Falloon finishing in third place in 37:12 as teenager Bungay slipped outside the medals to finish in fourth spot.

The North East County’s 10k medalists, left to right: Rachel Falloon (3rd), Jacki Penn (2nd) and Amy Fuller (1st)

**Thanks go to Heaton Harriers from the NECAA for another excellent event which is just one of a number of road races run under the banner of NE County Championships.

BILL McGUIRK

Photos: Stuart Whitman - Photos here

English National XC Relays - North East Report

 RAPID RELAY PERFORMANCE BY BIRTLEY GOLDEN GIRLS

Birtley U13 Girls winning team with Coach Gary Curtis

The man on the mic was caught out when first home in the under-13 girls contest at the ECCA National Cross-Country Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield was a Birtley athlete, however, the commentator hadn’t done his homework for the winning trio of Kitty Graham, Olivia Murphy and Kitty’s twin sister Nell, had produced some eye- catching early season performances having won both the Northern Road Relay and Cross-Country Relay Championships as well as finishing runner-up in the National Road Relay Championships behind the strong Southern outfit Aldershot, Farnham and District (AF&D).

Perhaps the announcer was caught aback a little for Kitty Graham had Birtley back in sixth place going into the first changeover zone 18 seconds adrift of Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow (WSE&H) with AF&D two places and five seconds further adrift.

On the second leg Murphy was quickly into her stride and before half-way of the 2k circuit had reeled in the leader but the big danger was now AF&D who also cut back the deficit and was on Murphy’s shoulder as they came to the final changeover locked together with WSE&H a further seven seconds back in third place.

Once again it was Nell Graham who was given the honour, just as she had in previous events, of contesting the glory leg as she, just like Murphy, set off briskly in an attempt to ease away and the tactic turned into reality after quickly opening up a 10-second gap well into her stint. 

With a sprinkling of support from a number of spectators – including yours truly - from the North East and, of course, the girls’ parents and coach, Nell managed to come home clear despite the AF&D athlete closing her down slightly towards the finish and it was a delighted Birtley trio who were called up to receive their gold medals after being announced as winners from the same announcer who will certainly know all about Birtley now and if he is on the mic in 12 months’ time there is every chance he could be calling out a repeat performance as the girls will still be eligible to line up in the under-13 contest once more!

Naturally, the Birtley trio grabbed the headlines for they were the region’s only medallists. However, there were other teams from the NE who also took in the event to gain championship experience.

In the same under-13 girls contest the Gateshead trio of Emily Collingwood, Larkin Reid and Maeve Taggart finished in 52nd place while in the under-13 boys relay over the same 2k course, Elswick’s threesome of Nicholas Surtees-Brown, George Russell and Dominic Kelso came home in 44th position.

The under-15s also ran the same distance as the younger age group and in the girls’ event Darlington, with the trio of Zara Jones, Freya Talman and Sophie Bannister, finished in 35th place from 95 teams which started while Elswick’s Team of Poppy Wilde, Erin Bright and Isla Gardner, came home in 54th spot.

In the boys’ relay Morpeth and Elswick were the region’s representatives with the Northumbrian trio of Harry Armstrong, Oliver Calvert and Steven Craske getting the better of their Tyneside rivals by just 15 seconds with Sam Allison, Adam Jeavans and Liam Heron Coulson representing the Newcastle club.

The under-17 age group faced a distance of 2.5k and in the men’s event Morpeth finished strongly and only 40 seconds off bronze medal position with the trio of Elliot Kelso, Liam Roche and William De Vere Owen as they came home in 10th place out of 60 teams. Gateshead also lined up and the team of Matthew Atkinson, Matthew Dias and Luca Shaw, finished in 56th place.

In the under-17 women’s contest only two seconds separated Gateshead and Elswick at the finish. The trio of Jessica Milburn, Iona Johnstone and Aoife Bell finished in 10th place while the Newcastle club’s representatives Poppy Old, Isabella Russell and Imogen Bungay came home in 13th position out of the 60 teams which started.

