2018 Morpeth Road Race

The 2018 Morpeth Road race gets underway (Photo courtesy of Steve Miller)

Ross Floyd and Jane Hodgson of Morpeth Harriers began their 2018 competitive year in style
by winning the respective Men’s and Women’s titles in the annual Morpeth New Year’s Day Road Race.

157 finishers took part in the event organised by Morpeth Harriers, which can certainly now be regarded as the ideal replacement for the now defunct Morpeth to Newcastle Road Race,
which effectively ended its long historic life in 2004.

Despite early morning rain, conditions were relatively ideal for those enthusiasts taking part,
as the runners set off from the bottom of Dogger Bank on Mitford Road,
navigating the usual approximately 11k route, taking in Mitford, Mitford Steads,
and heading back to Morpeth, via Whalton Road, Sun Inn, Carlisle Park,
to the usual grassy finish line on the Stanners.

The early pace, saw four Morpeth Harriers, Floyd, San Hancox, Lewis Timmins,
and Karl Taylor very much at the helm of things, along with Trafford’s Jeff Prest,
North Shields Poly’s Graeme Cook, Keswick’s George Foster, and Tyne Bridge’s Sparrow Morley.
Eventually the four Morpeth Men broke clear, as Taylor forced the pace.

As the quartet headed down the Whalton Road, and the home run,
Taylor began to wilt slightly, leaving Floyd, Hancox,
and Timmins, battling for the top three places.
Timmins became detached as they swept past the Sun Inn,
and it was very much a close and tense battle between Floyd,
and club colleague Hancox, as the finish line beckoned on the Stanners,
as the pair went through the gates of the picturesque Carlisle Park.
Hancox, who was very much resurrecting his running career, following an injury ridden 2017,
attempted to break Floyd, however, the Northumbria Healthcare GP was determined not to be beaten,
and it was he who made it to the finish line first, to win by five seconds, posting a time of 34m50s.

Meanwhile Hancox finished second, with Timmins completing
a Morpeth Harriers one-two-three, posting a time 35m12s.
​
First three for the promoting club, became first four, when early leader Karl Taylor came home in 35m31s.
The Morpeth sequence was halted, when Keswick AC runner George Foster finished fifth in 37m15s.

Lewis Timmins, Ross Floyd, Sam Hancox, first three Men in 2018 Morpeth New Years Day Road Race (Photo courtesy of Alistair MacDonald)

Jane Hodgson was actually the next Morpeth Harriers finisher home,
which also saw her take the Women’s title for the second year running.
Hodgson had been close to the leaders in the early stages before Mitford,
and had settled into a steady rhythm of pace just adrift of the top ten finishers,
posting a time of 40m11s for eleventh place overall.

Second place in the Women’s race went to Hodgson’s club colleague
Catriona MacDonald, who finished eighteenth in 41m36s.

Third Woman home was Alnwick’s Rachelle Falloon, who was 22nd overall in 42m08s.

Fourth Woman home was Elswick Harrier Judith Nutt, who was 28th in 42m36s,
​and the top five Women were completed by Durham City’s Rachel Bentley, who finished 62nd in 48m17s.

Catriona MacDonald, Jane Hodgson, Rachelle Falloon first three Women in 2018 Morpeth New Years Day Road Race (Photo courtesy of Alistair MacDonald)

Race Director Kevin Bray thanked all Club Members and Friends, who turned out on the day to assist with Course Marshalling, and other much required duties, to make the event once again a success.
 
Following on from the event, Morpeth Harriers would like the following to make contact with the club, either by Email on [email protected], or Mike Bateman on 01670712228,
as they were Late Entries who are eligible for prizes,
and did not attend the after race presentation.
Paul McLeod (Race No 68), Jeannie Brady (Race No 230),
​and Les Hill (Dumfries Running Club) (Race No 87).
Other athlete prizes not already collected, will be passed to their club representatives at forthcoming events.

Complete Race Results

Ross Floyd winning the 2018 Morpeth Road Race (Photo courtesy of Steve Miller)

Jane Hodgson winning the womens race at the 2018 Morpeth Road Race (Photo courtesy of Steve Miller)

2018 Morpeth Road Race Video

2018 Morpeth Road Race Video courtesy of Morpeth TV News and YouTube