With no less than four team wins, plus four individual victories, along with a superb set of minor team and individual successes, Morpeth Harriers & AC were certainly once again a dominant force to be reckoned with at the 111th annual North Eastern Athletics Association Cross Country Championships, held at Aykley Heads, Durham on Saturday10th December. Undoubtedly the best performance on the day came in the Senior Men’s 12k Championship, where the club took all three individual medals, courtesy of Jonny Taylor, who enjoyed his second win in the event, second placed Nick Swinburn, and third placed Carl Avery. Taylor, who took the Championship at Newcastle’s Town Moor in 2014, eventually stole away on the final lap of three very tough circuits, to win by a margin of three seconds from his very hard working clubmate Swinburn, who was seeking his first victory after finishing second to Taylor in 2014, and also second to Sunderland Harrier Mark Hood at Wrekenton in 2008. Avery, who had finished second to Stockport’s former Sunderland Harrier Patrick Martin at a snow-covered Sedgefield twelve months ago, and eighth to Taylor in 2014, was also hoping for individual glory, however he eventually succumbed to the pressure added by his two front running club colleagues, and settled for third place, a further fifty-four seconds adrift. He had also battled to hold off the early close attentions from Durham City’s Dan Garbutt, himself a former Champion, being a winner at South Shields in January 2013, following a postponement of the 2012 Championships in December 2012, because of adverse conditions. The excellent one-two-three by the three Morpeth Harriers certainly paved the way to an outstanding Senior Men’s team victory, with added superb performances coming from Robert Balmbra (9th), Sam Hancox (11th), and Lewis Timmins (15th). In addition to the scoring six, Morpeth’s other runners also did themselves proud. James Taylor was only two places adrift of Timmins in seventeenth place, and he was followed home by Thomas Straughan (27th), Jordan Scott (64th), newcomer Matthew Collinson, in his first ever championship, who finished 83rd, Matthew Boyle (88th), Tim Miley (89th), Rob Hancox (100th), and Steve Patterson (103rd). The Senior Men’s event had 413 finishers, and Morpeth Harriers team success saw them achieve a total of 41 points, giving them a comfortable margin of 66 points over second placed Durham City, with third placed Tyne Bridge Harriers a further 22 points adrift in third place. Two times Olympian, and European and Commonwealth medallist Laura Weightman became the first Morpeth Harrier to lift the Senior Women’s 8k title since Dianne Henaghan in 1996, and led her club to a twenty-six-point margin team victory over Jarrow and Hebburn, with Gosforth Harriers a further sixteen points adrift in third team place. Weightman had been expected to line up in the 200 plus strong field alongside fellow Olympians Alyson Dixon of Sunderland Strollers, and Sale Harrier Sonia Thomas, plus six times winner, and reigning Champion Rosie Smith of Durham City, however that factor evaporated at the eleventh hour following the withdrawal of all three for varied reasons. It was no surprise when Weightman went quickly to the front from the gun, being hotly pursued by club colleague Emma Holt, and Gosforth Harriers Rachel Lundgren and Helen Warburton, plus another chasing group that included Gateshead’s Mary Ferrier, Tyne Bridge Harrier Alison Dargie, Morpeth pair Josie Cram and Jane Hodgson, and Jarrow and Hebburn pair Alex Sneddon and Gina Rutherford, the latter running her first race as an official counter for Steve Cram’s old club. Cram was there himself to witness Weightman lift her first North Eastern Cross Country title, since she had won as an Under 13 athlete in her very first appearance as a Morpeth Harrier at Darlington in 2003. After emerging from the first of two long 4k laps with a healthy fifty metre lead over Holt, Weightman proceeded to lengthen her advantage as the race progressed, and eventually crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin, over her nearest rival. It was still Holt who had held onto second place and a Silver medal, with Lundgren just managing to hold off her Gosforth club colleague Warburton for the Bronze medal. There was more delight however for Morpeth Harriers, when they took the Senior Women’s team title, with Weightman and Holt being very ably supported by Josie Cram (7th) and Jane Hodgson (8th). Another good prominent Morpeth Harrier performance came from Catriona MacDonald, who finished in twelfth place overall. Scott Beattie, who just missed