“Certainly, not a day for the fainthearted,”
a statement that applies to the efforts of all those who were either involved, or competed at the fifth and penultimate Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League Meeting, held for the second occasion at Thornley Hall Farm, near Peterlee, County Durham, on Saturday 11th February 2017. Despite heavy prolonged overnight rain, organisers still managed to get the ten-race programme underway, and thankfully all events were completed, with very few casualties, although there were several dropouts, as competitors attempted to master some of the most difficult conditions to be faced this Cross-Country season so far, conditions that severely lessened the usual attendance level. One individual who certainly tackled matters very professionally was Morpeth Harrier Senior Woman Emma Holt, who won her two-lap event with considerable ease from Durham City’s International talent Rosie Smith, and on level terms, as both were running from the Fast Pack, giving 200 seconds and 100 seconds respectively to a good portion of the 245-strong field of finishers, a little down on usual, mainly due to the very adverse weather conditions.
Holt, very clearly the fastest in the race, won with seventy-six seconds to spare over Smith,
with Morpeth’s Jane Hodgson, also producing a superb run from the Fast Pack to take third place, thirty-two seconds adrift of Smith. This meant that Holt and Hodgson also picked up on the day Harrier League Gold and Bronze medals respectively as a memento of their fine achievement. Another Morpeth Harrier who mastered the muddy conditions was Catriona MacDonald, who was fresh from a win in the Forfar Multi Terrain Half Marathon, the previous week. MacDonald ran very strongly throughout, to come through to finish seventh, also running from the Fast Pack, and was just over a minute behind her club colleague Hodgson. Completing the Morpeth Harriers scoring four was Margaret MacDonald, mother of Catriona, who having not run a Cross Country for some time, did very well to get around the two-lap course from the Slow Pack, to finish in 230th place. Margaret finishing was very much vital, as it meant that her club finished in fifth team place in Division 2 on the day, thus managing to maintain their status as league leaders going into the final fixture at Alnwick in early march, which will hopefully see them promoted to Division 1 for next season. Hopefully more club members will be able to turn out for that, if only to ensure that the superb combined efforts of Emma, Jane, Catriona, and Margaret, do not go unrewarded. One welcoming win for Morpeth Harriers on the day, both on an individual and team front, came in the Under 15 Boys one lap event. Again, it was down to two athletes being able to superbly master the very testing conditions. Managing an event win, and an on the day Gold medal, Ross Charlton managed to fend off the very close attentions of club colleague Daniel Melling, as they worked their way through together from the Fast Pack, after giving 100 seconds start to eleven of the thirty finishers. Charlton won by five seconds, as Melling took second place and the Silver medal, and they were the two fastest in the race, with fourth placed Charlie McMillan of Gateshead Harriers being the third fastest, running from the Fast Pack, eight seconds slower than Melling. To add to Charlton and Melling’s delight Morpeth Harriers won the Under 15 Boys team race by four points over Sunderland Harriers and Durham City, with Bradley Brown closing their team score, when finishing 26th from the Fast Pack.
Returning to the venue of his victory in November 2016, Morpeth’s Taylor Glover
clearly revelled in another victory this time round in the Under 17 Men’s two lap event, albeit by just under three minutes slower, mainly due to the very testing muddy conditions this time round. This time running from the Fast Pack, and giving 200 seconds start to four of his rivals, he won with nineteen seconds to spare over Durham City’s Michael Wade, to reward himself with a second on the day Harrier League Gold medal. Fellow Morpeth Harrier Joe Ramshaw, also running from the Fast Pack, worked his way through to finish sixth. Unfortunately, Morpeth did not complete as a scoring team in this age group. Morpeth’s Holly Peck certainly maintained her excellent season and Harrier League form by producing an excellent fourth win of the series in the Under 15 Girls one lap event. Although she was nearly two minutes adrift of her previous run at the venue in November, she still managed to win by a healthy margin of twenty-three seconds over fierce rival Lydia James of Houghton, whose consolation came when won the team race by a margin of five points over Peck led Morpeth. Further Morpeth Harriers team support came from excellent runs by Lily Heaton (8th) (Fast Pack), and Lauren Cummings (10th) (Fast Pack), who posted the seventh and ninth fastest times in the race, which had 24 finishers. One Morpeth Harrier who improves with every outing is Gracie Hufton, who finished an excellent fifth from the Medium Pack in the two lap Under 17/Under 20 Women’s event. Gracie proved to fourth fastest out of seventeen competitors who faced the starter in this event, and clearly showed that she could master the difficult testing conditions on the toughest of courses, and in addition she was only 102 seconds slower than her November run on the course.
