Under 17 Throws specialist Jessica Gardiner of Morpeth Harriers achieved a Silver Medal, plus an excellent new personal best of 34.17m in the Discus competition at the Northern Athletics combined Under 13/Under15/Under17 Track and Field Championships, at Wavertree, Liverpool, on Saturday 17th August 2019,
in the first of two days of competition. Gardiner’s previous best for the event was the 33.81m, that she had posted in the North East Grand Prix meeting at the end of July, and this latest achievement is a direct result of some superb work with her coach Neil Ellerby, that has seen her progress from a distance of 31.33m achieved back in March at Whitley Bay. Winner of the Discus event was Kingston upon Hull’s Holly Adams, who threw a best of 35.53m. Another event that has also seen Gardiner progress is that of the Hammer, where on Saturday, against stern opposition, she managed to finish sixth, with a best of 36.02m, which unfortunately in terms of distance, was well short of her best. Saturday also marked the first time at this level, for Jessica’s younger brother Edward, who finished eighth in the Under 15 Boys Javelin (25.98m), and tenth in the Discus (21.51m). The Quayside 5k certainly lived up to its growing reputation as the best place to run a personal best last Wednesday (14th August 2019) with no less than ten Morpeth Harriers setting new times for themselves. Now in its fifth year and first won by our own Ian Hudspith in 2014, the route has remained the same: an out and back course from the Pitcher and Piano end of the Millenium Bridge along the river to the west with a 180 degree turn once past the bridges to bring runners back to finish on the other side of the river outside the Baltic. The race’s popularity has now led in fact to three separate races: a Junior 3k, an elite 5k for runners aiming for under 20 minutes and a mass participation run. In damp and cool conditions, young triathlete and Gateshead Harrier Calum Johnson – now based down at the other end of the country in Eastbourne - showed once again his quality as he returned home to win in a new course record time of 14 minutes 34 seconds, breaking the previous record of Matty Hynes by a narrow one second margin. Similarly the first three in the women’s race were all athletes visiting from outside the area: Calli Thackery of Hallamshire Harriers won in a time of 16m 34s with Hollie Parker of Enfield and Haringey and Louisiana State University 2nd in 17m 8s and Caroline Lambert of Ribble Valley Harriers 3rd in 17m 50s. Chasing Johnson back along the quayside, however, were the Morpeth pair of Sam Hancox, 2nd in 14m 53s and young Alex Brown, 3rd in 14m56s. Although both finished narrowly outside their pbs, there were a whole slew of these mixed in with some strong performances thereafter: Rowan Bennett, 7th in 15m 24s and 1st under 17 male; Andy Lawrence, 20th in 15m 51s and at last getting the London marathon monkey off his back; Tom Innes and Richard Johnson 26th and 27th pbs of 16m 8s and 16m 10s; Jake Masterman, 41st in 16m 50s and 3rd U/20 male; Lee Bennett, 1st O/50 in 16m 52s; Dean Lonsdale, turning in a pb in his first race back after some time out of 17m 45s; Rachelle Falloon, 4th female in a pb of 17m 32s; Robyn Bennett, 1st U/20 female in 18m 24s; Jason Dawson, 108th in a pb of 18m 28s; Jamie Johnson, 118th in a pb of 18m 39s; Helen King, 2nd O/45 in a pb of 18m 45s; Michelle Thompson, 3rd O/35 female in 19m 35s; Tayla Murdy, 10th Senior female in a pb of 20m 44s and Gracie Hufton, 3rd U/20 female in 22m 27s. There were clearly some who had preferred glory in the B race to being further back in the A meanwhile, as the B was actually won in a time of 18m 9s by Ian Young of Blackhill Bounders. Paul Willis was 1st home for the club with a time of 19m 31s. Behind him, Lindsey Quinn ran a pb of 21m 56s, Sue Smith was 6th O/50 in 23m 37s and Pam Woodcock got the better of her closest rival to finish as 1st O/65 in 24m 41s. Laura Mclean finished in 26m 3s. U13 Joe Dixon was 2nd in the earlier run 3k in a time of 10m 2s and only a few seconds behind race winner (and U15) David Race of Gateshead, and James Tilley was 10th and 3rd U15 in 11m 27s. Photos courtesy of Stuart Whitman
INTER LEAGUE CHALLENGE MATCH
NEYDL v YORKSHIRE & DISTRICT Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre Cudworth Sunday 1st September Despite some atrocious weather conditions, Morpeth Harriers Ruaridh Lang (Under 20 Men’s Discus),