out on a place in Great Britain’s Under 20 Men’s squad in the European Cross Country Championships in Sardinia this weekend, which would have prevented him taking his place at Aykley Heads, more than made up for that disappointment by achieving a superb forty second margin victory in the Under 20 Men’s 8k Championship. Beattie took individual Gold, with Silver going to Houghton’s Alex Brown, with Middlesbrough and Cleveland’s Jack Willis claiming the Bronze medal, a further nine seconds adrift. Good supportive running by Phil Winkler (11th), and Jake Masterman (12th) saw Morpeth Harriers take the team title. Another prominent club performer was Jacob Hopkins, who finished in 22nd place. Daniel Dixon called upon all of his strengths to fend off the close attentions of Middlesbrough Mandale’s Archie Lowe, to win his very first North Eastern Counties Cross Country title, in the Under 15 Boys 4.5k Championship. He had been runner up to Middlesbrough Mandale’s Josh Cowperthwaite at Sedgefield in 2015, and also at Newcastle’s Town Moor in 2014, when still an Under 13, so this victory for Dixon was particularly sweet. It was made even sweeter when it emerged that Dixon had led Morpeth to the team title by the margin of 22 points over Durham City, with Houghton Harriers a further fifteen points adrift in third team place. Dixon was supported in the team race by Ross Charlton, who unluckily had just missed out on individual Bronze to Houghton’s Henry Johnson in a tight finish, having to settle for fourth, and Daniel Melling, who finished an individual seventh. Other Morpeth Harriers in action in the Under 15 Boys event were Andrew Hudspith (24th), and Brad Brown (30th). There was certainly strength in depth in the performance of Morpeth Harriers Under 17 Men’s squad,
who found themselves just squeezed out of the team title in their 6k Championship by Middlesbrough Mandale by two points, with Durham City a further 23 points adrift in third place. Whilst 2015 Under 15 Champion Josh Cowperthwaite of Middlesbrough Mandale won the event quite comfortably, it was the excellent performances of Morpeth pair Taylor Glover and Rory Leonard that certainly caught the eye, as they battled with another Middlesbrough Mandale threat from Ben Bergstrand and Josh Allen respectively for minor medals. Eventually Glover broke clear, in what was possibly his finest club run since finishing third to Cowperthwaite and Dixon at Sedgefield twelve months ago, to take the Silver medal, leaving club colleague Leonard to fend off the fast approaching Bergstrand to take the much-prized Bronze medal. Finishing in seventh place overall, Morpeth’s Kieran Hedley gave a great fight to remain in contention, and close his clubs tally. Other Morpeth Harriers performers in the total finishing field of 37 were Joe Ramshaw, making his Championship debut, who finished three seconds adrift of Hedley in eighth place, Liam Marsh (10th), Matthew Waterfield (12th), Connor Marshall (19th), and Alex Cunningham (21st). Despite wakening up feeling extremely poorly after overnight sickness, Morpeth Harriers leading light in the Under 15 Girls 4.5k event Holly Peck bravely and determinedly toed the start line, and finished third behind Darlington pair Catherine Roberts and India Pentland. Although personally disappointed to miss out on Gold, to win the Bronze was a great achievement under such circumstances, and to lead her club to Silver team medals was a big bonus, losing out to a rampant Darlington by 20 points. Lily Heaton (10th), and Lauren Cummings (15th), provided the excellent Morpeth supporting counts. Morpeth Harriers Under 13 Boys achieved an excellent team result, when finishing third behind Durham City, with Gateshead Harriers taking second place. Only fourteen points separated the first three teams, and Morpeth just beat off a stern challenge from Middlesbrough Mandale for the Bronze medals, courtesy of Ben Walker, who produced an excellent run to finish sixth, and was only nine seconds adrift of an individual medal, Dylan Davies, who finished ninth, and twelve seconds adrift of Walker, and Alex Porteous (33rd). Other Morpeth Harriers in action in the Under 13 Boys 3k event were Sam Tate (40th), and James Tilley (50th). In the combined Under 17/Under 20 Women’s 6k event, Morpeth Harriers finished in fifth team place, courtesy of Alison Brown (20th), Gracie Hufton (22nd), and Abby Sheldon, who had been suffering from a heavy cold all week, and had bravely battled on to finish 39th. Rhiannon Hedley led the clubs Under 13 Girls home to sixth team place in their 3k event. She finished in seventh place overall, and was only around