Fell Em Doon 5
 
Tom Innes showed he was starting to get back to his best after a long spell of injury problems when winning the two lap Fell Em Doon 5-mile race through the Ashington Community Woodland on Tuesday night.
Posting a time of 29 minutes and 37 seconds, Tom finished just under half a minute of the next finisher, who was club colleague Over 40 Jimmy Dixon (30:02).
NSP’s O/50 triathlete Steph Maclean Dann was 1st female home in 33:10.
Tayla Douglass was 14th and 4th woman back in 35:06, and Sarah Hemy 62nd and 3rd O/45 in 44:44.
It was also good to see Morpeth coach Andrew Dippie back in action, finishing 73rd and 3rd O/65 in 46:25.
Full results here: Fell Em Doon 5 Miler 2025 results - RaceBest
 
Lakeland 100
Advertising itself as ‘The UK’s premier ultra trail race’, the Lakeland 100, sponsored by Montane, is certainly not one for the faint-hearted, with the circular route through the Lakeland Fells incorporating some 6300m of ascent.
Starting at 6pm on Friday night at Coniston, where it also finishes, the organisers warn all would-be participants that, ‘the climb, descent, rugged terrain, darkness and tricky navigation generally ensure a 40-50% failure rate over the 100 mile course.’
Enough to put most of us off one would think, but not Nicola McCoy, who took on the challenge at the weekend and had a tremendous run to finish in 34 hours 6 minutes and 4 seconds. She was 187th overall and also 4th Over 50 (the link to her splits is here: Open Tracking - Lakeland 100 2025 Results).
Damian Hall of Green Runners made it back in 19:33:33 with Anna Llewellyn the female winner in 22:20:29 and, incredibly, 6th overall!
460 finished, but it’s worth also having a look at the long list of retirements… Open Tracking - Lakeland 100 2025 Results
About the race – The Montane Lakeland 50 & 100, July 25th-27th 2025
 
Northumberland Coastal Run
The annual Northumberland Coastal Run took place at the weekend over the now traditional 14 mile +/- route from Beadnell to Alnmouth.
Won in a time of 1 hour 19 minutes 16 seconds by Heaton Harrier Eddie Knight with Hannah Miller from Worksop a female winner in 1:31:35, there were this time only three blue and white vests out (maybe a reflection on how expensive it is now to enter – there were still places left on Friday night).
Shaun Land was 25th in 1:36:53, Tayla Douglass 41st and 5th woman in 1:43:54 and Anna Wright 57th and 3rd O/40 in 1:46:35.
Some 370 finished.
Northumberland Coastal Run

For the second time in less than a fortnight, Morpeth Harrier Rory Leonard produced new personal best figures in the 1500m, when he finished fourth in fastest of two Men’s 1500m events at the BMC Gold Standard meeting held at Watford on Wednesday 23 July.
In his final race before the British Championships over 5km, Rory produced a time of 3m42.00. Fellow Morpeth Harrier James Young finished tenth in the same event, with a time of 3m45.99s.

