Latest update on Morpeth Harriers & AC President Jim Alder, is that he is currently in the Freeman Hospital, following being transferred from Cramlington Hospital on Tuesday 5th December, after being admitted there on Monday 27th November. Jim has undergone a series of tests on his heart functions, which have all proved positive, and is now awaiting further decisions by specialists. He is reported to be in very good spirits, and eager to learn of progress within the club in his absence. Best wishes have been conveyed to Jim from all club members, and it is hoped that it will not be too long before he is back amongst us in his supporting role. Weak Winter sunshine and unseasonably mild conditions - that would have seemed impossible only days previously in the midst of the snowfalls that descended on the North East - greeted the 176 runners at the 58th Blyth Sands Race on Sunday morning (3rd December).
Run this year on an incoming half-tide that made it impossible to get round the seaward side of the notorious groynes without taking an early bath, the race was once again dominated by older male veterans who were able to take advantage of generous handicaps. Indeed, this year’s race was won for the second year running by leading Over 70 veteran Mark McNally of Elswick Harriers who took advantage of his 11 minutes off scratch to once again best the field in a time of 24 minutes and 39 seconds. He was followed home by Over 60 vets Ian Brown of Tynedale and Peter Grey of Alnwick who went toe to toe for most of the 5 mile course, with Brown just getting the nod at the finish. First home for Morpeth was another O/60, Gavin Bayne, 10th overall in 28m 1s. He was followed by Neil McNanany, 2nd O/55 and then O/45 Gary Hall, 40th in 31m 5s. With four to count for the team, Morpeth’s final counter was another O/60, Richard Sill, 42nd in 31m 8s. Sadly however, Morpeth were squeezed out of the team prizes this year, finishing 4th on the day. Just out of the counters for Morpeth were two athletes on their way back from injury. Still not fully up to speed, Paul Waterston was 49th in 31m 53s and 6th O/50 ; in his first proper race after a wretched six months, meanwhile, Peter Scaife was 3rd O/55 in 37m 4s. Morpeth’s final veteran was Sands stalwart – having run the race more than any other local competition, by all accounts - and sometime winner, Archie Jenkins, 131st in 39m 59s. First woman home this year was Over 40 vet Stephanie Maclean-Dann of North Shields Polytechnic Harriers in 27m 27s with clubmate O/50 Kath Davis 2nd in27m 34s and O/55 Heather Robinson of Jarrow 3rd. NSP also claimed the team prize, with local outfit Blyth Running Club proudly taking 2nd and Heaton Harriers 3rd. Fastest runner on the day off scratch was Kurt Heron of Ashington Hirst. Report by Peter Scaife For the second year running, Morpeth Harrier John Butters, who was competing
in his Northumberland Fell Runners colours, won the annual Angus Tait Memorial Hexhamshire Hobble Fell Race, which on Sunday 3rd December, was being run for the 24th occasion. Taking nearly a minute off his 2016 time, Butters crossed the finish line in the 16.8k event in 68m37s, winning by twenty seconds from Tyne Bridge Harrier Cees Van Der Land, who finished fourth in 2016. The event, which also reached a gradient of 1,250ft (379m), had a total finishing field of 150 hardy competitors. Just over four minutes behind Butters was his Morpeth Harriers club colleague, young Matthew Briggs, who finished in sixth place. Other Morpeth Harriers finishers were, Paul Banks (29th) 83m27s, Richard Kirby (45th) 86m51s, Mike Steven (66th) 95m10s, Jane Briggs (95th) (20th Woman) (6th O/40) 105m32s, Claire Bruce (126th) (38th Woman) (7th O/50) 117m16s, Clare Walker (145th) (47th Woman) (15th O/40) 130m53s, Jane Kirby (146th) (48th Woman) (16th O/40) 130m54s, and Carol Parry (147th) (17th O/40) 130m55s. Under 15 Girl Hurdles specialist Amy Lott of Morpeth Harriers, travelled to Sheffield on Saturday 2nd December,
to take part in the first 2017/18 meeting of the Northern Athletics Indoor Series, and although she was a little outside her personal best with her individual clocking of 9.79s, she was still fifth fastest competitor in her age group, out of a total of 17 entrants in the 60m Hurdles event. She finished second in Heat 2 of 3, only beaten for victory by a whisker. This will no doubt give Lott much encouragement for forthcoming events, as she plots her winter strategy with her coach Dave Thomas. New Marske Harriers, with added support from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council,
host the 112th North Eastern Counties Athletic Association Cross Country Championships at Redcar Racecourse on Saturday 9th December 2017. Championship events get underway at 11.00am with the Under 13 Boys 3k event, and they will be preceded by two non-championship events for Under 11’s, both Male and Female, and 10.35am and 10.40am respectively. The Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s events are at 1.00pm and 1.55pm respectively, with the final event of the day for Under 17 Men commencing at 2.30pm. Last year, when the Championships were held at Aykley Heads in Durham, Morpeth Harriers had four team wins, plus four individual victories, on what was a particularly outstanding day for the club. This year, the clubs’ best chances of medals rest with their Under 17 Men, Senior Men, and Senior Women. |
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