Sherman Cup and Davison Shield Report

MIGHTY MORPETH’S MAGNIFICENT TEN

MORPETH Harriers are reluctant to relinquish their hold on the Sherman Cup having come out on top for the 10^th consecutive time while Tyne Bridge Harriers confidently retained the Davison Shield at Temple Park, the home of the post Christmas contests.

The Northumbrians were just one of three clubs to field teams in all six sections to finish with 14 points overall after coming out on top in both the under-17 and senior events to finish ahead of Sunderland Harriers (24pts) and Tyne Bridge (27pts).

Meanwhile, in the Davison Shield competition, Tyne Bridge was the only outfit to close in teams in all six races to total 28 points. Elswick Harriers finished runners-up but unfortunately the Newburn-based club failed to close in a team in the senior women’s section while in a commanding position. North Shields Poly were in a similar position after leading the way in the under-20s and Masters’ but disappointingly missed out scoring in the under-15 and seniors.

Tyne Bridge Ladies win for the second year running

Over 1,000 competitors descended on the South Shields venue less than a month after the County Championships with the course set out in the usual opposite direction and while the majority of the circuit was relatively dry there was a really muddy section which proved a real test as the day unfolded.

Of course, while the competition is to find the strongest all-round teams there were some eye-catching individual performances. 

Sherman Cup

In the senior men’s race, North Eastern Counties XC champion and 2020 Sherman Cup winner, Calum Johnston (Gateshead) ran away from the opposition to win by nearly two minutes with Middlesbrough and Cleveland’s Greg Jayasuriya finishing runner-up ahead of Blyth’s Josh Fiddaman who handled the conditions really well to finish ahead of many seasoned performers.

Video of the Senior Men by Ken Maynard

After catching up with Johnson, who used the event as part of his build-up to the Seville Marathon at the end of February, he said: 

"I’m running for England next weekend in Valencia over 10k which fits in nicely before the marathon and then I’m off to Portugal for a week or so warm-weather training which, hopefully, will see me in good shape come the end of next month.’’

First over-35 home was Gateshead’s Conrad Franks, who finished in ninth place overall while first over-40 was Ben Cook of North Shields Poly.

In the under-17 race it was a clean-sweep of medals for Morpeth with victory going to William De Vere-Owen who finished four seconds ahead of Ryan Davies with Liam Roche a further nine seconds behind in third place. NE Counties champion, Ben Sproats (North Shields Poly) finished fourth. Morpeth, who had six athletes home in the top eight, came out on top of the team section with maximum points ahead of Darlington and Gosforth.

In the under-15 event NE champion Jacob Brown (Middlesbrough Mandale), running as a guest, continued his winning way to finish 15 seconds clear of the Poly’s Daniel Watson with Blaydon’s Robert Atkinson completing the one-two-three a further 11 seconds adrift. North Shields Poly, claimed the team section finishing ahead of Durham City and Tyne Bridge.

Heaton Harriers’ Alexander Smith led the way home to win the under-13 race, crossing the line 17 seconds clear of Morpeth’s Ewan Line with Wallsend’s Kasper Pearson a further four seconds adrift in third place. Blaydon, led home by fourth-placed Aaron Johnson, came out on top to win the team section ahead of Morpeth and Darlington.

Davison Shield

In 2010 Jane Mooney won the senior section of the Davison Shield, now 13 years on as Jane Hodgson, she repeated that victory in fine style leading the 300-plus field home from the off. Now lining up as an over-40 athlete, the Morpeth Harrier defied her age to lead throughout the four-mile contest.

 Fellow Northumbrian Rachelle Falloon came through strongly on the second circuit to claim the runners-up award while Charlotte Penfold, who finished in sixth place in the Commonwealth Games 800m final in Manchester with a life-time best of 1min 59.75sec, showed her liking for the Davison event to claim third place ahead of former junior xc international Justina Heslop (Elswick). Jesmond Joggers, led home by Laura Chapman, came out on top in the senior team section ahead of Tyne Bridge and Sunderland while North Shields claimed the Masters’ section ahead of Elswick and South Shields.

Durham City’s Charlotte Dillon continued her season’s good form to win the combined under-17/20 event finishing 33 seconds clear of Holly Waugh (NSP) with Morpeth’s Millie Breese completing the podium places. North Shields Poly claimed team victory ahead of Gosforth and Tynedale.

