NEHL Thornley Race Report

 IT’S BACK WITH A BANG – THAT’S THE NEHL

 

CLUB athletes turned out in their droves at the opening fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League at Thornley Hall Farm.

Despite the recent heavy rainfall there was not a sign of any mud, a rarity for the tough County Durham course. Selecting the right footwear for the undulating event was a big decision – spikes, flats or trail shoes – for those 1,200 plus competitors all eager to line up in the 10-race programme. 

However, while there were many happy and smiling faces throughout the day’s proceedings, the final event of the day commenced on a rather sombre mood, for, as the senior men took to the start line for their contest they were informed that one of their own had passed a couple of days earlier while holidaying in Spain. Tyne Bridge Harrier David Young, was a great supporter of the harrier league with his last outing before setting off on holiday was in the GNR. 

Race officials and athletes alike showed their respect by standing for an immaculate minute silence ending with a round of applause before getting underway. The NEHL committee and indeed athletics enthusiasts throughout the region send their condolences to David’s family and all of his friends.

 

SENIOR MEN

THREE circuits of the undulating farmland faced the athletes and by the completion of the first lap North Shields Poly’s Neil Sillence had broken away and was around 100 metres ahead of Morpeth’s Oliver Tomlinson, Liam McDonough (Alnwick) and Newcastle University’s Max Hazlehurst while Ben Cook (NSP) was the pick of the medium pack after giving the leaders a two-and-a-half minutes start. 

All the while Leeds City visitor Linton Taylor was cutting back into his five-minute handicap from the fast pack. Going into the final lap Sillence had extended his advantage over his nearest rivals and by the finish line, he was close to 400 metres ahead (36min 13secs) as Hazlehurst came through strongly to claim second place in 37:32 with McDonough completing the one-two-three in 37:38. Meanwhile, Taylor, winner of Elswick’s River Run earlier in the year, crossed the line in ninth place in 39:51 (actual time 34:51) to post the fastest overall time of the day. Second quickest were fellow fast pack runners Luke Davis (Newcastle University, 10^th) 35:08 and Birtley’s Adrian Bailes (15^th) in 36:04. 

While it’s early days with six fixtures still to come, Morpeth head Division One led home by Andy Lawrence to finish on 83 points, followed by North Shields Poly, 152pts and Birtley with 156pts. In Division Two Wallsend set the pace with Osian Heggarty their leading scorer to finish with, 77 points, two points clear of Elswick with Heaton finishing with 228pts for third place. Sedgefield top Division Three, led home by James Oldfield, finishing with 133 points, Sunderland Strollers finished on 169pts with Blackhill Bounders next on 177pts.

416 finishers

 

Crook AC Senior Men

SENIOR WOMEN

MEGAN STENHOUSE, recently called up by England for an international under-23 10k road race in Italy later this month warmed up by not only winning the contest but also, running from the slow pack, posted the day’s fastest overall time. The Durham University and Rugby and Northampton athlete, was never troubled as she quickly set out her stall by shooting off from the gun to take a commanding lead which saw her come home in 25:36 over three minutes clear of Crook’s recently-crowned NE Counties 10,000m champion, Sarah Attwood (28:54) with Alice Rea (Jesmond Joggers) next home in 30:42. Second quickest on the course was Newcastle University/Copeland’s Ava Leadetter in eighth spot in an actual time of 26:50 while next best was Jessica Eaton(Tyne Bridge) in 16^th place in 27:49.

In the team section, Tyne Bridge came out on top of Division One, led home by Sophie Marr, to finish with 24pts followed by Sunderland on 52pts and Jesmond Joggers on 58pts. In Division Two Birtley led the way home to finish on 29pts with Lilyanna Turner their first counter; Elswick finished second on 32pts with Crook third on 44pts. In Division Three Newcastle University lead the way thanks to Leadbetter’s excellent run, to finish on 37pts; Blyth finished second on 65pts closely followed by Gosforth on 68pts.