For the first time since 2012, Morpeth Harriers Senior Men did not finish as a scoring six in their three-lap event.
This was due to athletes pulling out during proceedings due to muscle injuries and lost shoes. Running in his first official scoring race for the club, former Sunderland Stroller Graeme Thorpe was the first home in a Blue and White vest. He finished eighth from the Slow Pack after heading the 369-strong field of finishers (a great deal lower than usual), and looks to be a prominent force for the future. The club’s three other finishers who battled bravely throughout the tough challenge, encountering a downhill section, that was fast resembling a muddy ski slope, were Alistair Douglass, an excellent run from the Medium Pack to finish 24th, Alistair MacDonald (77th), and Paul Bellingham (175th). MacDonald, who was completing an excellent competitive day along with his Wife and Daughter Margaret and Catriona, is to be particularly commended for his determination to finish, despite taking a couple of tumbles in the sea of mud. No doubt there would be a race of its own to make the family shower when they finally got home. Ben Walker led Morpeth’s Under 13 Boys home to sixth team place on the day in their one lap event, by finishing ninth from the Fast Pack, and posting the sixth fastest time in the 45-strong field. Further team support came from Callum Rowell (18th) (Slow Pack), and Dylan Davies, who bravely ran despite recovering from illness. Dylan finished 24th from the Fast Pack, posting the thirteenth fastest time. In the Under 13 Girls one lap event, Morpeth Harriers had two runners in the 40-strong field of finishers. Rhiannon Hedley was the first home for the club, finishing ninth from the Fast Pack, and posting the eighth fastest time. Running from the Slow Pack, Laura Melling, younger sister of Daniel, finished in eighteenth place. The non-scoring Under 11 events for Boys and Girls, run over one small lap, had a total of 91 finishers, with 58 facing the starter in the Boys event, and 33 in the Girls event. Morpeth Harriers had three runners in the Boys race. First of these was Harry Jackson, who raced well to finish sixth, being followed home very closely in seventh place by club colleague Ryan Davies, younger brother of Dylan. Morpeth Harriers third finisher was Bruce Smith, who was 25th. In the Girls event Morpeth’s Maisie Dickinson ran well to finish eighth. On a final note in relation to the event and its organisation, thanks must go to the hardworking team of course builders, marshals, officials and last but certainly not least, the landowner Jon Taylor, without whose help and expertise, would not have run so smoothly, Well Done Everyone. The fourth and penultimate Indoor Standards Meeting,
held at Gateshead College on Thursday 9th February 2017, saw a total of eleven athletes from Morpeth Harriers & AC in tough competitive action. Fresh from her debut appearance at the Northern Athletics U13/U15 Indoor Championships at Sheffield on the previous Sunday, talented Under 15 Hurdler Amy Lott was back on track, and she clearly showed her potential, as she achieved brand new figures of 9.95s, which proved to be fractionally second fastest in her age group. Lott also proved to be no slouch in the flat 60m, as she posted a third fastest time of 8.63s, ironically just a mere fraction short of her lifetime best. Two other Morpeth Harriers competed in the Under 15 Girls 60m. Rosie Winter produced a personal best performance of 8.69s, which made her equal fifth fastest, and Olivia Hawkes produced 8.90s, which made her twelfth fastest in her age group. Morpeth Harrier Olivia Gent posted a time of 10.33s in her 60m race, which made her sixth fastest Under 13 Girl. Running for the very first time in a 60m Indoor event, Morpeth Harrier Kenny Harrison produced 7.53 in his first round 60m event, which made him third fastest in his Senior Men’s age group. In a second-round effort, he posted a slightly