North East champion Zara Jones (Darlington) repeated her December success with a comfortable win in the under-15 section crossing the line 22 seconds ahead of Gosforth’s Annie Hutchinson with the Poly’s Anna Johnson a close-up third. Gosforth won the team section finishing ahead of Elswick and Morpeth.

As it’s been all season the all-conquering Birtley squad claimed all three individual awards in the under-13 age group with Olivia Murphy proving the stronger on this occasion to cross the line 35 seconds clear of Nell Graham who held off her fast-finishing twin sister Kitty by four seconds. In the three-to-score team section Birtley finished with maximum points with Darlington just edging Gateshead for second place.

Try Cross Country 

Once again “Try Cross-Country” events for under-11s were incorporated into the day’s action though not part of the overall scoring and once again it was North Shields Poly’s Noah Penfold who crossed the line in first place in the boys contest finishing ahead of Darlington trio Ollie Curran and Daniel Callaghan. 

In the girl’s competition it was another Birtley one-two with victory going to Poppie Phillipson who finished five seconds clear of team-mate Izzy Hall with Isla Coker (Phoenix Flyers) holding off Elswick’s Mille Robson by two seconds to claim the bronze award.

 

**Once again a huge thank you to South Shields Harriers for hosting the event and to all their marshals who supported the competitors throughout the day; to the first aid team; and to the NEHL committee and all the officials who were at their posts well before the first event until the last athlete had crossed the line later in the day.

 

by BILL McGUIRK

NEHL - Sherman Cup and Davison Shield 2023

SHERMAN CUP & DAVISON SHIELD

Saturday 07/01/2023, TEMPLE PARK, SOUTH SHIELDS

Happy New Year to all from Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League

The races for the Sherman Cup and Davison Shield are off scratch (ie no packs), so please be on time for your race. Also remember to wear your usual harrier league number. Details of each 'cup' competition:

SHERMAN CUP / DAVISON SHIELD

Sherman Cup: decided on aggregate team positions over the 5 male categories - U13 Boys, U15 Boys, U17 Men, Senior Men and master’s Men - with 3 counting in each category. Senior Men and master’s Men run at the same time but are scored separately. Athletes registered as Master’s must compete in that section and may not transfer to compete as Seniors.

Davison Shield: decided on aggregate team positions over the 5 female categories - U13 Girls, U15 Girls, U20 and U17 Women, Senior Women and Master’s Women - with 3 counting in each category. Senior Women and Master’s Women run at the same time but are scored separately. Athletes registered as Master’s must compete in that section and may not transfer to compete as Seniors.

Incomplete Teams / Countback Where clubs have incomplete teams, final team positions are decided firstly by the most complete teams and then by lowest aggregate team positions. In the event of a tie, the team with the lowest aggregate team points will place higher.

Look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

Numbers: Use your normal harrier league number

Course Map:

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

13.15 Senior & veteran women

13:50 Senior & veteran Men

Please arrive early for your race. As this is a scratch race (i.e. no packs) the races will run to timetable.

Race HQ - will be the harrier league tent by the finish line

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.

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/

Parking

From Ashleigh Day:

Morning all. South Shields Harriers are hosting the Sherman Cup this weekend at Temple Park and I have important parking information for you. Epinay School on Nevison Avenue (Post Code NE34 8BT) have kindly agreed to let us use their car park for the event up until 3pm. Therefore, if you are attending the Sherman Cup for the U11, 13s, 15, 17s and women's races, but are not staying for the men's then please use this car park. If you are attending the event and staying for the whole duration, or only coming for the men's race, please use the Temple Park car park.

Using Epinay School will help ease congestion within Temple Park in the morning and early afternoon,at a time where other events such as kids football, gym goers, and Gymnastics will be taking place. However, as Epinay will close their gates at 3pm, parking in Temple Park in the later afternoon will be less congested.

Epinay have asked for a £1 donation from each car to use their car park, and they will also be opening their outdoor canteen, offering purchases of hot and cold drinks and confectionery. This is helpful as Temple Park Cafe will be closed, all proceeds go back into the school. Epinay will be the only car park being marshalled, Temple Park Car Park will NOT be marshalled, as we are urging you to use Epinay if you can.

I have added a picture of where the school is, in conjunction with the start line, which is very close.