342 finishers

 

Birtley Senior Women

UNDER-17 MEN

FROM the offset a trio of athletes pulled away from their rivals and it stayed that way until the closing stages when Tynedale’s Archie Darling managed to ease away to win by six seconds in 22:52. Blyth’s Dexter Heatley (22:58) finished runner-up a similar distance ahead of third-placed Joe Shields of Durham City who recorded 23:04. Quickest on the course, giving !min 30secs start to the leading three, was in-form Gateshead athlete Alfie Cook who managed to work his way through into fifth place at the line after recording an actual time of 21:25. Second fastest was Arthur Di Lullo who finished eighth in 22:23 with Durham City’s William Jardine (10^th) next best with 22:27.

Darling led Tynedale to team victory with 21pts followed by Durham City just point behind with Tyne Bridge finishing in third position with 45pts.

28 finishers

 

UNDER-17 WOMEN

NORTH Shields Poly’s Anna Johnson took an early lead and was never troubled after that despite the efforts of Morpeth’s Molly Roche to keep in touch. The positions remained the same throughout with Johnson crossing the line in 23:15 followed by Roche 14 seconds behind with Emily Collingwood (Gateshead) next home in 24:09. Johnson led the Poly to team success with 18pts followed by Durham City with 26pts with Morpeth finishing in third spot on 34pts.

20 finishers

 

 UNDER-15 BOYS

THE leading trio took full advantage of their 1min 20secs start over the fast pack and it was the Tynedale club who were celebrating their second success of the day when George Hunter came home in pole position, posting a time of 12:10. Morpeth’s Mason Gaylor finished runner-up 12 seconds adrift with Blyth’s Alistair Johnston a further seven seconds back in third place. Fastest on course was Wallsend’s Kasper Pearson who worked his way through to finish in 11^th place in an actual time of 11:57. Hunter was second best on the day with Gaylor third quickest. Hunter also led Tynedale to team victory with 23pts followed closely behind by Elswick 25pts with Morpeth third on 28pts.

43 finishers.

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS

DURHAM City’s Evie Klieser proved the best on the day crossing the line in 14:33, 13 seconds clear of Houghton’s Kiera Wilson with Gosforth’s Nckija Poulatova a further 20 seconds back in bronze medal position. The leading trio were the outright fastest on the day. In the team stakes Durham City came out on top with 16pts followed by Elswick with 23pts and Gosforth with 27pts.

36 finishers

 

UNDER-13 BOYS

AFTER the initial early charge which saw a seven-strong group at the head of affairs after the completion of the opening field, it was Jarrow and Hebburn’s Jacob Hopper who was to prove successful, crossing the line in 13:43, 14 seconds clear of Heaton’s Henry Hardy and Daniel Bell (Tynedale) who both recorded 13:47 respectively with Hardy getting the judges verdict for second place. Fastest on the course was North Shields Poly’s Ethan Hughes who worked his way through from a 1:20 handicap to finish in 15^th position to end up with an actual time of 13:33. Hopper was next best (13:43) then came Darlington’s Rhys Price (13:50).

Bell led Tynedale to team victory with 29pts followed by North Shields Poly with 33pts then came J&H with 43pts.

56 finishers

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS

GOSFORTH’S Ruby Collins proved the stronger in the closing stages as she came home by just four seconds (15:12) ahead of Celia De Lucas (Phoenix Flyers) with Elodie Stoker (Elswick) completing the one-two-three in 15:29. Quickest on the course was Martha Carr (Prudhoe Plodders) who defied a penalty of 1:20 to work her way through the field to finish in seventh place with an actual time of 14:48. Second fastest, just two seconds adrift of Carr, was North Shields Poly’s Elsa Hawkins (14:50) with the race winner next best with 15:12. Fourth-placed Elodie Soward led the Poly to another team success with 22pts, followed by Sedgefield on 47pts, then came Elswick with 52pts. It was pleasing to see 11 clubs closed in in this age group.