The final two events n the programme were the senior women and senior men and here again a sprinkling of NE clubs faced the starter. In the women’s three stage contest over a distance of 3k, Morpeth, Elswick and two NE Project teams were among the 136 called to their marks with the Morpeth trio Lizzie Rank, Robyn Bennett and Rachelle Falloon finishing in 59th place, Elswick finished 88th with Joanne Brown, Sara Blight and Andrea Banner while the NE Project A team of Lindsey Blackburn, Helen Hall and Jen Howse finished 110th with the second string of Janet Stainsby, Amelia Harrison and Zoe Walls finishing a further six places back. 

The NE Project outfit have to be congratulated on lining up in the championships for the very first time especially with having two teams in the senior women’s contest.

The senior men’s 4x5k contest was, as usual, the final event on the programme and with dusk rapidly approaching it was a race against time to complete the competition. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop former winners, Morpeth, once again leading the region’s charge.

The quartet of Matthew Walton, Philip Winkler, Matthew Briggs and Connor Marshall finished an excellent 27th out of the 198 teams which started. Sunderland – Michael Wilson, Scott Armstrong, Stephen Jackson and Steve Rankin – were next home for the region in 38th place while, two places and eight seconds further back came Gateshead who lined up with Luca Minale, Jack Douglas, James Cripwell and Matthew Linsley. In 108th place came NE Project’s foursome of Kieran Walker, Jamie Slack, Gary Reay and Jordan Page while the Wallsend quartet of Simon Lyon, Mark Covell, Iain Hall and Martin Crozier finished in 114th place.

It was not an exceptional turn out by NE clubs at a championship which attracts teams from every corner of England but the NE teams which did well done to you all.

BILL McGUIRK

Photos: Birtley AC & NE Project

NEHL Lambton Estate 2022 - Race Report

TAKE A BOW YOU WOMEN YOU’RE THE TOPS

CROSS-COUNTRY is often thought of as the poor relations of our sport but while we know the camaraderie is second to none and is there for all to see at every Start Fitness North East Harrier League fixture, at Lambton Castle it was further in evidence as the under-15 girls approached the finish line of their event.

As the senior women were lining up adjacent to the finishing straight and waiting for the starter to send them on their way all three packs immediately broke into loud applause for the youngsters who had just completed a very tough cross-country course.

It was a pleasure to see and hear on a day when the inclement weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm of nearly 1,500 competitors with the senior women certainly excelling in every way. Well done to you all, I didn’t think the HL could get any better but on Saturday it certainly did and I applaud you all!

SENIOR MEN

Three undulating circuits of the former lion park faced the 550 starters over an extended six-mile multi-terrain course and it was two of the nation’s leading teenagers who signaled their intentions from the off. 

Gateshead’s Josh Blevins and Birtley’s Chris Perkins entered the unknown after moving up from the under-17 age group last year to contest six-mile for the first time but you would not have believed it as they were locked together shoulder-to-shoulder for the first two circuits well clear of their rivals.

It wasn’t until around a mile to go that Blevins, the Northern and National under-17 5k champion, managed to ease away from his shadow and come home 26 seconds ahead of English Schools’ track international Perkins.

“Naturally, I’m pleased with that,” said Blevins after his victory. “Racing six-mile on the country is a big step up but I’m happy with the way it went. Chris was very strong on the hills but I sensed he was tiring a bit so decided to make a move and it paid off. I’m running Milton Keynes next (UK Cross Challenge) then the North Eastern’s and all the major races after the turn of the year.’’

For Perkins, who admits he is primarily a track runner, it was also a run to be proud of after posting the fourth overall quickest time of the day – Blevins was second fastest with fastest time being recorded by Tyneside-based Jarlath McKenna (Bristol and West).