thirty seconds adrift of minor medals. Further team support came from Mia Belton (24th), and Laura Melling (37th). For the first time, ever in the North Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships meeting, non-scoring events for Under 11’s (Male and Female) were held prior to the Championship races getting underway. Morpeth Harriers had two athletes competing in the Boys race, run over 1.5k, and Joseph Hudspith and Ryan Davies finished in seventh and eleventh places respectively. It was a truly excellent day all round for Morpeth Harriers, who still to be confirmed at time of going to press, look set to retain the Championship overall performance trophies for both Male and Female, which also means that they will also retain the overall overall trophy, Watch This Space !! 146 runners descended on Ashington Community Woods on Sunday 11th December 2016,
and they certainly were not headed for “The Teddy Bears Picnic”, No they were taking part in the inaugural Fell Em Doon Festive 5k Multi Terrain Race, the first ever race hosted by Ashington Hirst Running Club. The field included thirteen Morpeth Harriers, some of whom were well to the fore in the leading finishers. Kurt Heron, a former Morpeth Harrier, currently running as unattached, after a short spell with Tyneside club Tyne Bridge Harriers, won the event, posting a finishing time of 16m27s, which proved to be 36 seconds ahead of second placed Mark Snowball, who was the first Morpeth Harrier home. Third place went to Sunderland Harrier Steven Duffy. Also, prominent finishers in the top ten were Andrew Richardson and Paul Banks, who finished sixth and tenth in respective times of 19m09s, and 19m40s. Gemma Floyd of Morpeth Harriers was the first Female finisher in 14th place overall, posting a time of 20m30s. Other Morpeth Harriers finishers were as follows Jim Alder (19th) (1st O/55 Man) 21m23s, Damian Foster (27th) (3rd O/45 Man) 22m53s, Helen Bruce (40th) (7th Woman) (2nd O/40 Woman) 24m12s, Sue Smith (47th) (9th Woman) (2nd O/50 Woman) 24m41s, Pamela Woodcock (48th) (10th Woman) (1st O/65 Woman) 24m42s, Jilly Bell (51st) (12th Woman) (3rd O/35 Woman) 24m59s, Jacinta Wake (59th) (16th Woman) (5th O/50 Woman) 25m38s, Clare Walker (61st) (17th Woman) (5th O/35 Woman) 25m42s, and Clare Hiscock (90th) (34th Woman) (7th O/40 Woman) 28m30s. Morpeth Harriers runners dominated the East Northumberland Schools Cross Country Championships,
held at Queen Elizabeth II Park, Woodhorn, Ashington on Thursday 8th December 2016. Four of the age group winners belonged to the club. Holly Peck won the Year 8/9 Girls event, and she was followed in very closely by club colleagues Lily Heaton and Lauren Cummings, who finished second and third respectively. Ellie Coxon won the Year 10 Girls event, and Kirsty Duffin finished third. In the Boys events Ben Walker was a winner in the Years 8/9, and club colleague Dylan Davies finished third. Ollie Bruce finished second in the Year 7 Boys event. The Year 10 Boys event was won by Rory Leonard , with fellow Morpeth Harriers Taylor Glover, Daniel Dixon, Ross Charlton, Matthew Waterfield, and Liam Marsh occupying second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth places. Connor Marshall, Alex Cunningham, and Brad Brown finished in eighth tenth and eleventh places. Morpeth Harrier John Butters proved to be a thirty-one second clear winner
of the 23rd annual running of the Angus Tait Memorial Hexhamshire Hobble Fell Race, held on Sunday 4th December. The tough event, run over grassed areas on Hexhamshire Common, attracted a total finishing field of 153 very enthusiastic tough competitors, hellbent on entering the seasonal spirit of the outdoors, including no less than eighteen equally enthusiastic Morpeth Harriers, led by race-winner Butters. Sadly the 2015 event was cancelled due to extremely icy conditions, however thankfully there was no sign of that on this occasion as the runners toed the start line on the playing field of Allendale Primary School. The run is now held annually in memory of Angus Tait, a well-known local fell runner, who very sadly passed away in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. Throughout his illness, Tait, who was also a founder member of Tynedale Harriers and later Northumberland Fell Runners, continued to turn out in local Fell events, including this particular race, which was a favourite, and it is a much fitting tribute that organising club Allen Valley Striders continue to host this event in his memory. These factors would clearly not be lost on Butters, also a member of Northumberland Fell Runners in addition to his Morpeth allegiance, as