Heather Robinson - British and Irish Cross-Country International

 HEATHER HOT-FOOTS IT TO AN INTERNATIONAL MEDAL

For over 40 years Heather Robinson has been racing against the clock, however, her latest outing had her sweating on making it to the start line after taking a flight, jumping into a taxi then legging it for around a mile before putting her racing gear on with just 10 minutes to spare.

The occasion was the Masters’ British and Irish Cross-Country International in Santry Demesne Park, Dublin which saw the Jarrow and Hebburn athlete receiving a late call-up to the England squad for the Ireland event.

It took a while to catch up with Heather after her return as she always seemed to be out on a training run but eventually we managed to meet up where the full story of her race against time unfolded.

Heather with Alexis Dodd

So, in Heather’s own words here goes:

I ran the Trials but unfortunately I didn’t get selected for the over-60 team after finishing in fifth place so I was named as first reserve which was disappointing really. Afterwards, I was asked if I would still travel as I could run in the Open Race which was separate from the International contest, but I quickly gave it some thought and decided to decline for It would have been quite expensive to book a flight to Ireland and arrange accommodation just to run in the Open Race so after saying no I then put in an entry for the Heaton 10k which was to take place the same weekend albeit on the Sunday.

However, late on the Wednesday, two days before the InternationaI, I received a call from the Masters’ team management saying someone had dropped out of the over-55 team so would I consider stepping into the breach. Well, I was taken aback really, so I asked for a bit time to think about it and would get back to them. Anyway, Geoff (her husband) said ‘go for it’ so I then set the wheels in motion to sort out some travel arrangements and while booking a flight was relatively easy it was later that the problems arose.

The flight was on the day of the race was supposedly to leave Newcastle Airport at 8:45 but sod’s law it took off 30 minutes late and with my race scheduled for 11:50 I knew it was going to be touch-and-go to get there in time. The plane landed at 10:45 so I dashed through the airport and quickly got into a taxi and told the driver where I wanted to be and as quicky as possible.

The course, which was on the outskirts of Dublin is huge and no traffic was allowed so the taxi pulled up around a mile away from the start and the race headquarters so it was an almighty dash which, happily, I used as my warm up!

Thankfully, I was met by Alexis (Dodd) who was also competing in a different age group and had taken my spikes the previous day as I couldn’t carry them onto the plane so she had put them in her luggage in the hold which I was certainly grateful for.

I got to the England headquarters 10 minutes before the race was due to start and picked up my vest, I was exhausted even before we set off, I had no idea of the course, whether it was muddy, flat or hilly but once the gun went I thought to myself “well I’ve made it so just go out do your best and try to enjoy the occasion” and that’s what I did and surprisingly, after dropping down an age group I managed to be third counter for the team and we finished second so I was over the moon after all the problems in just getting to the start line so, in the end, it proved to be all worthwhile.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for the presentation and dinner, which is a huge part of the event, as I had booked a flight home later in the day which certainly wasn’t as complicated as the journey 12 hours earlier. 

So, in the end, the trip to Dublin turned out to be not so bad after all and while the whole experience was exhausting I was really, really happy with the way everything turned out in the end.

Athletes line up for the British Masters International XC

2022 Masters International Cross Country Championships Medal

That wasn’t the end of the story though for Heather decided to change her footwear the following day and line up in the Heaton Memorial 10k on Newcastle Town Moor and she showed no signs at all of weariness and duly came out on top to claim the over-60 first prize!

While Heather is still making her mark as a Masters’ athlete she was a star in her own right early in her career notably winning the North Eastern Cross-Country title on a tough course in 1988.

Heather on her way to winning the North Eastern XC Champs 1988

Ten years later the World Masters’ came to the North East where she finished third overall in the 10k cross-country at Chester-le-Street - w35 Bronze.

Five days later Heather followed that up by tackling her first-ever 10,000 metres on the track and came fifth - Lynne Marr followed her home in sixth place.

To cap an exhausting week Heather then tackled the marathon where she finished sixth overall but was second in the over-35 category, for a World's Silver medal.

That was over two decades ago and the pull of the sport is still as great as ever.

That has been Heather’s dedication to athletics for well over 40 years and while she may be not be as quick now the enthusiasm is still as great as ever and well may it continue for many years to come.