Sixteen Morpeth Harriers were in competitive action at the fifth and penultimate North East Grand Prix meeting, held at Jarrow’s Monkton Stadium on Wednesday 23 July.
Amongst those taking part, the club enjoyed seeing three event winners, and a host of new personal bests were also achieved.
Two of the event winners were in the 1500m events.
A rare summer outing for 2025, saw Ralph Robson claim a superb victory in the second fastest 1500m, where he produced a new personal best time of 4m04.68s.
Ollie Tomlinson finished twelfth behind Robson, also producing new figures of 4m13.48s.
Under 15 Boy Mason Gaylor produced a terrific burst of speed over the final 300m of the fourth fastest 1500m, to secure a well-earned victory in a new personal best time of 4m28.01s.
Another Morpeth Under 15 Boy Charlie Townsend enjoyed two new personal best performances on the night, where he won the fifth fastest 100m in 12.64s, and he also finished sixth in the second fastest 400m in a time of 58.77s.
Ellie Wickens finished sixth behind Townsend in the 100m, posting a season’s best time of 13.62s.
Back to the 1500m events and no less than seven Morpeth Harriers took part in the fastest of these.
Phil Winkler finished fourth, posting a season’s best time of 3m53.16s.
New personal best times of 3m53.89s, and 3m54.15s were achieved by James Tilley and Chris Coulson, who finished eighth and ninth.
Bertie Marr finished thirteenth in a new personal best time of 3m59.67s, marginally ahead of club colleagues Alistair Douglass (14th) 4m00.86s, and Joe Dixon (15th) 4m01.60s.
Will Devere-Owen, having his first race for some time, finished seventeenth in a time of 4m05.40s.
In the fifth fastest 1500m, Morpeth Under 20 Woman Darcey Tullis finished in seventh place, posting a season’s best time of 4m45.80s.
Heidi Wilkinson ran a new personal best time of 4m57.02s, when placing fifth in the sixth fastest 1500m event.
He club colleague Zoe Tomlinson finished fourteenth in a time of 5m22.42s.
Rounding off an excellent night for the club, Under 17 Woman Charlotte Marshall produced new figures of 5m43.67s, when finishing ninth in the eighth fastest 1500m.

​The next North East Grand Prix will be held at Monkton Stadium on Wednesday 13 August, and will be the final meeting in the 2025 series.

Morpeth Harriers again finished a lowly sixth of eight competing teams in their final 2025 NEYDL Division 2 fixture, held at Churchill Playing Fields in Whitley Bay on Sunday 20 July.
Once again Young Athletes Team Manager David Swinburne struggled to put a strong team together, with only 16 members over the three age groups and two genders participating.
It certainly painted a disappointing picture, with the hard-working squad having to fill as many events as possible during the season's four fixtures.
The campaign ended with Morpeth finishing sixth of the eight competing clubs.
In total contrast to the previous day's stormy conditions, athletes faced a fairly warm almost humid day.
Despite the lack of numbers, those present got on with the job in hand, and some good results were achieved within the squad.
Twin siblings William and Alexandria Hodgson both had wins in the Under 17 Men’s and Women’s sections.
William, who 24 hours earlier had been competing for Morpeth Harriers Senior Men at Shildon, won the 200m in 24.53s, and finished second in the 100m in 12.37s, just missing out on a sprint double by a mere fraction to Blyth/Alnwick’s Indy Frost in the 100m.
Meanwhile Alexandria had her usual victory in the Under 17 Women’s 3k Hammer, throwing a best of 38.18m.
Mya Young finished second in the Under17 Women’s 800m A race in 2m39.41s, and Charlotte Marshall took the B race in 2m51.17s.
Marshall also finished fourth in the A race of the 300m, posting a time of 55.29s.
Morpeth’s small band of three Under 15 Boys certainly worked their socks off to get as many points as possible.
None more so than Mason Gaylor, who took part in no less than four events.
His best result came in the Javelin, where he won the A String by producing a best throw of 20.48m.
Club colleague Jacob Thompson won the B String with his best throw of 6.1m.
The pair also competed in the 800m, with Gaylor finishing second in the A race in 2m10.43s, and Thompson getting third in the B race in 2m44.41s.
Gaylor finished fifth in the A String Long Jump by producing a best attempt of 4.17m, with newcomer Charlie Taylor finishing third in the B String with 3.54m.
Jacob Thompson also took part in the Long Jump, getting a best of 2.77m.
Gaylor and Thompson also lined up in the 200m, where the former finished third in the A race in 27.78s, and the latter was fourth in the B race in 36.77s.
Charlie Taylor finished sixth in the A race of the Under 15 Boys 300m in a time of 48.55s.
Morpeth only had three Under 15 Girls contesting events.
In the 800m, Heidi Wilkinson finished second to Ayla Blight of Elswick Harriers.
Coming back from illness, she posted a time of 2m32.99s, finishing around eight seconds adrift of Blight.
Zoe Tomlinson finished second in the B race in 2m43.49s.
Sophie Peace competed in three of the Under 15 Girls events.
She finished sixth in the 100m (14.46s), seventh in the 200m (30.15s), and her best result being third in the Long Jump with 3.82m.
Zoe Tomlinson finished eighth in the B String Long Jump with a best of 2.65m.
She also finished fourth in the Discus with a best throw of 10.67m.
Newcomer Reo Wills marked his Under 13 Boys debut for Morpeth, with an excellent personal best win in the Shot Putt, producing a best throw of 9.19m.
He also finished second in the Discus, with a best of 17.81m.
Luke Thompson finished second in the Long Jump with his best effort of 3.61m, only losing out for victory by 1cm.
Thompson also finished sixth in the A race of the 800m, posting a time of 2m44.76s.
Joseph Clasper finished fourth in the B race in 2m52.43s.
Brothers Joseph and Will Fawcett competed for Morpeth in the 1500m.
Joseph finished second in the A race in 5m27.70s, and Will won the B race in 5m30.69s.
Morpeth’s sole Under 13 Girl Izzy Cromar finished second in the 800m in 2m37.90s.
Team Manager David Swinburne was very pleased with all who had made the effort to turn out over the entire season.

