alex leads home morpeth contingent at town moor 10k

The annual Heaton Harriers Memorial Road Races were held on Newcastle’s Town Moor on Sunday Morning, and before the Senior 10k race got underway, competitors, and spectators alike observed a one-minute silence in remembrance of those who fought in the two World Wars, plus other conflicts, as is customary.
Over 400 runners lined up in the Senior event, including 11 finishers from the ranks of Morpeth Harriers.
At the halfway point in the race, Morpeth’s Alex Brown had a slender lead over Birtley’s Adrian Bailes, and his former Houghton colleague Alex Coulson, plus Sunderland Harrier Liam Taylor also coming into the reckoning.
Brown may have paid a slightly heavy price for his early exuberance, as by the time the front runners emerged from the far reaches of the two-lap course, he had slipped slightly off the pace to fourth, with Coulson now heading for victory, ahead of Bailes and Taylor.
Whilst Coulson won in 31m05s, Bailes came home second in 31m14s, with Taylor getting third place in 31m26s, just holding off a fast-finishing Brown (31m36s).
Next Morpeth Harriers finisher was Gavin Bayne, who was first Over 65 Veteran Man in 140th place, posting a finishing time of 40m28s.
Three places behind Bayne, was his Morpeth club colleague Robyn Bennett, who posted a finishing time of 40m34s, and was sixth Senior Woman finisher.
One place behind Robyn was another Morpeth Harrier, in the form of Lee Cuthbertson, who was only a second adrift, and was 43rd Senior Man overall.
Further Morpeth Harriers results were as follows: -
Alistair MacDonald (177th) (5th O/60 Man) 41m47s; Lindsay Quinn (183rd) (8th Senior Woman) 42m09s; David Nicholson (193rd) (3rd O/65 Man) 42m44s; Richard Kirby (226th) (15th O/50 Man) 44m16s; Laura McLean (292nd) (11th O/35 Woman) 47m49s; David McGuckin (298th) (2nd O/70 Man) 48m13s; and Andrew Dippie (317th) (13th O/60 Man) 49m13s.
On the day Morpeth Harriers had no competitors in the accompanying Young Athletes events, which were all held in wonderful sunshine, with no evidence of wind, on what was a very pleasant autumnal day.

Laura McLean and Andrew Dippie after the event