By Bill McGuirk

Photos: Michael McNally

World Masters 1999 results available here

NECAA Northeastern XC Championships 2022

 HOT PERFORMANCES COME IN FROM THE COLD

 

WHILE local sport took a hammering due to the cold and icy conditions the latest edition of the North Eastern Counties CrossCountry Championships went ahead at Temple Park, South Shields thanks to hosts Elswick and Heaton Harriers with close on 800 competitors defying near freezing temperatures. Under bright sunshine throughout the day there were a few surprises despite Calum Johnson retaining his senior men’s title; Phillipa Stone adding the senior women’s gold medal to the under-20 victory from 2016; Birtley crowning a clean sweep in the under-13 girls event; Morpeth making it 10 wins in a row in the senior men’s team race;

Middlesbrough Mandale claiming three individual gold medals and to cap a fine day local icons, Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Mike McLeod and Commonwealth Games marathon champion Jim Alder were on hand to pass on some of the awards.

 

SENIOR MEN

NECAA XC 22 - Senior Men

Calum Johnson (Gateshead) only decided to defend his title on the eve of the Championships after consultation with coach Alan Storey and it proved to be a wise decision as he covered the 9.9k frozen surface in 30min 17sec and break the tape 33 seconds clear of 2019 champion Carl Avery who finished 47 seconds ahead of fellow Morpeth athlete, tri-athlete international Daniel Dixon.

Calum Johnson

After receiving his awards from McLeod and Alder, a delighted Johnson said: “I hadn’t anything definite pencilled in during the coming weeks but I really wanted to run today so I’m grateful to Storey for giving me the Ok though he stressed that I hadn’t to go hell for leather from the off and to move through the gears as the race unfolded and that’s what I did and naturally, I’m delighted to win again especially coming out on top against such a strong field.’’ Whatever Johnson decides his confidence-boosting performance is just the tonic before he dons an England vest for a 10k road race in Valencia after the turn of the year. 

Following the individual medallists came Heaton Road Race first and second-placed Adrian Bailes (Birtley) and Newcastle-based Bristol and West athlete Jariath McKenna while backing-up Avery and Dixon Morpeth had Sam Hancox (6^th), Philip Winkler (8^th), Connor Marshall (11^th) and Daniel Melling (15^th) to claim another resounding team success ahead of Gateshead and Sunderland. Twenty-two of the region’s club’s managed to close in a team from the 260 finishers.

 

SENIOR WOMEN

Philippa Stone

In the final race of the day Middlesbrough Mandale’s Philippa Stone went one better than her run in the Alnwick 2019 Championships where she finished runner-up behind former Wallsend athlete Sonia Samuels, by cruising to victory with a gun-to-tape success. The Teesside athlete also claimed victory competing as an under-20 in both the Aykley Heads (2016) and Sedgefield (2015) championships. Just like the senior men ‘s result the minor medals were claimed by Morpeth athletes with Catriona MacDonald finishing in second place followed home by Jane Hodgson who may have thought her podium places were behind her after many successes in the past. Just missing out on a medal was Gateshead’s Shona Haston who finished in fourth place after arguably one of her best runs so far since moving to the North East.

With two in the top three it was no surprise that Morpeth came out on top in the four-to-score team race with Rachelle Falloon (8^th) and Michelle Thompson (32^nd) backing the medallists to win by just nine points with Gateshead in second place and North Shields Poly third. There were 174 finishers with Jarrow and Hebburn’s Stephanie Brown to be congratulated for staying the distance and following everyone home.

 

UNDER-20 MEN

Last year’s under-17 champion Josh Blevins had no difficulty in moving up an age group to claim an impressive victory. The Gateshead athlete who lifted the Northern and National 5k road race titles earlier in the year ran confidently from the front to come home in 21:54, 36 seconds ahead of Morpeth’s Matthew Walton with James Tilley, also Morpeth, completing the one-two-three a further 16 seconds adrift. With only 18 finishers Morpeth once again celebrated team success with eighth-placed Peter Smallcome backing up Walton and Tilley for the gold awards ahead of Sunderland.

 

UNDER-20/17 WOMEN

It was Durham City’s Charlotte Dillon, competing in the younger age group who was first home heading Millie Breese (Morpeth, u20) by 12 seconds. Then came under-20s North Shields Poly’s Holy Waugh and Anna Pigford (Houghton) with Gateshead’s Jessica Milburn and Elswick’s Imogen Bungay – both under-17s – close up to also make it onto the podium. Despite the combined age group only having 46 finishers it was pleasing to see five clubs close-in a team in the threeto-score contest with Gateshead coming out on top ahead of North Shields Poly and Durham City.