slower 7.59s, which gave him a position of fourth fastest in his age group. Also in action in the Men’s events from Morpeth Harriers was Sean O’Hara, who posted a time of 7.60s, which made him second fastest in the Under 20 age group. Morpeth’s Megan Winter, elder sister of Rosie, posted a time of 8.91s, to make her fifth fastest in the Under 17 Women’s 60m. On to the Field Events, and Morpeth’s Under 17 Woman thrower Bobbie Griffiths produced new figures of 9.77m in the Shot Putt to finish third in her age group. The winner of the competition however, was her club colleague Charlotte Pickering-Pruvot, who produced a best putt in the series of 11.62m, although not a personal best, it would have given her an amount of satisfaction. Another Morpeth performer in the event was Megan Winter, whose best of 8.63m placed her fourth in the competition. In the Under 15 Boys and Under 20 Men’s Long Jump, Morpeth’s Alfie Ward and David Thomas produced respective e bests of 4.58m and 5.49m, which saw them finish second and third in their age groups. This was athletes last opportunity to obtain competitive action locally on the Indoor circuit before the North Eastern Counties Indoor Championships, which are scheduled to be held over the weekend of Saturday 18th February 2017 (Field) Sunday 19th February 2017 (Track). Fifteen athletes from the ranks of Morpeth Harriers have been selected to run for the
North East Counties at forthcoming UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, which will be held on an entirely new course and venue, at Prestwold Hall in Loughborough, on Saturday 11th March 2017. Three of those athletes line up in the Senior Men’s squad, who are the current champions, and have won the title for the last six consecutive years, and twelve times in all since the events inception in 1926. North East Champion Jonny Taylor heads the list, and is also currently second in the Senior Men’s section of the UK Cross Challenge standings to Aldershot’s Andy Vernon, the final of which is incorporated into the Championships. Joining him in the squad are Nick Swinburn and Carl Avery, who were respectively second and third in the regional Championships. In the North East Under 20 Men’s event, Morpeth’s Scott Beattie, current North East and Northern Champion, and Jake Masterman are in the regional line up. Four athletes from Morpeth Harriers have won selection to the Under 17 Men’s squad. Taylor Glover and Rory Leonard, who were respectively Silver and Bronze medallists in the regional Championships, are joined in the line-up by club colleagues Matthew Waterfield and Liam Marsh, who both impressed in the more recent Northern Championships. North East Champion Daniel Dixon of Morpeth Harriers leads the line-up of the regions Under 15 Boys, and Ben Walker and Dylan Davies have won the selectors hearts to be included in the Under 13 Boys squad. North Eastern Silver medallist Emma Holt leads the regions line up in the Senior Women’s line up, and is joined by club colleague Josie Cram, and former Morpeth Harrier Ashley Gibson, now running with Southern Club Tonbridge. In the North East Under 15 Girls squad, Morpeth’s Holly Peck is included, courtesy of her Bronze medal placing in the regional championships, and her consistent form, which includes a ninth place in the recent Northern Championships. Additionally, no less than ten athletes from the club are listed amongst standby reserves. They are as follows Robert Balmbra and Ian Harding (Senior Men), Kieran Hedley and Joe Ramshaw (Under 17 Men), Ross Charlton and Daniel Melling (Under 15 Boys), Jane Hodgson and Catriona MacDonald (Senior Women), Abby Sheldon (Under 20 Women), and Rhiannon Hedley (Under 13 Girls). In further addition as revealed in last week’s report, Morpeth Harrier Ady Whitwam will be competing for Yorkshire in the Senior Men’s event in Loughborough, courtesy of him finishing seventh in their County Championships. First a BIG thanks to Dave Taylor the pace bike man who pedalled up from home
