Sadly, if perhaps unsurprisingly, the planned fourth meeting of the Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League, scheduled to be held on a brand new course at Eglingham Farm near Mickley on Saturday was cancelled as a result of Storm Bert making both travelling and parking hazardous. The second cancellation of the season already was a frustration for all concerned, with conditions by the afternoon ironically very good.
By contrast, across the Pennines in Liverpool’s Sefton Park the UK Cross Challenge – which incorporated the European Cross Country Trials - did take place, although the event was also plagued by persistent heavy rain throughout, making conditions extremely difficult before the completion of the twelve-race programme.
In the event, three athletes from Morpeth Harriers made the journey to Merseyside and were rewarded with some very strong performances for all their efforts.
In the main event, the Senior Men’s 8k, Scott Beattie ran very strongly as the conditions began to take their toll, finishing an accomplished 3rd in 25m02s behind winner Tomer Tarragano of Brighton and Hove (24m44s), and former Northern and National Cross Country winner Hugo Milner of Derby (24m54s).
As a result, Beattie has guaranteed himself a place in the European squad to run in Antalya, Turkey on December 8.
Meanwhile Morpeth Harriers club colleague Rory Leonard, who had actually led the 1,000 plus field in the early stages, slipped back slightly in the placings but dug deep to finish 5th in 25m16s, just being outpaced for 4th by Aldershot’s Ellis Cross in the final strides.
Rory now faces an anxious 48 hours to see if he makes it onto the flight to Turkey alongside training companion Beattie.
In the Under 20 Men’s 4.4k event, Morpeth’s Joe Dixon also ran strongly finishing 24th in a time of 14m31s behind race winner William Rabjohns of Poole AC, who clocked a winning time of 13m52s, with a total finishing field of 157 finishers.
By contrast, in his very first Indoor event, Morpeth Under 20 Bertie Marr finished 2nd fastest in the 2000m in the opening Northern Athletics Indoor Athletics Meeting, held at Sheffield Arena on Saturday.
Marr posted a finishing time of 5m49.88s behind Harrogate Harrier Luke Shacklock (5m47.91s).
Two more club members were also involved in indoor action closer to home.
Under 15 Girl Sophie Pledger equalled her personal best performance over 60m of 8.24s, when she produced the fastest time of her age group in winning her final, at the opening fixture of the Gateshead Standards Series, held at Gateshead College on the evening of Thursday 21st November 2024.
Another Morpeth Harrier in action at the event was Under 15 Boy Charlie Townsend, a relative newcomer to the sport.
He finished 2nd in the Under 15 Boys B Final, producing a time of 8.43s, which proved to be the seventh overall time of the age group.
​

Saturday sees the return of the NEHL at Eltringham Farm just outside Prudhoe. 

This is a new venue for the league and has replaced Aykley Heads which was run for the last time in 2023.

By all accounts it is a good course with no less an authority than Stewy Bell, among others, singing its praises.

If you're not sure you're registered, check here: List of registered runners for Morpeth Harriers & AC. (New registrations can still be added until 5pm on Thursday.)

TRAVEL AND PARKING: Best route appears to be A1 then A696 Blaydon/Prudhoe road; alternatively, A69 West then over bridge at Ovingham and up Station Road.  The nearest post code (Moralee Herefords) is NE43 7DF. Turn off the A695 at Mickley and descend Station Bank. The entrance to parking area is via the gate, what3words location assess.animates.tuned 

Please note this is a working farm and dogs need to be on lead. 

As this is a new venue, there may be some teething problems, so please allow yourself plenty of time (probably an hour from Morpeth) and bring £5 cash for parking. 

Timings are as other NEHL fixtures. 

The club tent will be there from early doors. We look forward to another good turn out from members. If you've run already - please remember your number! (Replacements available at a cost).
​
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League | Facebook

Morpeth Harriers vests were first and second across the line in Sunday’s Brampton to Carlisle 10 mile race, with no less than five athletes from the club occupying the top ten places.
 
Run over a course from William Howard School in Brampton to Eden Bridge in Carlisle, the event can boast of being the oldest ten mile race in the UK and one of the longest lasting over any distance in the country, being run here for a remarkable 72nd time and once again attracting a quality field of well over 800 finishers.
 
Carl Avery continued his remarkably consistent season with a fine win in a time of 48 minutes 42 seconds, coming home some 12 seconds ahead of team mate Lawrence Mccourt in his first race back after several months out. Daniel Connolly was 3rd in 49:03.
 
With the top ten also including Alex Brown, 5th in 50:05, Phil Winkler, one place behind in 50:28, and Connor Marshall, 7th in 50:40, with Sam Hancox 12th in 51:20, there was no doubt where the team prize for the race was going this time.
 
Leeds City AC’s Steph Pennycook was 1st woman back in a very good time of 54:38, with Scottish athlete Annabel Simpson of Fife AC 2nd (55:55) and Border Harrier Rachel Brown 3rd (58:04).
 