 

UNDER-17 MEN

In last year’s championships in Sedgefield Middlesbrough Mandale’s Joseph West finished in fifth place, however, this time round he repelled all of the opposition over an extended distance to claim a comfortable victory by nine seconds as Liam Roche (Morpeth) got the judges’ silver medal verdict over Darlington’s Alex Bowyer as the timekeepers’ couldn’t separate the pair. There were 32 finishers with Morpeth - Roche, Elliot Kelso (4^th), Bertie Marr (5^th) – claiming another team victory ahead of Middlesbrough Mandale and Darlington.

 

UNDER-15 BOYS

MIddlesbrough Mandale’s second success came as Jacob Brown led his 46 rivals home, the Teessider claiming victory by eight seconds over Dawit Asmelash (TS Harriers) with North Shields Poly’s Daniel Watson finishing a close-up third. At Sedgefield last year, Brown, running in the Billingham Marsh House colours, finished in sixth place. North Shields Poly, with Matthew Maley (11^th) and Oscar Makepiece (13^th), backing up Watson, won the team awards ahead of Darlington and Tynedale.

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS

Bronze medallist last year in Sedgefield, Middlesbrough Mandale’s Eden Creasey was a comfortable winner this time round breaking the tape 16 seconds clear of Darlington’s Zara Jones with Heaton’s Mary Parkin celebrating a rare success for the East Newcastle club. Jones was finishing runner-up for the second time after claiming the silver medal last year. However, Jones had the honour of leading Darlington to team victory with Savannah Tarn (8^th) and 12^th-placed Freya Talman backing her up. Middlesbrough Mandale finished in second place ahead of Tynedale. There were 48 finishers.

 

UNDER-13 BOYS

Noah Williamson (NE Project) has been in fine form this campaign but on this occasion he found one rival just too strong. North Shields Poly’s Ben Beale held the upper hand for much of the contest to come home 17 seconds clear with Darlington’s Rowan Steel a further six seconds adrift in third place. Steel, with Matthew Foster (5^th) and Finn Pentland-Rice (9^th) were comfortable winners of the team contest finishing ahead of North Shields Poly and Gosforth.

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS

It’s extremely rare for a club to claim all three individual medals in a major championship but the Birtley trio of Olivia Murphy and twins Nell and Kitty Graham did just that. It wasn’t a surprise though as the threesome have already claimed the Northern and National CrossCountry Relay Championships as well as the Northern Road Relay title this season. Murphy led the team home in 10:37, Nell finished runner-up in 11:00 with Kitty completing the podium places in 11:03 as North Shields Poly’s Katy Otterson just failed to spoil the party by finishing three seconds adrift of third place. No surprise that Birtley claimed the team medals with maximum points with Darlington second and Gateshead third.

 

UNDER-11s

The idea of having under-11 events is to give the youngsters a taste of what lies ahead in the future and since their introduction it has steadily grown as clubs see the benefit gained by having competition for that age group. On this occasion 41 boys took part with North Shields Poly’s Noah Penfold leading the field home ahead of Gateshead’s Peter Davies with Darlington’s Ollie Curran completing the one-two-three. Twenty-nine girls lined up and it was a Birtley one-two with Poppie Phillipson crossing the line in first place ahead of Izzie Hall with Phoenix Flyers celebrating after Isla Coker came home in third spot.

 

**Thanks go to Elswick and Heaton Harriers for hosting and supplying all the marshals for the Championships; to Archie Jenkins and the Cross-Country Committee; to the First Aid team and to South Tyneside Council for making the day a resounding success and, of course, to all the competitors who braved the wintry conditions many with a smile on their face as the crossed the finish line, you were all winners!

 

BILL McGUIRK

Results: http://nmhraces.net/ne-cross-country/2022

Photos: Thanks to George Routledge

NECAA Cross Country Championships

NORTH EASTERN COUNTIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

President: M Frazer (South Shields H & AC)

116th CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

TEMPLE PARK, S SHIELDS DECEMBER 10, 2022

Thank you for entering this year`s championships hosted by Elswick H & AC and Heaton H & AC and sponsored by Start Fitness.