McKenna, who was also quickest in the opening HL fixture at Wrekenton, lined up at Lambton for the first time and, from a handicap of 5min 15secs, worked his way through to finish in eighth place. Asked if he found it difficult to make his way through such a large field, McKenna smiled and said: ‘Yes, maybe on the hills but I’m not complaining for it gave me a chance to ease back a bit!” The Bristol and West athlete plans to line up in the Heaton Memorial 10k, a race he finished in third place last year.

In the team event Morpeth led the way in Division One finishing ahead of Sunderland and Gateshead while in Division Two Durham City were comfortable winners with Saltwell in second place ahead of Blaydon. Newcastle University topped Division Three led home by Luke Davis who was third quickest overall behind McKenna and Blevins as Tynedale finished runners-up ahead of NE Project.

SENIOR WOMEN

At Druridge Bay Teesside outfit NE Project celebrated their first NEHL victory when Kieran Walker was first home in the senior men’s race. This time round it was Jess Young who took the honours after giving the black-vested club success in the senior women’s two-lap contest.

At the completion of the first circuit, Alnwick’s Helen Waugh had a 20-metre advantage over Young with Anna Oswald (Tyne Bridge) a similar distance back in third place.

Midway through the testing second lap Young eased ahead to come home 21 seconds clear of Waugh with Morpeth’s Morag Stead, who was runner-up in Wrekenton, completing the one-two-three from a 2min 27secs handicap.

Fastest on the course was Wallsend’s Danielle Hodgkinson who worked her way through the 450-strong field to finish in fifth place from a 5min 15secs penalty. Hodgkinson, testing out a long-standing Achilles injury felt she is quietly getting back to some decent form though she added that she is disappointed that she will miss the NEXC Championships as she will be competing for the Army in another fixture.

In the team contest Tyne Bridge led the way in Division One ahead of North Shields Poly and Tynedale; in Division Two Sunderland headed Birtley by just two points with South Shields in third place a further five points adrift while in Division Three Sunderland Strollers took the honours on countback after finishing on 84 points the same as Crook with Stocksfield Striders edging out Blaydon for third palce after the two clubs totalled 96 points.

UNDER-17 MEN

Elswick’s Callum Eldridge led throughout the three-mile contest finishing a minute clear of North Shields Poly’s Ben Sproats and Blackhill’s Tom Slane, Sproats and Slane posting the day’s quickest times from a 2min 35secs handicap.

The all-conquering Morpeth squad once again claimed team victory with Birtley in second place and Gateshead third.

UNDER-17/20 WOMEN

Not so many years ago this age group was lucky to see a dozen or so face the starter but happily, that is no longer the case with over 40 young women lining up and it was Durham City’s Charlotte Dillon who claimed victory for the third time this season having won from the slow pack at Wrekenton; from the medium pack at Druridge Bay at from the fast pack here at Lambton.

Chester-le-Street’s Lucy Scothern led after the first small lap but Dillon, making her debut at Lambton, cutting back the 2min 35sec handicap with every stride before taking the lead midway the second circuit to come home to win by nearly a minute. Gateshead’s Aoife Bell finished in third place with North Shields Poly’s Holly Waugh fourth posting the second quickest time to help the Poly claim team victory over Gateshead and Gosforth.

UNDER-15 BOYS

In-form Oliver Calvert (Morpeth) defied a 1min 45sec handicap to claim a popular victory after overhauling North Shields Poly pair Matthew Maley and Adam Feenan with the finish line in sight, the Northumbrian eventually getting his nose in front to win by just two seconds over Maley. Second fastest on the course was Calvert’s Morpeth team-mate Oliver Tomlinson who finished in fourth place. North Shields Poly won the team section ahead of Morpeth with Durham City finishing in third place.

