Five Morpeth Harriers were in action on Saturday 19th December 2015, at the annual Saltwell Harriers 10k Road Race, one of the regions oldest events, now confined to being run on the pathways round Gateshead’s Saltwell Park, still however remaining a traditional pre Christmas fixture. The event was won by Tipton’s former Elswick Harrier Ryan McLeod, making it his second winning visit to the region in five weeks, having won the Heaton Harriers event in early November. He won in 31m28s, by a fifty six seconds margin from Leeds City’s Carl Smith, who is still North East based, living in Whitley Bay. Third place went to Durham City’s Dan Jenkin, who was a further ten seconds adrift of Smith. Morpeth Harriers leading finisher was Tim Miley,
who was also first in the Over 50 Men’s section, posting a time of 39m26s for 37th place overall. Next home for Morpeth was Josie Cram, who ran superbly the previous week at the North Eastern Counties Cross Country, and was very much a fundamental contributor to the club’s Ladies squad’s team win. Cram showed clearly here that she had recovered well, when she finished as sixth Lady behind winner Alison Dixon of Sunderland Strollers who finished tenth overall in 35m39s, who was the Bronze medallist at Sedgefield. She finished in 53rd place overall, posting a time of 40m55s. Another good performer at Sedgefield was the third Morpeth finisher Alison Brown. Posting a time of 44m40s, she was thirteenth Lady home, in 105th position overall. Archie Jenkins finished 209th in 50m33s, and was sixth Over 60 Veteran Man. Completing the Morpeth Harriers contingent was Over 50 Veteran Lady Jane Blackett, who finished 353rd overall, and was sixth in her category. A total of 415 finishers took part. A host of excellent performances certainly led to a great deal of deliberation by judges, before making their final decisions on the Linden Homes Morpeth Harriers Athlete of the Month for November 2015. Eventually they decided to give the award to Under 15 Boy Taylor Glover, for his two consecutive performances in the space of a week at the Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League Meetings held at Aykley Heads and Druridge Bay. Glover finished ninth overall at Aykley Heads, as second counter in his clubs team victory, and was third fastest in the event. At Druridge Bay, he again finished ninth, however on this occasion he was the fastest, and his club again had a team victory, with him being the third counter. Taylor is pictured above receiving his Certificate of Achievement from Morpeth Harriers Press Officer George Patterson, at the Morpeth Harriers clubhouse on Mitford Road, on Monday 14th December 2015. Pre race entry has now closed for the annual Morpeth New Years Day Road Race,
this year sponsored for the first time by Morpeth Harriers main backer Linden Homes. Action gets underway on Mitford Road, from the bottom of Dogger Bank at 1.00pm, and runners will follow the traditional course route to Mitford, then the winding road past Mitford Church, involving a steady climb to Mitford Steads. Runners then return to Morpeth via the Whalton Road, turning left at Morpeth Golf Club, heading past the Sun Inn, to Mafekin Roundabout, into Carlisle Park through the main gates opposite the Castle, t hrough the park, along the Promenade, finishing on The Stanners, beyond Oldgate Bridge. Race Numbers are to be picked up on the day from Race Headquarters at Morpeth Rugby Club, from 11.30am, where late entry can also be obtained at a cost of £8.00 Club Runners, and Unattached £10.00. All entrants need to be at least 17 years of age on the day. Late Entries are also eligible for prizes, which will be presented afterwards at a reception at Morpeth Rugby Club, as soon as results are available following the event. The Morpeth New Years Day Road Race, run over an approximate distance of 11k, is also being supported by Start Fitness, and Morpeth Harriers Press Officer George Patterson. Changing facilities for both Male and Female are available at Morpeth Harriers Clubhouse, immediately next to Morpeth Rugby Club at Grange House Field. So why not bring in 2016 in style, and run in Morpeth and Historic Northumberland, to also blow away any New Year cobwebs. In case of Bad Weather please continue to look at Morpeth Harriers website at www.morpethharriers.com for any latest details. It has now been confirmed that the club did win the overall trophy for their Men’s performances.
Sadly they just missed out on the overall Women’s trophy. There was a three way split involved where they finished on exactly the same points as Birtley AC and Gateshead Harriers. The trophy went to Birtley AC on the basis that they had scored in all four of the Women’s events, and Morpeth and Gateshead only with three events. Morpeth Harriers did however did win the overall, overall trophy, which is scored over both genders. Morpeth Harrier John Butters won the Simonside Cairns
fell race in Rothbury on Sunday 13th December 2015, with a superb time of 85minutes and 2 seconds which proved to be a clear 37 seconds ahead of his closest rival, the unattached Andrew Shaw, who was ten seconds ahead of another unattached athlete Ben Grayson. John was always amongst a lead group of five until the last 2 miles, whereupon he managed to eventually pull away, producing a lead that proved to be unassailable to his rivals. Other Morpeth Harriers performances in the event came from Steve Haswell (22nd) 93m30s, Richard Kirby (36th) 101m59s, and Gary Mason (49th) 107m10s. A total of 78 competitors took part in this event, which was being run for the 20th occasion, and they were all subject to conditions which were extremely heavy under foot with an array of obstacles to overcome such as fallen trees, ice, snow, collapsed footbridges, and the mandatory muddy streams that were replacing the footpaths. However, all were hugely rewarded with very clear and unobstructed views across the moorland above Rothbury, as a picturesque backdrop to their strenuous activity. Many thanks to Richard Kirby for providing us with information for putting this report together. |
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