Postcode

NE34 8QN

Maps

Weather

The forecast is sunny but bitterly cold in South Shields.

Wrap up warm.  As per previous years make sure young athletes have clothing appropriate to the conditions.  It's going to feel around -3° when the under 11s races are on.  No crop tops.

CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIALS

Championship Secretary: A.Jenkins

Elected Committee: P Brown, S Bell, L Cooper, A James,

A Jenkins, B McGuirk, V Thompson

NECAA Treasurer: N Orr

President: M Frazer

Referee: J Colling

Assistant Referee: L Marr

Chief Timekeeper: R Symonds

Timekeepers/Recorders: K Freeman, M Groves, J Newby

Start Team: M Baker (Chief), J Flannery (finish team forSM/SW)

Chief Finish: G McKay

Finish Team: H Desai, A Elders, J Flannery, Mg Frazer, M

Goldsmith, B McGuirk, P Lancaster

Lap Scorer, club colours/numbers: K Carr, N Rutherford (SM and SW)

Jury of Appeal: A Jenkins, K Carr, M Frazer

Post Finish: N Rutherford, S Bond (SM and SW only)

Results runners: Elswick/Heaton

Registration: C Betts, V Thompson (U11)

Results: G Hall, D Hall

Announcer: G Patterson

Presentation: P.Brown (chief), S Bond, A Ward

Awards Presentation: J Alder, M Bateman, K Carr, M Frazer,V Gill, A Jenkins, B Johnson, B McGuirk,

Race Organiser: G Bell

Clerk of Course: K Bray (NECAA)

First Aid: AED

Marshals: Heaton and Elswick H

NON CHAMPIONSHIP U11 ENTRIES. PLEASE REFER TO THE START FITNESS NEHL FACEBOOK PAGE or info@harrierleague.com

Entrants must be 9 or 10 on the day or not eligible for the U13 age group by the new August 31^st eligibility ruling.

Medals sponsored by BILL McGUIRK

 

Race entries can be seen on the SPORTSOFT 2022 RACE RESULTS website.

RESULTS – http:nmhraces.net/ne-cross-country/2022

 

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE MAIN BUILDING VIA THE CENTRE MAIN ENTRANCE.

 

TEAM MANAGERS ONLY collect club numbers on the ground floor of the Temple Park Centre before 12.00. Either one male/female or both to collect team envelopes.

TOILET FACILITIES will be situated on the ground floor of the Sports Centre and on the course. START FITNESS will be in attendance.

FIRST AID and a lost children area will be at the FINISH.

 

Please can all clubs ensure the venue is left LITTER FREE.

 

Individual PRESENTATIONS will be made immediately after each race. Team presentations – listen for announcements. Approx. 12.15 U13 and U15, 1.15 U17 and U20. TEAM MANAGERS TO COLLECT TEAM AWARDS UNCOLLECTED.

 

ALL 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP INDIVIDUAL and TEAM TROPHIES TO BE RETURNED TO THE PRESENTATION TENT BY THE FINISH CLEAN AND ENGRAVED ON THE DAY.

 

ANYONE WEARING THEIR NYSD or NORTH EAST HARRIER LEAGUE NUMBER WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE DISQUALIFIED.

 

UKA RULES

Club vests must be worn (5 3)

Numbers worn as issued, not folded, cut or mutilated (5 9)

Headphones of any description are not permitted in any cross country event (5 6)

Spitting at any time is not permitted, Conduct Warning or Disqualification (18.5).

All competitors are requested to complete the medical template on the reverse of their race number.

 

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, before December 31^st to the team managers:

Men: Stewy Bell, 12 Lincoln Road, Moorside Consett, DH8 8EB, Tel: 07525484605, email:  nufcstewy@hotmail.com

Women: Lynn Harding, 3 Bramble Rise, Sunderland, SR3 2FW, 07773 140617, lynn.cooper@ntlworld.com  

 

PLEASE NOTE THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FOR RECORDS ONLY. THE FIRST 10/15 FINISHERS ARE NOT GUARANTEED SELECTION. THOSE SELECTED WILL BE NOTIFIED FOLLOWING A SELECTION MEETING ON JANUARY 29 AFTER THE NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS AT PONTEFRACT. Current form at the Northern Championships be taken into consideration. If athletes are unable to run the Northern Championships all other cross country races will be taken into consideration, if the selectors are informed, especially the Sherman Cup and Davison Shield and NYSD fixtures.