UNDER-15 GIRLS

Tynedale’s Maria Gaines took the honours with a 16-seconds victory over Durham City’s Chloe Johnson with Lucy Buckle (Chester-le-Street) completing the medallists. Fastest on the course was Johnson’s Durham City team-mate Grace Carter who worked her way through from a 1min 45sec penalty to finish in fifth position. Second quickest was Mary Parkin (Heaton) with Ania Stobbart (Tynedale) third fastest. Tynedale won the team section ahead of Durham City with North Shields Poly in third.

UNDER-13 BOYS

Noah Williamson defied a 1min 45sec handicap to claim an excellent victory, the NE Project runner came home a clear winner by 25 seconds with Blyth’s Dexter Heatley claiming second place three seconds ahead of Heaton’s Jake Smith. Second quickest on the course behind Williamson was North Shields Poly’s James Sturman who held off Wallsend’s Joseph Duthie-Brown in the sprint for the line with the timekeepers’ unable to separate the pair.

Over 60 runners completed the course with Blaydon and Blyth tied on 35 points with the former claiming victory in the team contest on countback. Sunderland finished in third place.

UNDER-13 GIRLS

Having their first HL outing of the campaign it was Birtley twins Kitty and Nell Graham who dominated from the off. The duo, members of the winning team the previous weekend at the Northern Athletics XC Relay Championships, led throughout with victory going to Kitty who had a 12 seconds cushion at the line over her sister. Gateshead’s Emma Blackburn was a clear third, on her way to posting the third fastest overall time behind the Birtley girls. No surprise as Birtley won the team race ahead of Gateshead and Morpeth.

UNDER-11 BOYS

Having won the opening fixture in Wrekenton, North Shields Poly’s Noah Penfold made it a second success with a 13-second victory over Druridge Bay winner Kallen O’Neil (Elswick) who just got the verdict over Darlington’s Ollie Curran with both athletes given the same time by the timekeepers.

UNDER-11 GIRLS

Three fixtures in and it was the same result as far as the top two finishing positions. Wrekenton, Druridge Bay and now Lambton. Another Birtley one-two with victory going to Poppie Phillipson who finished 16 seconds ahead of her team-mate Izzy Hall. Chester-le- Street’s Isla Ford Hutchinson completed the podium places. Once again it was pleasing to see a number of competitors from West Jesmond Primary School taking part, many tackling cross-country for the very first time.

** Thanks go to the Lambton landowners for letting the HL use their land; to the first aiders and to all the volunteer marshals from the Low Fell, Washington and Birtley clubs and to all the technical officials who, together with the HL committee, were at their posts throughout the day.

BILL McGUIRK

Photos by Stuart Whitman
Full gallery here

Full results here

NEHL 2022-23 Fixture 3: Lambton Estate

SFNEHL FIXTURE 3. LAMBTON ESTATE 29/10/2022

Hi all, information ahead of Saturday's fixture. The course is as last year and schedule is as usual (see images below). Please ensure that you check your allocated pack at the League website ( http://www.harrierleague.com/ , click on runner info). At Druridge there were too many folks running from incorrect packs creating a lot of extra work for Paul.

Parking cost is £4 per vehicle, to cover the charge that the landowners make for use of the Estate. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CASH READY - payment point is as indicated at the end of the purple mark up adjacent to the castle at the Lambton access image. The entrance to the Estate is at the Bonemill Lane gated entrance indicated at the image with the route to parking highlighted. What3words location for the gate is drew.stews.hiding

For orientation, the castle postcode is NE38 9HA. The entrance doesn't have a postcode ..... it a set of gates!

There is a one way system in operation, indicated by the yellow mark up which indicates route to leave. Its clearly signposted. Please don't attempt to leave the way you entered the Estate.

Dogs - yes, allowed, but on a lead at all times.

Final request; please be remember to be considerate of other runners, officials and folks in general at the event. There was an incident of a runner verbally abusing an official at Druridge, also an incident involving two Junior athletes ('horseplay' that went too far) one of whom required medical attention. We're still working through the latter. As well as being unacceptable behaviour in both cases, it just adds to workload.