with his front brake stuck on – and it stayed stuck on !! Bit of a slog up to Lancaster Park ! Dave and his bike have been a big help to the slower runners over the 4 races and he is certainly ‘vocal’ in keeping people pushing along ! Also thanks to Paul Waterston, Tony Ward, Gordon Dixon, Linda Bray & Pam Woodcock for their help in recording and timekeeping duties – we all have a much better idea of what the ‘officials’ experience at events week in and week out and as we found out last night wet weather poses an additional challenge ! Finally, thanks to Mike Steven whose computer skills have been invaluable in producing speedy and accurate results – they would be done even quicker if we could solve the problem of his specs constantly steaming up when he gets back in the van to sort the laptop out ! In total 48 of you have supported the 4 races which has been brilliant from my point of view – you need numbers to make handicap races work ! Five people, Cinty Wake, Carol Parry, Mike Steven (thank goodness), Andrew Richardson & Gavin Bayne have been ever presents so well done to them ! We also had 6 debutants last night, Lesley Chapman, Tony Lewis, Hamish Mac, Tim Miley, Paul Bellingham and Gordon Dixon – hope you all enjoyed it and there were some really good runs from you ! The race, well though I say it myself the handicapping wasn’t too bad because all 25 were back within 2mins 29secs ! Neil McAnaney told me that when he reached the dip on lap 2 there was a stream of runners ahead of him to chase down – unfortunately for Neil he was in the sights of Tony Lewis, Daniel Dixon and Matthew Briggs and getting chased down himself ! 1st Tony Lewis 15.37, 2nd Daniel Dixon 14.32, 3rd Matthew Briggs 15.52 & unusually the first three finishers were also the fastest three on the night. Daniel’s time is the quickest of the series so congratulations to him – the course record holder at 14 years of age ! The fastest lady was Lindsay Turnbull in 19.41, followed by Jane Kirby 20.03, and Cinty Wake in 21.13. Best %age effort Daniel, a brilliant 85.53% followed by Tim Miley, a ‘holy grail’ run of 80.82% and Neil McAnaney in 77.14% - a really strong run with a VERY impressive finish ! Special mention to Mrs. Kirby who was ‘mildly chuffed’ to have ‘thrashed’ Mr.Kirby ! (Next year I might have to consider some ‘me & wor lass’ prizes - apologies to the Blaydon Race !). Anyway, thats for the future – hope everyone enjoyed the food and drink and thanks for your contributions ! Great that Pam could make it and that her arm is on the mend ! Whilst Lorna MacDonald was competing in both the Army
and British Universities Cross Country Championships, her younger Sister Catriona, also a fellow Morpeth Harrier, was competing North of the Border, along with Father Alistair, who was competing for his second claim club Dundee Hawkhill, and Mother Margaret, who was running in her Morpeth Harriers colours in the annual Forfar Multi Terrain Half Marathon on Sunday 5th February 2017. In a field of around 200 finishers, Glasgow based Catriona finished 13th overall, and was first Female finisher. Running a very measured race, which started with a shower of sleet, she got around the challenging course which included 500ft of climbing, in a time of 1hr:30mins:57secs. Alistair finished not far behind in 19th place, posting a finishing time of 1hr 32mins, and was first Over 50 Male finisher. However, Margaret was not quite so fortunate, as she was running amongst a group which accidentally took a wrong turning, and ended up getting more than her money’s worth by completing an extra mile of the tough terrain. She did pause to smile however, as she completed the course in 2hrs50mins, one very tired Lady. As a footnote, Catriona is currently training with one of the leading Scottish club’s Bellahouston, in order to maintain her high level of competitive fitness. |
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