Six athletes from Morpeth Harriers were amongst those in action
for a second placed North Eastern Counties Select, who took part in a Northern Inter Counties Under 15 and Under 17 Track and Field Championship Meeting, held at Hull’s Costello Stadium, on Sunday 7th August 2016. The warm and sunny conditions were certainly enjoyed by a hard working regional squad who really performed well as a team, with some exceptional individual efforts. Under 17 Men’s distance specialist Kieran Hedley was certainly one of the best of those, winning the 1500m in a modest 4m15.30s, a little bit hampered by the stiff wind swirling around the Humberside arena. Morpeth Harriers had another winner in Matthew Waterfield, who triumphed in the Under17 Men’s 400m in 54.02s, which was a couple of seconds adrift of his best. Liam Marsh of Morpeth Harriers finished second in the Under 17 Men’s 3000m, posting a time of 10m08.28s. Throws specialist Andrew Knight finished a close third in the Under 15 Boys Shot Putt with his best effort of 13.45m, he only lost out for victory by a mere 41cm. Knight also competed in the Hammer, where he threw 23.08m for sixth place. Morpeth’s David Thomas finished fifth in a very competitive Under 17 Men’s Long Jump with a best of 5.64m. He also finished seventh in the Shot Putt with 7.56m. Bobbie Griffiths threw 24.88m for ninth place in the Under 17 Women’s Hammer. Amassing a total of 483 points, the North East Counties lost out by 51 points for victory to Yorkshire, with Merseyside 90 points adrift in third place. Posting a finishing time of 31m16s Morpeth Harrier Carl Avery proved to be an emphatic winner of the annual Morpeth 10k Road Race, sponsored by local drinks company Glacėau Smartwater on Tuesday 2nd August 2016. The World sprint Duathlete was too strong for Ethiopian challenger Abraham Tewelde of Saltwell Harriers, as he won the event for the second year in succession by the comfortable margin of thirty-seven seconds over the two lap undulating course encompassing Tranwell Woods. At halfway Avery had opened up a very healthy lead, and although that lead was slightly reduced during the second half, a second victory for him was never in doubt, and it also meant that he had retained the North Eastern Counties Athletics Association 10k title, which was also incorporated into the event for the second successive year. A delighted Avery could also afford to smile at his time, which was fourteen seconds inside the one posted twelve months previously. Meanwhile Tewelde managed to get away from a three-pronged attack from Morpeth Harriers Ross Floyd, Thomas Straughan, and London based Andrew Lawrence, to take the North East Silver medal. It was newly promoted GP Floyd, who just managed to get away from a determined Straughan, to snatch the Bronze medal by a slender five seconds, posting a finishing time of 32m08s, which bettered his 2015 time by nineteen seconds. Lawrence finished fifth in 32m34s. Sixth home was Jarrow and Hebburn’s George Lowry, who clocked 33m17s. Seventh and eighth places went Morpeth Harriers Jonnie Nisbet and John Butters, who had respective times of 33m36s, and 33m53s. Butters was also the first Veteran Male finisher. Ninth place went to Blaydon Harrier Jonathan Stephens, who clocked 34m48s, and Alnwick Harrier Dan Turnbull completed the Top ten placings, clocking a finishing time of 35m27s. The event also marked a superb second successive victory, and a title retention for Emma Holt of Morpeth Harriers in the Women’s race. Posting a finishing time of 36m13s, she won with seventy-four seconds to spare over Ella Brown of Alnwick Harriers, who took the North East Silver medal, and North Shields Poly’s Jacqueline Penn, who was a further nineteen seconds adrift, when taking a much deserved Bronze medal. Leading finishers and Veteran category awards were made at the after race presentation at Craik Park by representative Sharon Nicholls from the sponsors Glacėau Smartwater, and Phil Walker representing his own Financial Planning business as a co-sponsor, to whom on both accounts, Morpeth Harriers are very grateful for their support. Morpeth Harriers would also wish to thank Chris Dentice of Stanton Hall Nurseries for his continued financial support to the event. Thanks go to Morpeth Town FC for the use of their premises as Race Headquarters, Start Fitness for prize vouchers, Piramal for the provision of Race Parking, and the Pegasus Riding School for providing extra toilet facilities. Also to Tees-side Volunteer Services for providing their Medical Assistance to the event Finally, a big thank you to members and friends of Morpeth Harriers, and UK Officials for their very valued help on the night as judges and course marshals. The event attracted a total of 240 finishers. All photos courtesy of Alistair Macdonald