Big thanks to Birtley AC, Low Fell, and Washington in advance of the event for organising the course, marshals etc.

Finally, as always - enjoy!

Timetable 12.00 Under 11 Boys

12.05 Under 11 Girls

12.15 Under 17 men

12.20 U17 and U20 women

12.35 Under 15 Boys

12.40 Under 15 Girls

12:50 Under 13 boys

12:55 Under 13 girls

13.05 Senior & veteran women

13:50 Senior & veteran Men

Guests may run in the league at a cost of £5 for the whole season. This is a one off charge. They must register on the day, and let us know if they competed last season (and if they did we can check the pack).

Guests must be members of a EA or SA, or similar affiliated club.

Second Claim runners may not count for team points. They can either run for their first claim club as a guest, or if they come and register on the day they can take part as a non-counting runner in their second claim vest.

Guests & Second claim runners do not accumulate team points, but do get individual grand prix points.

Race HQ will be at the all new singing and dancing NEHL Tent next at the start area.

Reminder to ALL competitors. We do not split race packs. Your team manager needs to collect and pay for your team entries. I have a list of who owes what, we will not take individual numbers out of the packs, we are far too busy. Find out who your team manager is and make sure they have a cheque or cash with them to cover the club's entry fees.

Costs are £50 + £3 per runner for clubs

£5 for guests

If by some unknown reason you manage to lose your number on the day after you've collected it from your team tent, you can buy a new one for £5. I know it sounds daft, but it has happened before.



Quick reminder of the rules.

You must start in the pack you have been allocated. (You will be DQd for running from the wrong pack)

You must wear your club's team vest or t-shirt, and all vests must be of the same design (or you will be DQd & won't count for team points)

As per league rules you CANNOT wear headphones

Age restrictions as follows:

Under 11 - must be aged at least 9 on the day of competition
Under 13 - must be 11 on 31st August 2022.  
Under 15 - must be 13 on 31st August 2022.
Under 17 men - must be 15 on 31st August 2022.
Under 17 & 20 women - must be 15 on 31st August 2022.
Senior Men - must be 17 on 31st August 2022.
Senior Women - must be 20 on 31st August 2022.

Masters men aged 65 may (if they wish) run in the 2 lap Senior Women's race, they register as per normal in the men's race, then come to race hq for a replacement number.  Masters wishing to do this must stay in the 2 lap race all season.

Results will be available on the usual link : http://www.harrierleague.com/results/2022-23/

Northern Athletics Cross-Country Relay Championships - North East Report

 RELAY GOOD PERFORMANCES BY NE SQUADS

THE region may have been low in numbers but the clubs that did travel to Graves Park, Sheffield for the Northern Athletics Cross-Country Relay Championships certainly didn’t disappoint.

Only four North East clubs were on duty and it was, once again, the in-form Birtley trio of Kitty Graham, Olivia Murphy and Nell Graham who made the headlines in a big way. Having already claimed the NA Road Relay gold medals, the team were quietly confident of topping the podium once again though they had to pull out all the stops this time round to see off the challenge of 28 rivals including the Rotherham threesome who had finished runners-up in Manchester behind Birtley.

And it was Rotherham who led at the first 1.8k stage by around 150 metres thanks to the overall quickest time of the day (5:38) by Maya Schofield. Kitty Graham had Birtley in second place (6:01) after holding off the challenge of the Wirral athlete by just one second. 

Esme Milbourne continued to cut out a loan furrow for Rotherham on the second leg but Birtley’s Murphy had cut back the deficit to just six seconds before passing on to Nell Graham to contest the glory leg.

Graham was quickly into her stride and well before half way round the circuit had moved into the lead which came as no surprise as her 5:54 clocking proved to be the second quickest overall behind Schofield.

Once again a superb all-round performance by the trio who were supported by their parents and were well worth their second set of NA gold medals.

While it was a happy Birtley squad who stepped down from the podium it was so close for the Allerton and Darlington trios who came agonisingly to joining them only to miss out by finishing in fourth place in their respective events.

