Many thanks to Dave Thomas, Morpeth Harriers & AC, Sprints, Hurdles, Jumps & Throws Coach, and Girls Young Athletes Team Manager, extraordinaire for organising the clubs annual Sprints Trials Meeting, at KEVI High School Athletics Track, on Monday 3rd April 2017, which was attended by a total of 46 competitors, (32 Boys, and 14 Girls). Despite the lower than expected attendance, the effort was well appreciated, and those who competed, some already established and acquainted, and some who were new, gained valuable experience, and certainly felt that they had gotten a tune up for what is about to happen for them, as the Track & Field season beckons. It was an excellent night weather-wise, and many thanks to the officials and helpers who turned out on the night to ensure things went smoothly, and that a set of compatible results, which can be seen via the link below, could be produced. The event also served as a taster for those who are hoping to compete
for their club in the forthcoming NEYDL Young Athletes fixtures. Team Managers Dave Thomas (Girls), and Mark Brown (Boys), are hoping to put their squads together shortly, especially for the first fixture, which takes place at Middlesbrough on Sunday 30th April 2017. The club are providing a coach for this as a means of travel. Availability Forms are now available, either from the Clubhouse, or the Track, or can be downloaded as a PDF, or there is an online reply system in place for return to the Team Managers declaring availabilities. Morpeth’s Under 17 Woman Throws specialist Bobbie Griffiths, began her 2017
outdoor Track & Field campaign in fine style on Saturday 1st April, when she produced two personal best performances, and won two Bronze medals at the annual Blackpool Winter Warm Up Open Meeting, held at Stanley Park in the North Lancashire seaside town. Griffiths proved beyond all doubt that she is approaching good early season form, when she putted a lifetime best of 10.11m in the Shot, improving on her previous outdoor by just over a metre, which gave her a Bronze medal. Another lifetime best came in her weakest event, the Hammer, where she improved by 1.40m, with her best effort of 32.68m, which placed her sixth in the competition. Her second Bronze medal came in the Discus, where she threw a seasons best of 27.00m, which was a little adrift of her best, but nevertheless a good pointer for the forthcoming season. 628 finishers took part in the annual Run Northumberland Cragside 10k, held within the picturesque grounds of Lord Armstrong’s historical ancestral mansion, near Rothbury on Saturday 1st April 2017. Thankfully there was a definite air of spring about proceedings, as the field were led home by James Taylor, who posted a finishing time of 34m09s, winning by the clear 55 seconds from his Morpeth Harriers club colleague Mark Snowball, who was the 2016 winner. Taylor and Snowball were well clear of the third placed runner, the unattached Adam Smith. It was a winning double for Morpeth Harriers, when Gemma Floyd took the Women’s race, finishing 18th overall in 40m47s, a good two minutes and eleven seconds clear of her closest rival Sarah Watson-Armstrong of Amazing Feet Running Club. Other Morpeth Harriers finishers in the event were, newcomer Thomas Innes, who was eighth in 37m48s, and Andrew Leason, who finished 41st in 43m16s. Two Morpeth Harriers were first finishers at two of
the regions 5k Park Runs on Saturday 1st April 2017. Chris Smith ran a new personal best of 16m04s at Wallsend Rising Sun, and a few miles further east, Andrew Lawrence posted 18m12s at Whitley Bay. Well, that’s the Road and Cross Country season finished for another year, so it is now time to get out the Track spikes, and prepare for the Track & Field season, which will shortly be upon us. Morpeth Harriers and Athletics Club Young Athletes Team Managers, Mark Brown (Boys), and Dave Thomas (Girls), are now asking for any prospective athletes who are wishing to compete for the club this year, to fill in forms, which are to be passed back to them to assist them in the selecting of teams for competing in the forthcoming North East Youth Development League, otherwise known as NEYDL. Competition in this league is provided for Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17, both Male and Female. If you will be the age of 11 on or before August 31st of this year, you are eligible to compete as an Under 13 athlete. Morpeth Harriers & AC compete in Division 1 of the league, having finished a close second to Blaydon Harriers in 2016. The club have a fine record in the league, having won the league on its inauguration in 2013, finished second to Blaydon Harriers in 2014, regained the title in 2015, and finished second in 2016. This year, the club would like to regain the Division 1 title again, and all of the clubs’ hopes are pinned on you the athlete being able to turn out and compete. Dates of matches are as follows Match 1- Sunday 30th April @ Middlesbrough Sports Village (we will be providing a Coach for travel to this), Match 2 – Sunday 21st May @ Monkton Stadium Jarrow, Match 3 - Sunday 25th June @ Morpeth (Home Match) Match 4 – Sunday 16th July @ Hexham (We may be providing a Coach for this) Forms are also available at the Clubhouse,and at the Morpeth Track.
IF YOU WISH TO BE VERY MUCH PART OF A SUCCESSFUL TEAM, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE, FILL IN THE FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU ! |
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