he crossed the finish line, after covering the 10.4mile/16.8k hilly distance in 69m32s. Having missed the event in 2014 due to injury, Butters would be pleased to finish seventy-seven seconds quicker than his 2013 outing, when he had finished sixth. Second and third places went to Sam Stille of Team Newcastle Triathlon, and James Osborne of Durham Fell Runners. Other prominent Morpeth Harriers finishers were Mark Snowball (6th) 72m42s, and Tim Miley (11th) 76m49s. Miley was also first Veteran Man Over 50. Matthew Briggs was next Morpeth Harrier home, finishing 20th in 79m51s. Finishing 34th in 84m31s, Morpeth’s Catriona MacDonald was second Senior Woman finisher, behind Tynedale Veteran Karen Robertson, who finished 29th in 82m29s. Next Morpeth Harriers finisher was Catriona’s father Alistair, who was 47th in 87m57s, just ahead of club colleague Richard Kirby (48th) 88m00s. MacDonald was eighth Over 50 Veteran Man, and Kirby was fifteenth Over 40 Veteran Man. Further Morpeth Harriers finishers were as follows Mike Steven (56th) (10th O/50 Man) 90m16s, Bob Sewell (70th) 2nd O/60 Man) 93m56s, Jane Briggs (84th) (14th Woman) (5th O/40) 97m45s, Gwenda Cavill (86th) (16th Woman) (3rd O/50) 98m05s, Lindsay Turnbull (92nd) (18th Woman) (6th O/40) 98m50s, Kim Taylor (96th) (21st Woman) (5th O/50) 100m49s, Paul Banks (126th) (38th O/40) 110m21s, Clare Walker (139th) (44th Woman) 122m33s, Jane Kirby (140th) (45th Woman) (17th O/40) 122m34s, Jacinta Wake (143rd) (46th Woman) (11th O/50) 126m53s, and Sue Smith (144th) (47th Woman) (12th O/50) 126m53s. A very enjoyable Sunday morning experience enjoyed by all, and many thanks to everyone who helped to make the event safe for all. While a number of their club colleagues made the longer journey west into
the wilder uplands of Allendale for this year’s Hexhamshire Hobble, a handful of Morpeth’s veteran men chose instead to take advantage of the age-related handicaps on offer in the comparatively calmer and certainly much flatter Blyth Sands Race the same morning,(4th December) and they were rewarded with two age category awards and a first team prize. The annual Sands race, generously hosted once again by Blyth Running Club, sees competitors run off age and gender related handicaps in a 5 mile run from Blyth to Seaton Sluice and back. In a nod to its origins (a challenge from Blyth based rowers to the town’s runners many years ago), oars are planted in the sand at either end of the beach to mark the turning points in the race, and as runners round them, these often give a clue to how fixed handicaps are unravelling. In contrast with last year’s challenging full tide and consequent narrow strip of sand, 2016’s race was run on a low tide, giving competitors the chance to round the bottom end of the three groynes on the beach (thus avoiding the dreaded ‘groyne strain’), although towards Seaton Sluice runners reported some tricky rivulets and soft sand, with many regretting not bringing a change of dry socks. The race was won by Elswick Over 65 veteran Mark Mcnally in a time of 26 minutes 57 seconds off a 9 minute handicap with female Over 50 veteran Jacqueline Keavney (who had travelled all the way from Richmond) in second place in 27m 8s. First home for Morpeth was Under 18 Jake Masterman, 5th in a time of 28m 13s (the third fastest time of the day). Next home for Morpeth in 7th place (29m 1s) was Gavin Bayne who was also the fastest Over 60 man. Twenty years after his last appearance in the race, it was a nostalgic run for one of the club’s leading veterans as he ruefully recalled the days when the club’s ‘hard men’ would run to Blyth from Morpeth via Bedlington – and then home again. Not far behind him were Morpeth’s Over 50 veterans Paul Waterston and Phil Walker. Running neck and neck for most of the race, Waterston only nudged ahead of his training partner in the last quarter of a mile. While Waterston (9th in 29m 28s) picked up the Over 50 prize, it was a welcome return for Walker, 12th in 29m 28s, in his first serious competitive outing since breaking toes in Bothal Woods over the summer, and also coincidentally his first race in the blue and white since moving up an age category. With Masterman not counting for the team, Morpeth’s team count was made up by Peter Scaife, 14th in 30m 12s and 3rd O/55, and the club were in consequence comfortably winners of the team prize ahead of host club Blyth and Elswick Harriers. Not far behind Scaife were O/65 Richard Sill (21st in 31m 16s), Archie Jenkins (43rd in 33m 35s) and Andrew Richardson (59th in 35m) who all also had good run-outs. |
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