and Hannah Lott (Under 13 Girls 70m Hurdles), secured excellent Gold Medals respectively at the annual Scottish Athletics combined Under 13/Under 15/Under 20 Championships, held at Grangemouth Stadium on Sunday 11th August 2019. Lang managed a total clear round of six throws, with no fouls, and won by producing a best effort of 43.73s i8n the third round. Meanwhile, Lott finished second in her heat of the Hurdles, producing a time of 11.82s, which was almost equal to her personal best, however she went better in the later run final, which she confidently won, producing a brand-new best of 11.78s. Over 250 finishers completed the annual Morpeth 10k over the traditional two lap route
through Tranwell and Tranwell Woods on Tuesday 6th August 2019. Won in a time of 32 minutes and 35 seconds by Jordan Bell of Blackhill Bounders with Hannah Wood of Low Fell Running Club first woman home (37m 42s), this year’s race was sponsored for the first time by Bellway and also featured for the first time on the popular RunBritain website run by British Athletics. In addition, the North East Counties Athletics Association 10k road championships were incorporated into the race which included competitors from clubs as far North as Gala Harriers and as far South as Coventry Godiva. A brisk first lap saw a leading group of Bell, David Green of North Shields Polytechnic and Morpeth Harriers Karl Taylor and Tom Innes quickly established at the front of the race. It was on the second lap, however, when Bell put his foot down and quickly took time out of his rivals, soon establishing a clear gap on the second lap through Tranwell Woods. Watched by his father Stewy, a longstanding Blackhill Bounder and himself a multiple NECAA winner, Bell finished strongly and his lead over second place Green was 30 seconds by the end of the race. Taylor was third in 33m 27s, having just got away from Innes who did have the consolation of running a big personal best of 33m 36s however. While this was the first time for many years that Morpeth could not provide a race winner on home turf, the club did however have the consolation of finishing clearly ahead in the four man team competition, with teenager Matthew Briggs running a pb of 35m 1s to finish 7th and the final counter Lee Bennett, 11th in 35m 31s and 1st Over 50 male. NSP finished as 2nd men’s team. In the woman’s race, meanwhile, it was a similar story with another runner from south of the Tyne taking the honours. A comparative newcomer to the sport, Low Fell’s Hannah Wood had, like Bell, broken away from a lead group featuring veteran Stephanie Maclean-Dann of NSP and Morpeth’s Robyn Bennett on the second lap and finished with a lead of well over a minute by the end, with Maclean-Dann 2nd in 38m 55s and Bennett 3rd in 39m 10s. Again there was a winning team prize for Morpeth, however, with Bennett supported by Lorna Macdonald, 4th in 39m 40s, Tayla Murdy – who ran a pb of 44m 28s – and Lindsey Quinn, 23rd in 47m 11s, another pb. NSP were once more 2nd team home. Other Morpeth finishers included: Matthew Boyle, 16th in 37m; Will Clark, 39th in 39m 12s; Richard Castledine, making a long-awaited return to competition, 42nd in 39m 20s; Paul Waterston, 55th in 40m 12s; Gary Mason, running a big pb with 42m 30s; Paul Bellingham, 105th in 44m 43s and Stephen Johnstone 106th in 44m 51s; Jennifer Belton, 147th overall in 48m 12s; Nobby Clark, 162nd in 49m 10s and Sarah Routledge, 177th in 50m 29s. While the inclement conditions made watching a challenge for spectators, it certainly didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of later runners, with 243 runners finishing the 6.2 mile/10k course in under the hour and the final two finishers in 260th and 261st clocking 77 minutes. NECAA Championship medals were presented to the first three men and first three women post race by Bill McGurk, Chairman of NECAA and a generous range of 10k prizes by Emma Chesterton of Bellway, whose sponsorship of the race recognized its importance to the local community. The club are grateful for the generous support of their lead sponsor but also to their additional sponsors: Piramal Healthcare, who also provided free use of their parking facilities; Coca Cola Enterprises, who also supplied the smartwater at the finish; Chris Dentice of Stanton Hall Gardens; and Phil Walker Wealth Management. In addition, Morpeth Town FC kindly provided use of their facilities for registration and prize-giving, and Pegasus RDA the use of their toilet facilities. A big note of appreciation on behalf of the club to Kevin Bray who worked tirelessly as race director and who faced the added pressure of assessment by RunBritain on the night. Also to all the many members who turned out to marshal, man water stations, officiate and help out on the night. |
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