51 finishers

 

UNDER-11 BOYS

THIS age group saw many on the start line experiencing cross-country for the very first time so the course builders had lain out a relatively straightforward test which proved fine for Sunderland’s Oscar Paxton as he came home first in a time of 5:24, four seconds clear of North Shields Poly’s Edward Duff with Logan Garrington (Gateshead) completing the medal winners in 5:38.

55 finishers

 

UNDER-11 GIRLS

IT WAS another success for the strong North Shields Poly club with victory going to Emily Mann in 5:54. Sunderland’s Anna Butler finished runner-up in 6:03 with Emily Hirst (Gateshead) next across the line in 6:12.

48 finishers

 

MALE O-65

CROOK’s Geoff Hewitson took victory in fine style crossing the line in 35:10, 35 seconds clear of Durham City’s Paul Tomaney (35:45). Ponteland’s former Olympian, Ray Smedley finished in third place in 36:07. Fastest on the course was Smedley’s team-mate Robert Sewell, who worked his way through from a 2:20 handicap to finish in fourth spot in an actual time of 35:38. Hewitson was second quickest with Tomaney third. Smedley led Ponteland to team victory – Wales Commonwealth Game representative Iuean Ellis was third counter - with 12pts followed by Crook on 27pts.

17 finishers

 

**A FINE opening fixture would not have been possible without the support of numerous people and groups so it goes without saying the NEHL are indebted firstly to Jon Taylor and his helpers for the use of his farmland – over £2,000 was collected on car park duties which Jon mainly passes on to a charity of his choice – to Stewy Bell and his Blackhill Bounders team  for setting up, taking down the course and being on marshalling duties throughout the day; to all the technical officials for being at their post covering the long programme; to the first aid team, a very important part of the day’s proceedings, and finally to Start Fitness for their continuing support which contributes in making the NEHL one of the most successful leagues in the country if not the overall best.

The league now moves onto Druridge Bay for the next fixture which is on SUNDAY, October 12 with the usual start time. Let’s see another huge turnout for the Blyth Runniing Club’s-hosted event.

 

BILL McGUIRK.

 

 

 

NEHL 2025-26 - Event 1 - Thornley Hall Farm - 27TH SEPTEMBER 2025

 THORNLEY HALL FARM 27TH SEPTEMBER 2025

A big 'thank you to John Taylor, owner of Thornley Hall Farm and also Blackhill Bounders, host club for this seasons opening fixture. We could do with a few volunteers to ensure we have enough marshals for the fixture. Just give names in comments. Much appreciated.

DIRECTIONS

Post code: DH6 3LY

Irrespective of direction of travel, the Farm is accessed from the A181. 

Please do not right turn across the A181 if travelling from the West. Go to the roundabout approx half a mile past the farm and then come back to turn left into the farm. On entry to the farm you will be directed to the parking area. 

What3Words Parking entrance: ///necklaces.tens.arch

Parking cost is £3 CASH ONLY. PLEASE HAVE YOUR COINS READY.

Please see below course map. Note tent area at the top of the course. The large loop (marked in red) due to livestock in the far field will be modified and take a loop around the field to the left (lighter coloured field).

Registration / number collection will be in the bar area.

Start Times:

12.00 Under 11 Boys
12.10 Under 11 Girls
12.20 Under 17 men
12.25 Under 17 women
12.40 Under 15 Boys
12.45 Under 15 Girls
12:55 Under 13 boys
13:00 Under 13 girls
13.20 Under 20, Senior & veteran women
13:50 Under 20, Senior & veteran men

NEHL Druridge Bay 23-03-2025 - Cancelled

 DRURIDGE BAY FINAL FIXTURE CANCELLED

Hi all, apologies, but we've had notification that the final fixture has had to be cancelled. Due to the condition of the start-finish field and some of the parking area (see attached images and film) the landowners have emailed Ralph at Blyth RC to cancel (email text below).

Hi Ralph

After looking at the fields this morning and looking at forecast for this week I think conditions will stay the same and it would be a sensible decision to cancel the event due to unsafe conditions of field and lack of safe parking space.

Kind Regards

We've tried to quickly re-arrange the fixture and move to Thornley but John (landowner) has sheep on the land now.