A total of 27 athletes from Morpeth Harriers & Athletic club have been chosen
to represent the North East Youth Development League in an Inter League Track and Field match against a West Yorkshire Select, scheduled to be held at Middlesbrough Athletics Village, on Sunday 11th September 2016. Events will contain three athletes from each region. The full programme of events is still to be finalised, however they are thought to follow a similar order to that of the league. 15 of the Morpeth Harriers athletes are from their Male section, with 12 coming from the Female section. Age groups of both genders are Under 13, Under 15, and Under 17. This is the first event of its kind between the two leagues, and it is hoped that it proves successful, and will continue in future years. A trophy will be presented to the winning area at the end of the days’ competition. The biggest call up from the club is in their Under 17 Men’s section, who provide no fewer than eight athletes. Sean O’Hara is selected to run in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events, and in the latter he will also be joined by club colleagues Matthew Waterfield and Joe Dowd. Kieran Hedley and Taylor Glover run in the 800m and 1500m events. Field Events see call ups for David Thomas (Long Jump and Triple Jump), Ruaridh Lang and Charlie Chisholm (Shot Putt). Lang is also called up for his much favoured Discus. Second largest representation from the club is in the Under 17 Women’s section, with six athletes winning selection. Jessica Young-Rogers runs in both the 100m and 200m events, and in the former, she will be accompanied by club colleague Katie Hilton. Hilton also gains selection for the Triple Jump. Morpeth’s Harriet Priest and Hannah Brown compete in Hurdles events. Charlotte Pickering-Pruvot is selected to compete in both the Shot Putt and the Discus, and Bobby Griffiths competes in the Hammer and Javelin. There are four athletes from the clubs Under 13 Boys section who are selected. Alfie Ward competes in the Long Jump, Koffi Avornyo and Adam Willoughby compete in the High Jump, and Daniel Dowd competes in the Javelin. Amy Lott (70m Hurdles), Rhiannon Hedley (800m), and Rosie Winter (Shot and Javelin), are the clubs three representatives in the Under 13 Girls events. Morpeth’s Nadine Arkle (100m and 200m), Holly Peck (1500m), and Lottie Hume (Shot Putt and Discus), are amongst the regions Under 15 Girl selections. Owen Priest (300m), Ethan Stephenson (High Jump), and Andrew Knight (Shot Putt and Hammer) all win selection to the regions Under 15 Boys squad. Several of the clubs’ athletes are also on standby if needed for call up. Selections have been based on rankings established by performances over the four league matches from each of the three divisions of the North East Youth Development League. Further information on the event will be provided later this month, please keep watching our website for this. This Friday 5th August marks the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics;
however it also marks the 50th Anniversary of one of the biggest moments in the life of Morpeth Harriers legend Jim Alder. Clocking what was then one of the fastest times in the World for the Men’s Marathon, 2hrs22mins08secs, he was enjoying his finest hour winning the Commonwealth Games title in a hot, humid and very sweaty Kingston Jamaica, and writing a whole new chapter into both his and the regions athletics history. Running in the blue vest of Scotland, he very nearly lost the title after being misdirected into the finish, because of Stadium Staff being diverted to look after the arrival of the Royal party just beforehand, and only a more alert Scottish Official helped get him back on track, only to discover that English rival Bill Adcocks was yards in front of him and hurtling towards the finish line. Alder sensing defeat accidentally, summoned on all his interior strength, and eventually swept past Adcocks to take his rightful victory by all of five seconds, and the rest is history. Even now Alder and Adcocks meet up occasionally on more friendly occasions, such as the yearly invitation to attend the London Marathon, and the question is often asked of Adcocks as to whether he let Alder win. The Coventry man always firmly replies, not likely, with one or two expletives removed. Hopefully over the next few weeks, although watching from afar, Alder may be able to cheer on some fine performances during the forthcoming Olympics including those by Morpeth athletes Laura Weightman and Serod Batochir, who are competing respectively in the Women’s 1500m, and Men’s Marathon, and perhaps take one or two moments to smile, and reflect on his own fine achievement 50 years previous, and maybe utter his own immortal words “Geronimo.” |
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