Emma Holt’s individual win was certainly a most talked about performance at the second Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League fixture, held at Druridge Bay on Sunday 8th October 2017. The Morpeth Senior Woman has definitely put her injury worries behind her, that she suffered at the end of the last Cross-Country season, and is showing a new zest, which is not only welcome from her own point of view, but also her club, who will certainly be looking to her once again being very much part of their winter success. Holt achieved her second Harrier League victory in eight days, by seizing her opportunity at the very end of two gruelling laps of effort, to win by a three second margin from the Fast Pack, having given 200 and 100 seconds to most of her rivals. It also gave her a second individual Gold medal in the series. Another second medal went to club colleague Jane Hodgson. This time for her it was Bronze, as she came home as second fastest from the Fast Pack behind Holt, and only fifteen seconds adrift. Again, it was Alison Brown who provided the third scorers spot for Morpeth. Having finished fourth from the Slow Pack the previous week at Wrekenton, on this occasion she finished in seventeenth place overall from the Medium Pack, and sixteenth fastest in the finishing field of 356. Completing the Morpeth Senior Women’s quartet to achieve second team place on the day in Division 1 behind Tyne Bridge Harriers, was Sue Smith, whose Slow Pack run saw her finish 112th overall. Other Morpeth Senior Women’s performers were Jilly Bell (148th) (Slow Pack), Jenny Glossop (192nd) (Slow Pack), and Clare Hiscock (225th). Nearly 24 hours after representing Morpeth Harriers Senior Men at the Road Relays in Sutton Coldfield, Robert Balmbra was leading his club home to second team place in Division 1, again behind Tyne Bridge Harriers, by finishing eleventh overall from the Fast Pack, and posting the second fastest time of the day on the 9.7k course. Supporting counters certainly packed well for Morpeth, with newcomer Will Clark next home, finishing sixteenth from the Slow Pack, Dean Lonsdale finishing 21st from the Slow Pack, and Phil Walker finishing 24th from the Slow Pack. The Morpeth scoring sextet was completed by Thomas Innes, who finished 38th from the Medium Pack, and Steve Haswell, who finished 53rd from the Slow Pack. In total Morpeth had twenty Senior Men in action on the day. Other Morpeth Senior Men in action were, David Nicholson (66th) (Slow Pack), Tony Lewis (70th) (Medium Pack), Richard Castledine (76th) (Medium Pack), Paul Waterston (84th) (Slow Pack), Alistair Douglass (88th) (Fast Pack) (22nd Fastest), Mark Snowball (90th) (Fast Pack) (23rd Fastest), Neil McAnany (112th) (Slow Pack), Mike Winter (134th) (Slow Pack), Gary Hall (149th) (Slow Pack), Tim Miley (160th) (Medium Pack), Kenton Duffield (295th) (Slow Pack), Paul Bellingham (323rd) (Slow Pack), Tom Pattison (396th) (Medium Pack), and John Clark (433rd) (Slow Pack). One of the best team performances on the day by Morpeth, came undoubtedly from their Under 13 Boys, who finished second to a strong Birtley trio. Leading the Morpeth charge was Bertie Marr, who ran really well from the Slow Pack to finish 5th. Further excellent team support came courtesy of Harry Jackson (9th) (Slow Pack), and James Tilley (20th) (Slow Pack). Although outside the scorers, Ryan Davies, who had won his clubs road championship during the previous week, ran really well from the Fast Pack, to come home in 28th place, and was fifteenth fastest in the finishing field of 62, which also included Morpeth’s Callum Rowell (40th) (Fast Pack) (20th = Fastest), and Joe Dixon (61st) (Slow Pack). Morpeth’s Under 15 Boys finished third to Gosforth Harriers in their event.