Allerton, contesting the under-11 girls 3x1.5k contest, were in third place at the first changeover thanks to Connie Wilford whose 5:35 figures were the fifth fastest of the day. Georgia Raw slipped back to fourth on leg two and while Abigail Ferguson closed the gap slightly on the leaders it just wasn’t enough at the line. In the same event Darlington finished in eighth place with Sasha Patterson their quickest with 5:46.

In the under-11 boys 3x1.5k contest Darlington could not have come any closer to returning with medals after being run out by a matter of just one second. Liverpool A team were clear winners but the race to join them on the podium came down to a sprint finish between the Wirral, Liverpool B and Darlington with the two Merseyside outfits eventually managing to get the verdict, Wirral recording 16:42, Liverpool B 16:43 and Darlington 16:44. It was extremely tough on the Darlington trio Monty Bowden (5:42), Daniel Callaghan (5:36) and Ollie Curran (5:26) who was sixth quickest of the day.

The senior men’s 4x2-mile relay attracted a record 67 teams with Sunderland Harriers the region’s only representatives and they were rewarded with an excellent 10th place finish.

The Wearsiders’ were in 16th place at the first changeover after Stephen Jackson’s 10:51 stint. Scott Armstrong cut back the deficit on the leaders on leg two after moving through to 11th place with the quartet’s quickest time of 10:56.

Evergreen Steve Rankin was on hand for the penultimate stage and consolidated 11th place after running 11:30 before passing over to Adam Hughes, the young man of the squad. Hughes put in a superb effort and while he only managed to reel in one of the teams ahead his 11:00 was an excellent return and no doubt was well talked about on the journey home.

Well done to all the competitors from the region who took part and perhaps next year we will see a much stronger representation to build on the excellent performances by those who ran at the weekend!

 

Report By BILL McGUIRK

Photos By David Greenwood (Northern Athletics FB Page)

NECAA XC Relays 2022

COUNTY ASSOCIATION FARMS OUT THE AWARDS

AFTER some sleepless nights for organiser Archie Jenkins the North Eastern Counties Cross-Country Relay Championships eventually got the green light after a flood of entries were received on deadline day which came as a huge relief to Jenkins whose thoughts were that the fixture would have to be cancelled for a second time. Jenkins, who was one of the last people to leave Thornley Hall Farm last weekend just as the heavens opened, was a happy man knowing that a successful Championship event had taken place when it seemed that would not be the case a few days before entries closed.

Jenkins, who now has his work cut out in preparation for the NECAA Cross-Country Championships – hosted by Newcastle clubs Elswick and Heaton Harriers – at Temple Park, South Shields on Saturday, December 10, confessed that it was touch-and-go whether the Relay Championships would go ahead.

“One of the Association’s remits is to provide championship events for our athletes and at the same time try to break even without over-charging those who want to take part. Like everything else at the moment prices are going up and while we are indebted to Jon Taylor for letting us have the use of his land for free, the costs for the team of first aiders and the hiring of portable toilets and a minimum allowance for the officials digs heavily into what we receive in entry fees.

It’s not about making a profit it’s all about not making a loss and that’s the way it looked a few days before entries closed. Happily, I can report that, after all my concerns, we didn’t make a loss and, by all accounts and the feedback we have received, it turned out to be an enjoyable event all round so, while I would have liked to have seen a few more clubs on the start line, I would like to say a huge thank you to those who did enter teams and I now look forward to a bumper entry for our main championships in December.”

SENIOR MEN (4x3.2k)

Houghton got off to a flying start thanks to Chris Coulson whose 10min 40sec proved to be the fastest overall time of the day. That was just the springboard Houghton needed as Johnny Evans, Lee Dover and Luke Pickering kept the black and golds in pole position throughout.