 

The NECAA welcomes bids for future championships (contact the secretary). The Secretary is delighted to announce the 2023 Championships on December 9^th will be hosted by Sunderland H & AC.  

NEHL Aykley Heads 2022 Race Report

HEADS UP FOR HUNDREDS AT AYKLEY

CHRISTMAS shopping was put on the back-burner as hundreds of athletes descended on Aykley Heads for the fourth instalment of the season’s Start Fitness North East Harrier League. Despite a cold wind throughout the day conditions were near perfect though one section of the undulating course cut up substantially as the day’s action unfolded. Once again, the fixture was superbly organised by the joint efforts of the Derwentside, Elvet Striders and Durham City clubs who have to be commended on hosting an excellent day’s sport for young and not so young competitors which numbered well over 1,000 once again.

SENIOR WOMEN

Kent-based Durham University student Isabel Lloyd cut out the early pace but after leading until midway through the second and final circuit she was eventually hauled in by Durham City’s Alice Crane who had set off two minutes 25 seconds behind. Crane, who also led the field home in the fixture at Druridge Bay, came home a clear winner by 36 seconds with Lloyd settling for second place ahead of new North Shields Poly recruit Vicky Gibbs. 

Crane, meanwhile, not only picked up her second first-place medal but her actual time of 26:05 was the fastest overall, second quickest was Morpeth’s Catriona MacDonald, who worked her way through the 400-plus strong field from a 5:15 handicap to finish in ninth place (actual time 26:34) one place and 10 seconds ahead of her Morpeth team-mate Jane Hodgson who had also started from the fast pack. 

Relatively new club Prudhoe Plodders, were once again well represented and it is congratulations to Abi Stanforth and Debbie Shears who finished at the rear of the field but kept going and were rewarded with a sub- one hour finish on one of the toughest courses on the HL circuit.

In the team contest Tyne Bridge came out on top in Division One ahead of Morpeth and North Shields Poly while South Shields edged out Durham City by just one point to claim victory in Division Two with Washington closing in in third place. In Division Three Blaydon led the way home ahead of Sunderland Strollers and Crook.

SENIOR MEN

Durham City’s Marcus Shantry led throughout the extended six-mile contest crossing the line with over two minutes to spare. At the completion of the first of three laps the former Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow athlete, had an advantage of around 30 seconds over Jarrow and Hebburn’s Joshua McKenny who had a similar cushion over third-placed William Kennedy (Durham University).

Behind Birtley teenager Chris Perkins was making headway from the medium pack (2:35 handicap) and was up to 21st place. 

A strong fast pack was led by Morpeth’s Carl Avery who had weaved his way through into the top 200 from a 5:15 penalty. Shantry continued to cut out a lone furrow at the head of affairs and going into the final lap had extended his lead over McKenny as Perkins moved through to eighth with Avery now in 21st place. 

Shantry was in no danger as he cut through the tailenders and scored a superb victory as McKenny held on to second place with Perkins (eighth fastest overall) putting in another excellent run over the country to claim the bronze award ahead of Kennedy. 

Avery, the 2018 Northern XC champion, showed that kind of form as he came home in sixth place in what was his first cross-country outing of the season as he posted the day’s fastest time of 32:55. Second quickest on the course was Bristol and West’s Jarlath McKenna with Kieran Walker (NE Project) next best.

In the team stakes, Morpeth were clear winners with Robert Balmbra (7th) scoring for the Northumbrians in his reappearance for the club after an absence of four years. Sunderland finished in second place ahead of Birtley as Durham City came out on top in Division Two ahead of Houghton and Saltwell. Durham University headed the Division Three rankings ahead of Tynedale and NE Project.

UNDER-17/20 WOMEN

Local student Amy Whelan took full advantage of a generous handicap to lead throughout the extended three-mile contest and deprive Durham City’s Charlotte Dillon a fourth consecutive victory. Whelan (u20) was given a 2:50 start over Dillon (u17) and at the line still had close to a minute advantage at the finish. 

Dillon won the opening fixture at Wrekenton running from the slow pack; she followed that up with a successful run at Druridge Bay from the medium pack before winning again at Lambton running from the fast pack. However, the Durham University fell running specialist was at home on the testing hills of Aykley Heads and as well as victory was also rewarded by posting the fourth fastest under-20 time of the day. 