Again, sincere apologies. We'll be in touch with clubs regarding the awards presentations and AGM in due course.

NEHL Alnwick 2025 Race Report

 CHARLOTTE AND LEWIS STORM THE CASTLE

UNDER the backdrop of the imposing Alnwick Castle around 1,000 competitors converged to take their chance in the penultimate fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League. 

An excellent course laid out by Alnwick Harriers’ Seve Studley and his team was to prove a real test of cross-country running though what muddy sections there were was nothing to compare to last weekend’s English National Championships at Parliament Hill. 

The weather stayed dry throughout the day and the cool breeze was soon forgotten once athletes were called up to the start while the coffee outlet was kept busy throughout the day.

SENIOR MEN

LOUIS HEAD, having his first harrier league outing since Lambton back in 2022, took full advantage of the generous handicap of 2:30 and 5:00 over the medium and fast pack to storm home by over a minute. 

The Heaton athlete led throughout cutting a lonely trail over the three testing circuits of Alnwick Pastures as fellow slow pack runners Andrew Morgan (Newcastle University) and one of the region’s leading Masters athletes, Darlington’s John Clifford, kept their second and third places respectively throughout the contest as the chasing packs tried to haul the trio in. 

Morpeth’s Tom Balsdon came closest finishing in fourth place from the medium’s while Jarlath McKenna (Tyne Bridge) was quickest from the fast pack working his way through to sixth position after a battle with Birtley’s Adrian Bailes throughout the contest, one place and 13 seconds separating the pair at the line. Third quickest on the course was Bailes’ Birtley team-mate Lewis McConnell. 

Morpeth came out on top in the Division One team race with 49 points followed by Tyne Bridge (96) and Gateshead (165). With just the re-arranged fixture to come at Druridge Bay, Durham City head the table with 12 points with Morpeth one point adrift on 13. No doubt team managers will be rallying the troops for Sunday, March 23! There were 391 finishers.

 

SENIOR WOMEN

THE first two across the line warmed up nicely for this coming weekend’s Inter-Counties XC Championships with eye-catching performances, victory going to 2002 Commonwealth Games 800 metres finalist, Charlotte Penfold who spreadeagled the huge field from her 2:20 and 5:00 start over the medium and fast packs respectively. Penfold led throughout the race but Durham City’s Lucy Storey, running from the mediums, worked her way through into  second place at the completion of the first lap where she remained until the line. 

However, Storey was rewarded with quickest overall time of the day (26:26) with Penfold second quickest with 27:04. Ciara Sinclair (Jesmond Joggers), also from the medium pack, crossed the line in third place while third quickest overall and running from the fast pack was Ellen Downs (Tyne Bridge) finishing in seventh place in actual time of 28:13. 

Tyne Bridge came out on top of Division One with 39 points followed by Jesmond Joggers on 59pts with Sunderland in third place with 60pts. In a tight overall league, Sunderland lead with 11pts, Jesmond are on 13 and Morpeth on 15. There were 351 finishers.

UNDER-17 MEN

IN A sprint finish Durham City’s Aidan Richardson got the verdict by just one second over Morpeth’s Ben Moll while next across the line was Alnwick’s Liam McDonough, who ran from a handicap of 2:05, finished with the quickest time of the day of 14:15. Second quickest was Harry Armstrong (Morpeth) in 14:38 with Morpeth team-mate Oliver Tomlinson next best with 14:53. 

Morpeth were clear winners of the team section with 14pts; Low Fell finished second on 34pts and Sunderland third with 46pts. Despite not closing in a team Durham City still lead the way with 10 points followed by Sunderland and Tyne Bridge on 11. There were 24 finishers.

 

UNDER-17 WOMEN

TYNEDALE’S Hannah Cutler, the only medium pack runner on the start line, weaved her way through her slow pack rivals to claim first place with the second fastest overall time of the day. Host club’s Xara Purvis crossed the line in second position with Jarrow and Hebburn’s Emily Booth completing the one-two-three and being rewarded with the quickest time overall. Third best was Tynedale’s Esme Pugh who followed Booth home in fifth place. 