At the first changeover Tyne Bridge (Tom Charlton) were in second place followed by Sunderland and Elvet Striders. Sunderland moved into second place on leg two thanks to Craig Gunn with Gateshead (Jack Douglas) moving through to third after being fifth on the opening stage. On the penultimate leg, Sunderland were still in second place behind Houghton with Tyne Bridge (Marc Fenwick) now back up to third. On the run to the line Pickering came home to give Houghton a winning time of 44:50 with Sunderland claiming the silver medals just 13 seconds adrift as Gateshead, with Dan Alexander posting the third fastest time of the day, completing the podium placings ahead of Elvet Striders and Tyne Bridge.

MASTERS MEN (3x3.2k)

South Shields led at the first changeover thanks to the second quickest time of the day by Ross Jarman. Sunderland (Stephen Potts) were in second place followed by Elvet Striders (Michael Mason) and Wallsend (Mark Covell). Tyne Bridge moved into the lead on the second stage thanks to Kevin Richardson with Elvet Striders (David Milligan) moving into second place ahead of Sunderland (Steven Gordon). South Shields had slipped to fourth followed by Wallsend and Ponteland Runners. Paul Turnbull extended Tyne Bridge’s advantage on the run to the line with Michael Littlewood and Chris Jackson consolidating Elvet’s and Sunderland’s second and third-place finish respectively. Fastest on the course was Richard Bateson who brought Blyth through from 11th to fourth on the final leg in recording 10:51.

SENIOR WOMEN (3x3.2k)

Shona Haston had Gateshead in the lead at the first changeover after posting the fastest time of the day of 11:52. Houghton (Eva Hardy) were in second followed by Sunderland (Jessica Fox) then came South Shields, Wallsend and Aycliffe. Houghton moved into the lead on stage two thanks to Danielle Coulson with Gateshead (Lydia James) now in second followed by South Shields (Fay Carter) with Sunderland fourth, Gosforth fifth and Wallsend sixth. Approaching the tape the leading positions remained the same with Anna Pigford bringing Houghton home in pole position followed by Gateshead (Gillian Manford) and South Shields (Michelle Douglas). Sunderland finished fourth followed by Wallsend and Gosforth.

MASTERS WOMEN (3x3.2k)

At the first changeover North Shields led through Becky Coleman who was followed by Felicity Smith (Elswick) and Morpeth’s Jane Kirby. South Shields were in fourth place followed by Sunderland. Remarkably the top five places remained the same all the way to the finish with Alison Smith and Claire Harlow, whose 12:35 was the fastest of the day, bringing the Poly home in first place. Andrea Banner and Joanne Brown did likewise for silver medalists Elswick as did Julie Vermass and Gemma Floyd for Morpeth. South Shields finished in fourth place followed by Sunderland.

JUNIOR MEN (3x3.2k)

Only two teams faced the starter and it was a gun to tape victory for Morpeth trio Ralph Robson, Matthew Walton and Peter Smallcombe, Walton posting the fastest overall time of 10:17. The Durham City trio of Joshua Wraith, Callum Wilkinson and Thomas Wraith were awarded the runners-up medals.

UNDER-17/UNDER-20 WOMEN (3x2.2k)

In-form Charlotte Dillon brought Durham City to the changeover in first place by posting the fastest overall time of the day of 8:36. Darlington (Macy Kelly) were in second spot followed by Gosforth (Emma Ashman). Darlington moved into the lead on leg two thanks to Marissa Boon who was followed by Gosforth’s Hannah Wightman and North Shields Poly’s Zoe Atkinson. Things changed dramatically on the final stage with Amelie Sillence bringing North Shields Poly home in first place with Alice Lewis consolidating Gosforth’s second place as Millie Newham brought Durham City through to complete the one-two-three, Darlington finished in fourth place followed by Jarrow and Hebburn and Gosforth.

UNDER-17 MEN (3x2.2k)

English Schools’ international Brandon Pye gave Houghton a sizeable lead on the first leg by posting the overall fastest time of 7:15 but it was to no avail as Morpeth proved once again how strong they are at this age group by finishing the three stages in first and second place.