Following Dillon home in third place was Emma White, a welcome medallist for the South Shields Tri club. Second quickest under-17 on the course behind Dillon came Gateshead’s Jessica Milburn followed by Elswick’s Imogen Bungay while the quickest under-20 was Houghton’s Anna Pigford followed by Millie Breese (Morpeth) and Tynedale’s Jess Sails. In the team stakes Durham City edged out their University neighbours by just four points with Gosforth a further four points back in third place.

UNDER-17 MEN

In the closest contest of the day Morpeth’s William De Vere-Owen got the verdict by just one second over Darlington’s Alex Boyer as both athletes defied a handicap of 2:50 to get the better of early leaders Callum Aktar (Gosforth) and Durham City’s Aiden Wilkinson who eventually finished in third and fourth place respectively. Third quickest on the course was Blackhill’s Tom Slane who came home in fifth position. Once again, a strong Morpeth squad claimed the team honours ahead of Tyne Bridge and Durham City.

UNDER-15 GIRLS

Houghton’s Freya Stockley was the early leader with a comfortable cushion before being overtaken close to the finish by Darlington’s Zara Jones who worked her way into the lead from a 1:40 handicap. Morpeth’s Megan Portrac completed the one-two-three holding off the fast-finishing Ania Stobbart (Tynedale) who was rewarded with the second fastest time with Blyth’s Lauren Creaby next best. Stobbart led Tynedale to team victory finishing ahead of Alnwick and North Shields Poly.

UNDER-15 BOYS

Morpeth’s Oliver Calvert repeated his Lambton performance with another impressive victory from the fast pack. 

Birtley’s Callum Bailey led for most of the contest but Calvert, from a 1:40 handicap, managed to reel in the leader well before the finish. Calvert’s Morpeth team-mate Oliver Tomlinson, also running from the fast pack, finished in third place to claim the second quickest time ahead of North Shields Poly’s Daniel Watson. Once again Morpeth headed the team scores ahead of Durham City and North Shields Poly.

UNDER-13 GIRLS

After their success at Lambton, Kitty and Nell Graham had no problems repeating their one-two despite lining up from the fast pack. 

The Birtley twins eventually caught early leader Grace Clewes (Chester-le-Street) close to home with Nell taking the gold medal two seconds ahead of her sister. Clewes had to settle for third place but did well to hold off the rest of the fast pack athletes especially another member of the Birtley National Cross-Country Relay champions, Niamh Phillipson. Birtley were convincing winners of the team section finishing ahead of Gateshead and Darlington.

UNDER-13 BOYS

Early leaders Dominic Kelso (Elswick) and Blaydon’s Dan Finlay were eventually caught by Noah Williamson (NE Project) just short of the finish line. 

Williamson, who also won the previous fixture at Lambton, again defied a 1:40 handicap to finish strongly and go on and win by 14 seconds with Kelso finishing runner-up six seconds ahead of Finlay. Second quickest on the course was Darlington’s Rowan Steel with North Shields Poly’s James Sturman next best. Blaydon came out on top in the team section finishing 14 points clear of Sunderland with Blyth finishing in third spot just ahead of North Shields Poly.

UNDER-11 GIRLS

The ‘Try Cross-Country’ competition continues to be popular especially for Birtley duo Poppy Phillipson and Izzy Hall. The youngsters have now filled the top two places in all four harrier league fixtures this campaign with Hall winning by 12 seconds on this occasion. Phoenix Flyers’ Isla Coker once again finished in third place after finishing in the same position at Druridge Bay.

UNDER-11 BOYS

North Shields Poly’s Noah Penfold continues his unbeaten run having claimed victories at Wrekenton and Lambton. On this occasion he won by four seconds with Gateshead’s Peter Davies, having his first HL outing, finishing in second place two seconds clear of Darlington’s Ollie Curran.

**Thanks once again go to the host clubs Derwentside, Durham City and Elvet Striders, to all the enthusiastic marshalls, to the first aid team and all the technical officials for without their input the league would not be the success it is. The league takes a break until the turn of the year but the next cross-country event is the NE County Championships at Temple Park, South Shields on December 10 when we look forward to another great day’s sport.

Aykley Heads volunteers

by BILL McGUIRK

Photos - Stuart Whitman Photography

Full Results - Harrierleague.com