Only one team closed-in the three-to-score with Naimah Michla leading Tyne Bridge home from sixth-place. There were 15 finishers.

 

UNDER-15 BOYS

ALL three medallists took advantage of the 1:40 start with victory going to Blaydon’s Aaron Jobson who had a nine-seconds cushion over Jacob Wood of Tyne Bridge with Low Fell’s Daniel Davison in third place a further 10 seconds adrift. North Shields Poly’s James Sturman, running from the fast pack, postest the fastest time in finishing fourth. Durham City’s Joe Shields next quickest overall crossing the line in 10^th place with Blyth’s George Bryce next best. 

All three will be at Wollaton Park, Nottingham representing the NE Counties at the Inter-Counties XC Championships. Blaydon won the team section with 25 points; North Shields Poly were second with 29pts and Elswick third with 48pts. Overall Elswick lead the way with nine points. There were 33 finishers.

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS

THE host club’s Emilia Waugh finished a good minute clear of her rivals thanks to a 1:40 start over her fast pack rivals and claim the third quickest overall time of the day (14:28). Second and third girls across the line were fast pack pair Kathryn Pye and Holly Robison of Houghton, Kathryn posting 13:59 against Holly’s 14:15. 

Alnwick came out on top in the team stakes with 14 points followed by Houghton on 26pts with Heaton next on 62pts. Going into the final fixture in two weeks’ time, Houghton lead the table on eight points.

There were 29 finishers.

 

UNDER-13 BOYS

FINLAY Waugh was the host club’s second success of the day with the Alnwick athlete breaking the tape 36 seconds clear of fast pack pair Henry Englehart (Durham City) and Elswick’s Jack Galvin, the second and third giving the winner 1:40 advantage. Third quickest on the course was Low Fell’s William McClean who worked his way through to ninth place.  

Gosforth came out on top in the team section with 35 points led home by fourth-placed Jack McManus; Elswick finished second on 38pts and North Shields Poly were third with 45pts. Going into the final fixture Gosforth look safe to take the overall trophy. There were 43 finishers.

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS

VICTORY went to Houghton’s Chloe Brown who took advantage of a 1:20 start over her fast pack rivals, breaking the tape 20 seconds clear of Birtley’s Izzy Hall with Elswick’s Ayla Blight claiming the bronze award a further 11 seconds adrift, both of whom running from the fast pack. Third quickest on the course was Morpeth’s Heidi Wilkinson in sixth place, with Heidi, Izzy and Ayla members of the NE team for the Inter-Counties XC Championships next weekend. 

Elswick won the team contest with 17 points followed by Morpeth with 29pts then Chester-le-Street with 40pts. Elswick’s win is the third time this season, they were second on the other occasion, so look safe to lift the trophy at Druridge Bay. There were 35 finishers.

 

UNDER-11 BOYS

THE judges had to be on their toes as the first four home finished within two seconds of each other. The verdict went to Jarrow and Hebburn’s Jacob Hopper in first place in 3:44, second was North Shields Poly’s Billy Scrambler in 3:45 and third was Houghton’s Elliott Gorton in 3:46 with fourth-placed Alex Coulson (North Shields Poly), also recording 3:46. 

Once again another excellent turnout despite the school holidays with 70 competitors giving the “Try Cross-Country” a go.

 

UNDER-11 GIRLS

AS SHE has done all season North Shields Poly’s Ada Penfold was first across the line winning this shortened course in 3:27. Gosforth’s Ruby Colins claimed second place in 3:46 with Ada’s Poly team-mate, Elodie Soward, next home in 3:59. In fact the Poly also had the fourth and fifth finishers in Ellie Nelson (4:04) and Emily Mann (4:08). There were 59 finishers.

 

**ONCE again a huge thanks go to Start Fitness for their continued support; to Alnwick Harriers’ Steve Studley who managed to round up an excellent team of marshalls who performed car park duties to setting out and dismantling the course; to the NE Counties technical officials and to the first aid team without their involvement the harrier league would never function. See you all at Druridge Bay with celebration coffee, tea and cake!