MATCH RESULT
1st Blyth/Alnwick 701pts, 2nd South Shields/Elswick 494pts, 3rd Blaydon/Wallsend/Gosforth 487pts, 4th Chester Le Street/Durham C 461pts, 5th New Marske 426pts, 6th Morpeth Harriers 237pts, 7th Tynedale/Prudhoe 179pts, 8th Heaton/Tyne Bridge 150pts.

OVERALL LEAGUE RESULT
1st Blyth/Alnwick 32pts (2886), 2nd South Shields/Elswick 25pts (2245), 3rd Chester Le Street/Durham 24pts (2202), 4th New Marske 20pts (1994.5), 5th Blaydon/Wallsend/Gosforth 17pts (1900), 6th Morpeth Harriers 11pts (1281), 7th Tynedale/Prudhoe 9pts (1170), 8th Heaton/Tyne Bridge 4pts (856.5)
(Total Match Points in brackets).

There were testing conditions - including a mini tornado, no less - as Morpeth Harriers Senior Men and Women completed their 2025 NESDL Track and Field programme by finishing fifth of six competing teams at Shildon 2000 Stadium on Saturday 19 July.
Unfortunately, on the day, it was not near enough the result to keep them in the top tier of the competition for 2026, and they will face life in Division 2 next Summer.
To be honest, it would have taken a very strong performance to avoid the drop - perhaps even an overall team victory would made for a close call. And, while Team Manager George Patterson could not hide his disappointment with the season overall, he was full of praise for those who had taken part throughout the four fixtures, and had showed a general willingness to participate in less familiar events throughout the course of a very busy season.
He also felt that he had done all he could to steer the squad in the right direction, but the general turnout had been insufficient to survive.
After five years in the position, he has decided to step down, and next season the fortunes of the club at Senior level, will rest firmly in the hands of a new person.
On to the match itself, where nine men, and seven women took part in the Morpeth colours, with the best result in the Men coming in the 1500m, where Chris Coulson won the A race in 4m02.71s, James Tilley took the B race in 4m04.33s, and Ollie Tomlinson produced an additional Morpeth performance in 4m26.43s.
Coulson also won the B race of the 800m in 2m02.72s, supporting Peter Smallcombe’s A race performance, where he finished second in 1m58.0s.
It was a superb father and son act in the 100m, where Trevor Hodgson finished second in the A race in 11.76s, and William, still and Under 17 athlete, finished an excellent second in the B race in 12.01s.
William also finished second in the 200m, in 24.77s.
Alistair Douglass very bravely got out of his sickbed to run in the 400m, where he finished second in 24.77s, however was despatched straight back home afterwards, rendering him unable to accompany Hodgson in the 200m.
Andrew Mirfield, who had earlier in the day ran the 3000m, finished third in the B race of the 400m, posting a finishing time of 59.76s.
In the 3000m, Tom Innes finished second in the A race in 9m34.19s, with Mirfield finishing second in the B race in 9m50.31s.
Morpeth finished second in the Men’s 4 x 100m Relay to Gateshead in 51.66s, courtesy of Wiilliam and Trevor Hodgson, Chris Coulson, and Peter Smallcombe.
Ollie Tomlinson and Tom Innes were very much the workhorses in the Men’s Field Events for Morpeth.
Both competed in no less than three events each.
For Tomlinson’s part, he finished fifth in the A string Long Jump (3.49m), sixth in the A string Discus (17.24m), and sixth in the A string Javelin (16.78m).