Robyn Bennett was Morpeth’s first female finisher, 11th Senior and 175th overall in 1:02:42 with Lizzie Rank not far behind in 1:04:22, 201st and 14th SF. Anna Wright was 301st and 6th Over 40 in 1:08:56 and training companion Jane Kirby 319th and 4th Over 50 in 1:09:38. Tayla Douglass was 324th and 25th SF in 1:09:53.
 
There were some 18 Morpeth runners out in total, with Dave Nicholson a winner in the Over 70s with a good time of 1:14:17 – and the club’s oldest representative, O/75 Nobby Clark, running 1:34:46 for 8th in his category and 756th.
 
Also running were: Mark Banks, 39th in 53:50; Andy Lawrence, 57th in 55:21; Rob Balmbra, 68th in 56:17; Dave Stabler, 97th and 7th O/45 in 57:44; Rob Hancox, 207th and 6th O/55 in 1:04:28.
 
Well done to all. Full results here: Brampton To Carlisle 10 Mile Race
 
Gibside Fruit Bowl
 
It’s a shame that the popular Brampton clashed with the Gibside Fruit Bowl this year, with the hilly 7 miler in the grounds of Gibside Hall only attracting just over 200 this year.
 
Won in a time of 42:35 by Gateshead’s Conrad Franks, now an O/40 vet, Morpeth’s Jake Parmley had a good run to finish 3rd in 42:53.
 
Lee Bennett was 6th but 1st O/50 in 43:44.
 
Jarrow’s Alex Sneddon won the women’s race in 43:55 but how good it is to see Emma Holt back in competitive action, 3rd in a time of 47:43.
 
Full results here: Gibside Fruitbowl

Remembrance Sunday saw the annual running of the Heaton Harriers Memorial Races, held once again on Newcastle’s Town Moor, with the main event held over 10 kilometres and preceded by a minute’s silence.
 
With this year’s race also including both the North East Counties Athletics Association and the North East Masters 10k Championships, there were just short of 500 finishers, as well as a series of earlier races from Under 11s upwards for Young Athletes.
 
The 10k was won by Birtley Harrier Adrian Bailes in a time of 31 minutes 12 seconds, Morpeth Harrier Connor Marshall chasing him all the way and having an excellent run to come home in second place in a time of 31:20, with Bailes’s team mate Lewis McConnell 3rd in 31:52.
 
Tyne Bridge’s Lucy Crookes was 1st female finisher in 35:31, with Helen Warburton, once of Gosforth Harriers but now also with the Newcastle club, 2nd in 35:55, and Over 35 Alex Sneddon of Jarrow and Hebburn 3rd (36:06).
 
There were eight other blue and white vests out, with a number of individuals picking up category prizes and NEMAA medals.
 
Liam Ramsay was 40th in 34:51, while John Butters continued his path on the comeback trail with a clocking of 35:42 for 3rd O/45 and 56th overall with Dominic Harris next back in 68th (36:24).
 
Robyn Bennett was 6th Senior woman in 38:35, with Kirsty Burville having a super run to come in as 1st O/40 in 39:48.
 
There was also a trio of NEMAA medals, with Alistair Macdonald 2nd O/60 in 39:33, Gavin Bayne 2nd O/65 (40:45) and David Nicholson 1st O/70 (44:21).
 
Earliest run of the day had seen Morpeth’s Will Fawcett 7th in the U/11 one kilometre race in a time of 3:43.
 
There were three Morpeth vests featuring in the U13s, who raced over 3k, with Mason Gaylor coming home 2nd in 10:25, Heidi Wilkinson 12th and 4th girl in 11:20, and Zoe Tomlinson 15th and 6th girl in 11:30.
 
Oliver Tomlinson was also 2nd, this time in the U/17 5k race, in a time of 16:20, with Molly Roche 12th and 2nd girl in 19:35 and Charlotte Marshall 19th and 9th in 23:54.
 
Full results here: Heaton Harriers Memorial Race

The Morpeth 10k will return next year with a date set for Sunday 15 June 2025.
The event is once again being organised by running events company RunThrough in collaboration with Morpeth Harriers.
Following the success of last year’s debut, next year's race will use the same fully road-closed, out-and-back route.
Starting and finishing at the town hall clock tower, the Morpeth 10k will take participants out towards Mitford, along the banks of the river Wansbeck.
Last year's race attracted more than 700 participants and was won by Sunderland Harrier Jake Ridding in 32 minutes 10 seconds
RunThrough co-founder Matt Wood said the partnership with Morpeth Harriers meant the race would be attractive to runners of all levels.
"We’re excited to bring back the Morpeth 10k with the invaluable support of Morpeth Harriers and Athletic Club," he said. "This event has quickly become a standout addition to the Northumberland racing calendar, providing a welcoming and challenging race for elite athletes and casual runners alike."
Registration for the 2025 Morpeth 10k is now open at www.morpeth10k.com 
RunThrough will organise and deliver over 270 events in 2025, uniting more than 285,000 runners across the UK, including events such as the East Yorkshire Marathon, Tatton Park 5k and 10k, and the Northwich 10k.