 

BILL McGUIRK

Photos - Stuart Whitman Photography

Full Results are here: North Eastern Harrier League 2024/25 Sponsored by Start Fitness

Here is the vlog from Darren Fairclough:

 

 

Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships 8 March 2025

Good luck to the North Eastern Counties squads heading for Wollaton Park, Nottingham on Saturday for the Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships.

The NE is sending full squads for the 10-race programme and there is hope of returning home with a number of medals despite the withdrawal of a number of the original squads especially in the senior men. Despite that, team managers Lynn Cooper and Stewy Bell are backing those named in the teams below to do well.

UNDER-13 GIRLS

Poppie Phillipson and Izzy Hall (both Birtley), Ayala Blight (Elswick), Sasha Patterson (Darlington), Evie Kleiser (Durham City), Heidi Wilkinson (Morpeth), Iris Brown (New Marske) and Alice Scrambler (North Shields Poly)

UNDER-15 GIRLS

Gabrielle Pinder (New Marske), Holly Robison and Kathryn Pye (both Houghton), Olivia Murphy (Birtley), Matilda Owen and Charlotte Owen (both Darlington) and Emma Blackburn and Emily Collingwood (both Gateshead)

UNDER-17 WOMEN

Zara Jones (Darlington), Hattie Stead (Blackhill), Isabella Oldfield (Alnwick), Grace Carter (Durham City), Anna Johnson and Darcy Tullis (both NSP), Millie Moat (Gosforth) and Lucy Buckle (Chester-le-Street)

UNDER-20 WOMEN

Charlotte Dillon (Houghton), Imogen Bungay (Elswick), Alice Bell and Iona Johnstone (both Gateshead), Ellie Fellows (Blaydon), Emma Ashman (Gosforth), Tabitha Robson (Morpeth) and Amelie Sillence (NSP)

SENIOR WOMEN

Holly Lawrence (Morpeth), Jennifer Berry (Wallsend), Lydia Turner (Birtley), Charlotte Penfold (NSP), Lucy Storey (Durham City), Anna Pigford (Houghton), Alex Sneddon (Jarrow and Hebburn), Grace Carroll (Sunderland) and Amy Fuller (Kenilworth)

UNDER-13 BOYS

Noah Penfold, Peter Davies and Edward Watson (all NSP), Ollie Curran (Darlington), Mason Gaylor (Morpeth), Hayden Husband (Allerton), Marty Richardson (Darlington) and Henry Engelhart (Durham City)

UNDER-15 BOYS

James Sturman (NSP), Kirsten-Lyle Sridhar (Darlington), Kasper Pearson), Wallsend), Alexander Smith (Heaton), Arthur Darling (Tynedale), Noah Williamson (NE Project), Joe Shields (Durham City) and George Bryce (Blyth)

UNDER-17 MEN

Zander Gribbon (New Marske), Liam McDonogh (Alnwick), Jacob Brown (Middlesbrough), Dawit Asmelash (TS), Daniel Watson (NSP), Alfie Cook (Gateshead), Arthur Di Lullo (Tynedale) and Oliver Tomlinson (Morpeth)

UNDER-20 MEN

Joe Dixon, Bertie Marr, Elliott Kelso and Will De Vere Owen (all Morpeth), Rory Hart (Darlington), Joe Willis (Sunderland), Luke Boothby (Middlesbrough) and Callum Etheridge (Elswick)

SENIOR MEN

Calum Johnson and Matt Linsley (both Gateshead), Philip Winkler and Ellis Hetherington (both Morpeth), Cameron Allen (Houghton), Dan Garbutt (Durham City), Michael Wilson and Stephen Jackson (both Sunderland)and Max Creasey (Middlesbrough)

**Twenty-five of the region’s clubs have at least one representative so well done to all their coaches for giving their athletes the chance of taking part in what, arguably, is the strongest cross-country event on the circuit with teams from all the English counties, together with Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland area teams taking their chance

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