Innes partnered Tomlinson in two of his events, by finishing fifth in the B string Discus (13.14m), and third in the B string Javelin (14.92m).
He also finished sixth in the B string Shot Putt (4.14m), where Andrew Mirfield was sixth in the A string, with a best of 5.82m.
The Morpeth Women’s events saw a club debut for Northern Under 20 Women’s 1500m Champion Darcey Tullis, and a comeback to club competition for Abigail Leiper following a couple of years of Study and Travelling.
Tullis and Leiper lined up together in the 800m, where the former finished second in the A race in 2m25.03s, and the latter won the B race in 2m39.91s.
In the 1500m, Tullis finished second to prolific Gateshead athlete Jess Sails, posting a finishing time of 5m04.68s.
Abigail Leiper marked her Morpeth competitive comeback well, when she added to her 800m win, by taking victory in the B race of the 400m in 75.94s. giving excellent support to Kirsty Burville’s equally excellent A race run of 73.68s, which saw her finish second.
Burville had earlier in the day finished third in the 3000m in 11m18.13s.
Once again it was left to Ellie Wicken’s to fly the Morpeth flag in the sprint events.
She had her best run in the 200m, finishing third in 28.21s, and she finished fifth in the 100m in 13.78s.
In both events she had been up against Gateshead Junior International Susan Folorunso, who on the day achieved a sprint double.
Wickens lined up along with Charlotte Earl, and Tullis and Leiper, to bring Morpeth Women’s 4 x 100m Relay squad home in 56.78s, for third place behind Gateshead and Darlington.
Earl, making her first Morpeth appearance of the season, and Wicken’s were a most formidable partnership in the Long Jump and Triple Jump events.
The Long Jump saw Earl win the A string with a best effort of 5.02m, with Wickens taking the B string with 3.97m
A double victory was also achieved in the Triple Jump, where Earl took the A string with 11.18m, and Wickens again took the B string with a best of 9.04m.
It was good to see Claire Reid back in competitive action, following being unluckily injured in match one in April.
Although a little restricted, she did manage to complete four throwing events.
She finished fourth in the A string competitions of both the Shot Putt and Discus competitions with bests of 8.70m, and 25.51m respectively, and she finished fifth in the A strings of the Javelin and Hammer competitions, producing respective bests of 15.20m and 20.66m.
Fellow Veteran Woman Vina Desai partnered Reid in the B strings of the Discus, Javelin, and Hammer, finishing fifth in the Discus and Javelin with respective bests of 11.46m and 7.47m, plus a third in the Hammer (13.84m), in addition to a stint of officiating as a Morpeth Harriers requirement on the day, notably the Men’s Javelin, which was the match’s final event, and was held during a horrendous rainstorm, accompanied by the aforementioned tornado, that also severely damaged several properties in nearby Bishop Auckland.
It felt as though Armageddon really had landed, as Morpeth were hanging on the precipice of relegation. You couldn’t make it up.
MATCH RESULT
1st Gateshead Harriers 421pts, 2nd Darlington 399pts, 3rd Wallsend/Blyth 366pts, 4th Blaydon/Elswick 296pts, 5th Morpeth Harriers 274pts, 6th North Shields Poly 159pts.
OVERALL LEAGUE RESULT
1st Gateshead Harriers 22pts (1654), 2nd Wallsend/Blyth 20pts (1567), 3rd Darlington Harriers 17pts (1467), 4th Blaydon/Elswick 10pts (1162), 5th North Shields Poly 9pts (1085), 6th Morpeth Harriers 6pts (1007).
(Total Match Points in brackets).