In a superb night of friendly, yet intensive competition, Morpeth Harriers retained their hold on the winner’s trophy at the annual North Eastern Counties Athletics Association Sprint Relays, held at Jarrow’s Monkton Stadium, on the evening of Wednesday 5th September 2018. They won by a total of 23 points from second placed Tynedale Harriers, with Gateshead Harriers a further fourteen points adrift in third place. Four event wins, seven seconds and three third placed efforts from the club were the major highlights of their overall success, and Team Manager Dave Thomas spoke highly of his squads performances, including some made by athletes that he was forced to draft in at the last minute, singling out Under 13 Boy Oliver Geoghegan, and an injured Rosie Winter filling in for late absentees, which had frustrated him. The four wins came from their Under 15 Girls 4 x 100m squad, courtesy of Ellie Longstaff, Mia Belton, Amy Lott and Alice Geoghegan, who combined to win in an excellent 51.92s, the Under 15 Boys 4 x 100m squad of Charlie Lane, Ben Waterfield, Fergus Barclay, and Oliver Geoghegan, who won in 52.48s, the Under 17 Men’s 4 x 100m squad of Robbie Anderson, Sam Yates, Matthew Heslop, and Owen Priest, who claimed victory in 47.91s, the same Under 15 Girls quartet, who secured victory in the 4 x 200m event in 1m55.94s. Undoubtedly the seven second places on the night added well to the clubs tally, and these placings were achieved by their Senior Men’s 4 x 100m squad, courtesy of Phil Pitt, David Storey, Matthew Waterfield and Jake Jardine, who posted a finishing time of 45.47s, the Senior Women’s 4 x 100m squad, courtesy of Lauren Smith, Jessica Young-Rogers, Lynsey Storey, and Kirsty Lang, who posted a total time of 53.49s, The Under 15 Girls 4 x 100m B team, who combined to finish in 55.40s, courtesy of Abby Leiper, Melody Brooks, Lucy Charlton, and Rosie Winter, the Under 13 Boys 4 x 100m squad of Sam Dent, Elliot Mavir, Adam Howliston, and Owen Omoigue, who clocked 58.21s, the same Senior Women’s quartet in the 4 x 200m, who posted a combined time of 1m55.98s, the Under 17 Men’s 4 x 200m quartet, who clocked 1m39.17s, and the same Senior Women’s quartet added the 4 x 400m to their nights successes, posting a time of 4m53.4s. The Under 15 Girls 4 x 100m B team, who combined to finish in 55.40s, courtesy of Abby Leiper, Melody Brooks, Lucy Charlton, and Rosie Winter, the Under 13 Boys 4 x 100m squad of Sam Dent, Elliot Mavir, Adam Howliston, and Owen Omoigue, who clocked 58.21s, the same Senior Women’s quartet in the 4 x 200m, who posted a combined time of 1m55.98s, the Under 17 Men’s 4 x 200m quartet, who clocked 1m39.17s, and the same Senior Women’s quartet added the 4 x 400m to their nights successes, posting a time of 4m53.4s. The three third places on the night, came from their Under 13 Girls 4 x 100m squad, courtesy of Freya Caygill, Olivia Gent, Ellie Wickens, and Hannah Lott, who posted a time of 58.77s, the same quartet also secured third place in the 4 x100m in 59.40s, and their Senior Men posted a time of 1m39.1s in the 4 x 200m event.
Morpeth also had a couple of excellent fourth placed efforts from their Under 15 Girls 4 x 200m B team, courtesy of Abby Leiper, Melody Brooks Lucy Charlton, and Rosie Winter, who clocked 2m10.99s, and their Under 17 Women’s 4 x 200m squad, courtesy of Nadine Arkle, Holly Peck, Lily Heaton, and Kayleigh Wenn, who combined in a time of 2m00.98s. Another fourth place was achieved by the clubs quartet of Senior Men, in their 4 x 400m event, posting a time of 3m53.29s. A total of 17 clubs took part, and many thanks to all NECAA Officials who volunteered their services on what was a very long night. Morpeth Harriers siblings Jessica and Edward Gardiner very effectively ended their highly successful 2018 outdoor athletics season in fine style, when they produced respectively excellent performances at the North East Counties Throws Festival, held in conjunction with the Sprint Relays Meeting at Jarrow’s Monkton Stadium on the evening of Wednesday 5th September 2018.
In the Under 15 Girls 3k Hammer, Jessica got very close to her lifetime best with an on the night best of 37.95m, however she remains firmly at No 2 regionally. Meanwhile, in the Under 13 Boys 3k Hammer competition, Edward produced a new best of 18.26m, which very much improved on the 12.85m that he had thrown at the same meeting in 2017. Two athletes from Morpeth Harriers took part in the annual Tees-Pride 10k,
sponsored by Wimpey, and held in Middlesbrough on Sunday 2nd September 2018. Finishing in an excellent 28th position, and posting an equally excellent time of 36m44s, which was only a mere nine seconds adrift of her lifetime best, Jane Hodgson was also the second Women’s finisher, behind Gerda Steyn, a top class South African Marathon runner. Steyn finished an excellent fifth overall, beating many of her top Male counterparts, posting a superb finishing time of 33m58s, which for her, was a new lifetime best, so in that alone, there was no Female opponent who was going to match her on the day, so much credit to Hodgson for at least getting so close. Morpeth’s other participant was Over 50 Veteran Man Steve Haswell, who finished in 86th place overall in 40m58s, and was sixth in his age category. The event had a total of 2,032 finishers. Recently we reported on Morpeth Harrier Andrew Knight’s Silver Medal performance at the
School Games held in Loughborough on Friday and Saturday 31st August & 1st September 2018. The club also had another participant at the games, in the form of Under 15 athlete Sam Tate, who took part in what is entitled the Laser Run, which was a newly incorporated event, involving Shooting and Running, which are both key elements of the Olympic Modern Pentathlon. Representing England North, Tate finished seventh overall in what involved 3 times Shooting of 5 Hits and a 400m run, where he was his teams fastest performer. His Team were fourth of five finishing squads, taking a total time of 15mins 10secs, of which Sam’s contribution was 4m53s. This Monday 10th September sees the commencement of the annual
Morpeth Harriers Young Athletes Road Championships, which will be sponsored for the first time by Reeves – The Pension Specialist. The first athletes in action over the 1.25mile circuit of Lancaster Park (see Map) will be the Under 13’s, both male and female, assembling at our clubhouse at 7.30pm, and competing at 7.45pm approximately. Start and Finish marks are at the same point on Wansdyke and all athletes will compete in an anti-clockwise direction, with the course route defined by the red line. Marshals and running helpers will be on hand to ensure that all athletes complete the course successfully. The first three athletes in respective genders will receive medals in recognition of their achievements, of Gold, Silver and Bronze. Respective Male and Female Champions will also receive a trophy. Medals and Trophies will be presented at a future Presentation Night (to be arranged). Under 15 and Under 17 athletes will compete together on Monday 17th September, with Under 11’s completing the Championships on Monday 24th September. Event Safety is paramount, and all competitors will be required to wear white or reflective on the night, as they will be running on open roads in the dark. always Keep to the left during the race, be aware of any other road users, and do not attempt to use any shortcuts that may take you to the opposite side of the road, always obey instructions given to you by marshals, they are there for your benefit. All races will be started by a whistle, and everyone will be placed and timed. Remember, STAY SAFE, BE SEEN, LISTEN TO ALL INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN, ENJOY. |
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