Just under 200 runners took part in the annual Wallsend Harriers Terry O’Gara Memorial Road 5k Race,
which was held on a brand new course on West Allotment Country Park on Sunday 24th April. The event was won by Shildon’s Cameron Boyek in a finishing time of 14m48s, with Elswick Harrier’s Ethiopian Tadele Geremew finishing second in 15m10s, just ahead of Morpeth Harrier’s leading Veteran Man Ian Hudspith, who was given an identical time. Not far behind Hudspith in fourth place was his Morpeth club colleague Sam Hancox, recent winner of the Blyth Valley 10k, who is in the form of his life, which was further proved by his time of 15m18s. Morpeth Harriers next finisher was John Butters, who finished eighth in 15m51s, and was second Over 40 Veteran Man. Other very prominent finishers for Morpeth were Jordan Scott and Elliot Kelly, who finished 17th and 26th respectively posting times of 16m22s, and 16m58s. It also was another step on the road competitively for Kelly, who spent most of the winter months out of action with illness. Four places behind Kelly was club colleague Emma Holt, who finished third in the Ladies race behind Elswick’s Justina Heslop (22nd) 16m40s, and Birchfield’s former Wallsend Harrier Danielle Hodgkinson, who finished 25th in 16m47s. Holt posted a finishing time of 17m13s. Other Morpeth Harriers results were as follows Matthew Boyle (35th) 17m31s, Michael Thomsen (37th) (8th O/40 Man) 17m37s, Rob Hancox (42nd) (5th O/50 Man) 17m44s, Steve Haswell (74th) (19th O/40 Man) 19m07s, Paul Bellingham (80th) (14th O/50 Man) 19m44s, Peter Scaife (82nd) (15th O/50 Man) 19m49s, Jim Alder (87th) (16th O/50 Man) 19m56s, and Archie Jenkins (135th) (4th O/60 Man) 22m32s. Doubts were expressed regarding accuracy of the course, it was felt to be slightly long by some competitors, however at time of going to press this matter had not been fully clarified. One aspect of this was, that Ian Hudspith’s time on the actual course run, could well prove to be a national age group record, if further investigations come to light. Posting a time of 34m20s, Morpeth Harrier Mark Snowball won the
Run Hamsterley 10k Multi Terrain Race on Saturday 23rd April by a margin of thirty four seconds, from Blaydon Harrier David Heslop. Start Fitness on Market Street in Newcastle hosted the annual North Eastern Harrier League Awards Presentations on Thursday 21st April. Morpeth Harriers were amongst those honoured, with their Under 15 Boys taking a team award, which was received by Taylor Glover, who was also individually honoured as his age group champion with the Gold Medal. Also honoured as an age group champion, and receiving a Gold medal, was Holly Peck, who took the Under 13 Girls award for the second year running. Second to her in this age group was Morpeth Harriers club colleague Lily Heaton, who received a Silver medal. Sam Hancox, who in an excellent season, both in terms of his commitment, and performance achievements, very deservedly received the Bronze medal in the Senior Men’s section. Alison Brown was another Bronze medal winner for Morpeth Harriers, in the Junior Women’s section. Start Fitness are to be warmly thanked for their continued support to the League,
and on the night itself, it was particularly pleasing to hear their representative Justina Heslop announce that they will continue to sponsor the league during the 2016-17 season. Three Morpeth Harriers commenced their 2016 Track and Field season in excellent style,
by producing winning performances at the annual Anne Marie Readshaw Memorial Open Meeting, held at Shildon Athletic Stadium, on Sunday 17th April. Joe Armstrong won the Senior Men’s 3000m in an excellent 8m56.6s, setting a new personal best by three seconds, which also gave him a thirty three second margin victory over Sunderland Harrier Sparrow Morley. The Under 17 Women’s Shot Putt saw Morpeth’s Charlotte Pickering-Pruvot produce an excellent 11.20m, which improved her own best by 4cm, but also saw her only a mere 20cm adrift of the current club record, held by Senior athlete Claire Reid. This performance will no doubt have pleased Charlotte’s Coach Paul Reed, who has been working very hard with the young talent. Pickering-Pruvot’s nearest challenger Kate Carmichael of Middlesbrough Mandale was more than a metre adrift in second place. The third Morpeth Harriers performance came from one of their youngest athletes Bobby Stone, who not only won the Under 13 Boys Long Jump by all of 35cm from Birtley’s Rowan Mason, he also improved his own best by 7cm, when he produced a best of 4.16m. Armstrong and Pruvot are now currently second in their Regional age group following these respective performances, and Stone is lying in third spot. Two cups, dedicated to the memory of former Club Chairman Bill Woods, who very sadly passed away in August 2014, were presented to deserving athletes at Morpeth Harriers clubhouse on the evening of Monday 18th April 2016. The awards, which were judged more for their commitment and contribution than performance, over the recent Road and Cross Country Season, were presented to Sam Hancox for the Senior Male squad, and the Junior Female Award was shared between Under 13 Girl and Under 15 Girl Holly Peck and Gracie Hufton, as judges simply could not part them in their decision making. Peck and Hufton were delighted to share the
trophy they have won, on a month on month basis. Woods would certainly be smiling from above as the awards were presented, as during his time in office, he was always a firm supporter of the development of good young talent, and all three of these athletes are certainly worthy exponents of those virtues. |
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