The most recent of the autumn’s shows across the county took place on Saturday at Thropton, with the day incorporating its traditional fell race.
Run over a distance just short of 11 kilometres with a a climb of some 365 metres, this year’s race however featured a new route due to continued Forestry Commission closures on Simonside. Won by Tyne Bridge Harrier Craig Jones, John Butters had his first run out since completing the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, finishing in 4th place overall and 1st O/45. He was followed home by Lee Bennett in 10th place, also a category winner in the O/50s. Close behind was Catriona Macdonald, comfortably 1st female finisher and in 13th place overall. There were some 60,000 runners taking part in Sunday’s Great North Run, as the world’s largest half-marathon returned to its traditional route from Newcastle to South Shields after the Covid enforced changes of 2021, with thirty Morpeth Harriers lining up amongst them.
The race itself was won by Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo in a time of 59 minutes and 33 seconds, with Ethiopians Selemon Barega and Kenenisa Bekele 2nd and 3rd (1 hour 39 seconds and 1:01:01). In a closely-fought Women’s race, Kenyan Helen Obiri was 1st female finisher in 1:07:05, fellow Kenyan Peres Jepcrchir 2nd (1:07:07) and Ethiopian Almaz Ayana 3rd (1:07:10). Gateshead Harrier Calum Johnson, 9th overall, was the first finisher from the North East in 1:03:16 and North Shields Polytechnic Harrier Dave Green, having a good run, the second, 18th in 1:05: 52. Fellow NSP Harrier Molly Pace was the first local female to finish, 27th in 1:22:38. For Morpeth Harriers, Alex Brown was first home, 22nd in 1:06:50 and club stalwart Andy Lawrence, a regular for many years and once again donning his famous banana suit, just outside the top 100, 103rd in 1:14:23. Also taking part for the club were: Mark Snowball, 154th in 1:16:37; Richie Hughes, 230th in 1:18:19; Andrew Hebden, 396th in 1:22:34; Dave Stabler, 422nd in 1:22:51; Jake Parmley, 562nd in 1:24:43; Shaun Land, 602nd in 1:25:13; Neil Gunstone, 1328th in 1:31:41; Josh Burton, 1847th in 1:34:58; Mike Winter, 2048th in 1:36:06; Anna Wright, 2063rd in 1:36:14; Lindsey Quinn, 2069th in 1:36:17; Julie Vermaas, 2309th in 1:37:26 ; club chairman Dave Swinburne, 2637th in 1:38:49; Jenny Belton, 2955th in 1:40:11; Ciaran Leahy, 2989th in 1:40:21; Jim Alder ‘the younger’ 3318th in 1:41:39; Kevin Shanahan, 4819th in 1:46:34; Mike Steven, 5037th in 1:47:14; Laura Mclean, 6908th in 1:52:14; Mhairi Line, 7396th in 1:53:22; Matthew Boyle, 7696th in 1:54:03; Robyn Ferguson, 7887th in 1:54:26th; Paul Willis, 8244th in 1:55:10; Becky Lawson, 12932nd in 2:04:15; Arjan Piet, 21481st in 2:21:01 and Rosie Winter, 25285th in 2:29:18. It was also good to see the return to competitive action of two Harriers both returning after a lengthy spell out and operations to boot, Tony Lewis, 3389th in 1:41:54 and Gary Mason, 7086th in 1:52:39. Good to see you both back – but Gary, did no one tell you there weren’t any hills! The club has now put in place something new for those looking to run on a Monday and Thursday night with what was once the group run by Hamish Mcallister-Williams.
Andrew Dippie will now be taking on the role of coach for this group. Many of you will know Andrew already from his time at the club. He has experience of coaching already, holds a DBS clearance and is also working further to add to his coaching qualifications. A complete schedule for the Walk, Talk and Run group has been drawn up - see here for details. All sessions will start from the club at 7.15pm (unless otherwise advised) but will be often different from those run before. This group is ideal for those new to the club but wanting to develop further, those wanting to build on progress so far under coaching guidance or those just wishing to run socially. For more details contact Andrew at andrewdippie59@gmail.com Cat Macdonald finished 3rd in the Scottish Trail Race Championships held in humid and dry conditions over a 6-mile loop in the grounds of Falkland Estate, Fife and using part of the Fife Lomond Hills.
32nd overall, Cat managed to make the podium this time out, having finished in 4th last time, but narrowly missed out on a 2nd place by a margin of only a single second after a ding-dong with Edinburgh University AC runner Alice Goodall (38:02). Gala’s Sara Green was 1st Female home in 37:31, with first overall finisher Hamish Hickey of Central AC in 31:25. It was another busy day for the Macdonalds, with Alistair 72nd in 44: 44 and Margaret 113th in 1:06.5. Lindsey Quinn competed in the Anne Allan trail race last Saturday hosted by Alnwick Harriers in memory of a past runner.
A new event, the race was held over a circular 9kms route round the Ingram valley, taking in woods, fields, roads, and hills. Low numbers with it being the inaugural year, but Lindsey commented that it was a great course and one she would definitely recommend for the future. She also came 2nd overall and was 1st female home, with Liam Gutcher first finisher. |
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April 2024
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