The Morpeth A team of Joe Close, Elliot Kelso and Bertie Marr led their second string of Liam Roche, Elliot Mavir and Ryan Davies home to win by 41 seconds despite being five seconds adrift at the first changeover. Durham City came from fourth to third on the final leg thanks to Ethan Stokes. With the rules stating that a club can only win one set of medals it meant that the tangerines moved up into silver medal position and fourth-placed Houghton received the bronze awards. Elswick finished fifth followed home by Gosforth.

UNDER-15 BOYS (3x2.2k)

Morpeth came from seventh to first thanks to the top two times by Oliver Calvert and Oliver Tomlinson. North Shields Poly (Dan Watson) led at the first changeover followed by Durham City (William Jardine) with Blaydon (Robert Atkinson) in third place followed by Darlington, Gosforth and Houghton with Steven Craske keeping Morpeth in touch in seventh place. On leg two North Shields Poly (Elijah Farley) were still ahead as Tomlinson moved the Northumbrians into second place ahead of Darlington (Daniel I’Anson). Calvert quickly set about closing down on the leader and midway through the circuit he edged in front to post the day’s quickest time and bring the Northumbrians home by a clear margin. Oscar Makepeace brought the Poly home in second place with Willoughby Croslegh celebrating third place for Darlington. Durham City headed Blaydon by just one second to claim fourth spot.

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS (3x2.2k)

Darlington were in pole position from the off after Zara Jones posted the day’s fastest time of 9:01. North Shields Poly held second place (Darcey Tullis) with Jess Donnelly bringing Elswick through to third. Freya Talman extended Darlington’s advantage on leg two as Izzy Yates kept the Poly in second as Molly Roche brought Morpeth through to third ahead of Elswick and the Poly B team. Savannah Tarn extended Darlington’s lead even further on the run to the line as Hannah Atkinson brought the Poly home in silver medal position followed by Morpeth’s Charlotte Marshall. Elswick finished fourth followed by the Poly B team.

UNDER-13 GIRLS (3x2.2k)

Kathryn Pye had Houghton in the lead at the first changeover followed by North Shields Poly (Lily McColl) and Gosforth’s Maggie Handyside. Elswick were in fourth place followed by Darlington and Morpeth. Houghton (Holly Robison) had a slight advantage going into the final stage with Emma Tomlinson bringing Morpeth up to second only to have no one to pass on to. The Poly (Annie Murphy) were in third place followed by Gosforth and Elswick. Thanks to Poppy Coleman’s efforts, the Poly moved into the lead while Martha Taylor, the daughter of landowner Jon Taylor, came home in second place ahead of Gosforth’s Nina Gumbrill. Elswick finished fourth and Darlington fifth.

UNDER-13 BOYS (3x2.2k)

Darlington were never headed after Rowan Steel’s fastest time of the day on the opening stage. Elswick (Nicholas Surtees-Brown) were in second place followed by Gosforth’s George Ponton and North Shields Poly’s James Sturman. James I’Anson extended Darlington’s lead on stage two with Gosforth (William Handyside) moving into second place ahead of the Poly’s Charlie Johnstone. Matthew Foster had the honour of bringing Darlington home in first place though Gosforth’s Charlie Adlam made a brave effort to catch him but, despite the second fastest time of the day, he had to settle for a reward of second place. North Shields Poly (Luke Cummings) finished in third place followed by Elswick and Blyth.

**Thanks go to Jon Taylor for the free use of his land; to Start Fitness for their continued support; to the first aiders and to event organiser Archie Jenkins and all the technical officials and marshals without whom the event would not have taken place. Finally, to all the competitors, who made it all worthwhile, a big thank you.

**The next cross-country meeting in the region is the Start Fitness NEHL fixture at Lambton on October 29.

Report by Bill McGuirk

Photos by Stuart Whitman