Newcomer James Gilhome, making his debut for Morpeth, ran well to finish sixth from the Slow Pack, to lead their squad home. Further scoring support came from Fast Packers Thomas Cunningham and Dylan Davies, who finished 18th and 22nd respectively, posting the days sixth and ninth fastest times in the finishing field of 56, which included Jonny Kidd (31st) (Fast Pack) (14th fastest), Thomas Coulson (37th) (Fast Pack) (16th Fastest), and Andrew Hudspith (40th) (Fast Pack) (17th Fastest). In the Under 15 Girls event Holly Peck finished seventh from the Fast Pack, and was second fastest to Gateshead’s Innes Curran, who finished fourth from the Fast Pack. In the Under 17/Under 20 Women’s event, Morpeth’ Ella Duffield finished ninth from the Slow Pack, and Gracie Hufton produced another excellent run, finishing 17th from the Fast Pack, and was seventh fastest overall. Morpeth Harriers had only one Under 17 Man in action. Running from the Slow Pack, Bradley Brown finished thirteenth. In a well contested Under 13 Girls event, Morpeth finished as twelfth team, courtesy of Laura Melling (25th) (Slow Pack), Sophia Cunningham (37th) (Slow Pack), and Faye Archbold (52nd) (Slow Pack). Morpeth had one competitor in the non-scoring Under 11 Girls event. Making her club debut Olivia Tweddle finished 29th. Morpeth Harriers star performers at the English Road Running Association’s Road Relay Championships,
held at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, on Saturday 7th October 2017.were undoubtedly their Under 17 Men, who went into their 3 Stage contest, fielding exactly the same squad who won the North of England Championship three weeks ago in Manchester. Daniel Melling produced a modest and steady run on the first of the 3 x 3.88k legs, finishing in 36th spot, posting a time of 12m46s, which was only around forty seconds adrift of the medals. Taylor Glover produced a superb run on Leg Two, posting a fourth fastest of the leg time of 12m05s, which saw him climb a mammoth 26 places to tenth, and nineteen seconds adrift of third, and a possible medal winning opportunity. Third and final leg runner Rory Leonard, posted a fifth fastest of the leg time of 12m03s, which saw him finish fifth, and was twenty-three seconds adrift of the medals, which were won by Aldershot, Charnwood, and Cambridge, definitely representing a Southern, Midland dominance. Morpeth still proved to be the champions from the North, just holding off sixth placed Vale Royal by ten seconds. The respective times of Leonard and Glover, proved to be ninth and tenth equal of all. Morpeth Harriers Senior Men finished 20th in the English National 6 Stage Road Relay Championship,
held at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield on Saturday 7th October 2017, courtesy of Ian Hudspith (18m01s), Thomas Straughan (18m43s), Carl Avery (18m00s), newcomer George Lowery, formerly Jarrow and Hebburn (18m47s, Robert Balmbra 19m08s, and Jordan Scott (18m55s). They finished as fifth club from the North, and first from the North East. The competition was won by Swansea Harriers. Club Chairman David Swinburne and his Wife Claire, are pleased
to announce the arrival of their first new baby boy, Samuel John. Samuel John was born at 5.39am on Sunday 8th October 2017, obviously an early riser, and weighing a very healthy 7lb10oz, and Mother and Baby are reported to be doing very well. All at Morpeth Harriers & AC send their Best Wishes to the proud parents and baby on this wonderful occasion, and that David, Claire, and Samuel John all enjoy a great future as a lovely new family. Young Athletes from the ranks of Morpeth Harriers were in fine form representing their respective schools
at the first round of the annual English Schools Cross Country Cup competition, held in the Gateshead Bowl, behind Gateshead Stadium, on Tuesday 3rd October 2017. Pick of the bunch were the Intermediate Boys of King Edward School, who took victory by the margin of eleven team points ahead of the usually formidable Royal Grammar School of Newcastle, and will progress to the second round of the competition. They were led home by Euan Duffin, who finished second, only losing out for victory to Harry Morris of the Newcastle School, who regularly competes for Gateshead Harriers, by the slender margin of five seconds. Further King Edward team support to Duffin, came from fellow Morpeth Harriers Thomas Cunningham (3rd), and Ben Walker (7th). Another Morpeth Harrier was also a prominent Intermediate Boys finisher, in the form of Dylan Davies representing Benet Biscop of Bedlington, who finished fourteenth. Holly Peck was another star performer, winning the Intermediate Girls race against stern opposition from Newcastle High School’s Olivia Katory, and Hermitage School’s Emily Chong, who finished second and third. Katory and Chong compete regularly for Gosforth Harriers and Chester Le Street respectively. Peck eventually stole away to win by a comfortable margin of twenty-six seconds, and led King Edward to fourth team place. However, as a result of that, this age group will not progress further in the competition. Team winners on this occasion were RGS of Newcastle. Other Morpeth Harriers giving team support for King Edward were, Lily Heaton (9th), Rebecca Bradley (26th), and Fay Smith (59th). Three Morpeth Harriers lined up in the Junior Girls event. Alice Geoghegan finished sixth representing RGS Newcastle. Representing Richard Coates School of Newcastle, Mia Belton finished seventeenth. Laura Melling, representing Dame Allen’s School finished 32nd. In the Junior Boys event, Ryan Davies, representing Benet Biscop finished eleventh. |
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