Three of Morpeth Harriers Gold medallists at the previous week’s North Eastern Cross Country Championships performed with excellence at the high-profile IAAF Lotto Cross Cup meeting, held in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday 18th December. Clocking an excellent finishing time of 27m02s, Jonny Taylor finished fifth as first from Great Britain in the Senior Men’s 9k event, and was only 36 seconds adrift of race winner Isaac Kimeli of the host country. Fellow representative Brits finishing behind Taylor were Graham Rush (Cheltenham) (8th) 27m11s, Adam Hickey (Southend) (9th) 27m12s, Alex Teuten (Portsmouth) (14th) 27m41s, Abel Tsegay (Invicta/Eritrea) (19th) 27m51s, Jaimie Roden (Sale Harriers) (25th) 28m35s, Josh Woodcock-Shaw (Leeds City) (26th) 26th) 28m38s, Andy Vernon (Aldershot) (28th) 28m43s, Jules Salsby (Kingston Upon Hull) (45th) 29m48s, Max Pickard (Brighton Pheonix) (46th) 29m57s, Thomas Millard (Canterbury) (60th) 31m42s, and Dan Pettit (Newham & Essex Beagles) (61st) 31m45s. In the Senior Women’s event run over 6k, Laura Weightman finished
a superb third in 19m46s, and was first home from Great Britain. Other Brits in action in this event were Kate Hulls (Malvern) (5th) 20m03s, Charlene Thomas (Wakefield) (6th) 20m15s, Louise Small (Aldershot) (7th) 20m20s, Stephanie Barnes (Bristol & West) (9th) 20m23s, Claire Duck (Leeds City) (10th) 20m29s, Lauren Deadman (Havering) (13th) 20m36s, Lucy Crookes (Leeds City) (15th) 20m47s, Amelia Pettit (Vale Roya) (18th) 21m16s, and Zara Knappy (Rotherham/Keighley & Craven) (21st) 21m36s. Scott Beattie finished a superb third in the Junior Men’s 6k event, posting a time of 19m29s, which proved to be fourteen seconds adrift of fellow Brit Tom Holden of Tonbridge, second place went to Christian Holm of Denmark, who finished 19m18s. One place and seven seconds behind Beattie was one of his fiercest rivals Hugo Milner of Derby. Other Brits in the event were Jonathan Shields (Sheffield & Dearne) (7th) 19m46s, George Mills (Harrogate) (8th) 20m04s, and Euan Campbell (Stornoway) (15th) 20m31s. (Photos by Gregory Van Gansen) As we enter the last days of 2016, we pause to reflect on some
excellent individual and team performances at Morpeth Harriers. One such performance has only recently been highlighted, and that is the truly excellent achievement by the clubs Under 17 Women’s 4 x 100m squad, who not only rank as No1 in the region, but are also second in Senior rankings for the region, and twentieth Club team in the whole of the UK. In addition to all of this Katie Hilton, Jessica Young-Rogers, Hannah Brown, and Naomi Arkle, also managed to break a 44-year-old Morpeth Harriers Club record, not once, but six times throughout the course of the season. Also, celebrating this fact was their coach and mentor Dave Thomas, who just happened to be the coach to the previous set of athletes who established the record of 51.8s in 1982. The present squad equalled the record in their opening Northern League fixture at York in May, then on 22nd May in a NEYDL match at Darlington, their combined efforts achieved 51.0s A few weeks later they clocked 50.97s at Gateshead in the second NEYDL meeting, however on 17th July they achieved their best figures for the season of 50.8s. In respect of these achievements, the club arranged for a special set of commemorative certificates to be presented to the respective athletes at the Morpeth Athletics Track at KEVI School on the evening of Wednesday 14th December 2016. Coach Thomas is very justifiably proud of his young charges, and looks forward to working with them during the forthcoming year. Pictured above receiving the certificates from Morpeth Harriers Club Secretary Mike Bateman are L to R Naomi Arkle, Jessica Young-Rogers, and Katie Hilton, unfortunately Hannah Brown was unable to attend. The Shot Putters, Discus Throwers, Hammer Throwers and Javelin Throwers of Morpeth Harriers and Athletic Club's Track and Field teams produced a string of excellent individual performances across all age groups throughout 2016 which resulted in 38 medals being won at various championships. In addition there were 3 new championship best performances set, 8 North East Youth Development League records broken and 5 of the club's throwers were selected to represent Northumberland Schools at the English Schools Track and Field Championships. The 2016 medal haul began in January when Shot Putters Ruaridh Lang (U17), Andrew Knight (U15), Daniel Lloyd (U13) and Charlotte Pickering-Pruvot (U17) took silvers in their respective age groups at the North East Indoor Championships. Hugh Weatherburn (U17) also added a bronze medal to the tally. The North East outdoor Championships saw gold medals for Lottie Hume (U15 shot and discus), Ruaridh Lang (discus), Charlotte Pickering-Pruvot (shot), and Bobbie Griffiths (U17 women's javelin). There were shot putt silvers for Lang, Knight and Pickering-Pruvot and also for Elliott Moore (U20) and Craig Charlton (Senior). Steven Appleby gained bronze in the Senior Men's Discus as did Griffiths in her age group discus. The Northumberland Schools Championships resulted in shot and discus golds for Lang, Moore, Hume and Pickering-Pruvot who also broke the championship shot record. Knight broke his age group championship record when winning the shot and also came second in discus. Griffiths won her favoured javelin event and was second in the discus. Ellie Burt took silver in the U17 women's shot putt. Lang, Knight, Pickering-Pruvot, Griffiths and Hume were subsequently selected for the English Schools Championships. The best of these performances were Ruaridh Lang finishing 4th narrowly missing a medal and Andrew Knight finishing 6th in his first national championship. Bobbie Griffiths went on to set a new championship record when winning
the U17 women's javelin at the North of England Championships. Andrew Knight also won his shot event. At the Scottish Championships there were U17 shot and discus silvers for Ruaridh Lang and a silver for Craig Charlton in the senior shot. Charlton also won the shot putt at the Inter Services Championships when representing the RAF. Steven Appleby returned from the North East Masters Championships with a discus silver and shot bronze. The throwers mentioned above were very well supported by numerous other club throwers in the various league matches in particular Claire Reid who competed in all 4 throwing events at all 4 senior league matches throughout 2016 scoring a huge number of points for the club. Altogether very successful season for the throwers and throws coaches at Morpeth Harriers and Athletics Club. Thanks Paul Reed The second meeting in the 2016/17 series of Gateshead Indoor Athletics Meetings
was held at Gateshead College on Thursday 15th December, and it saw eight competitors from Morpeth Harriers amongst the large contingent who took part. In her very first outing, Ellie Longstaff proved to be a winner in the Under 13 Girls 60m, clocking 8.77s. Olivia Gent also competed in the Under 13 Girls 60m, with her clocking of 10.07s making her seventh fastest. Amy Lott who began her Indoor career nearly twelve months ago, began her Under 15 Girls career by being third fastest in the 60m Hurdles, clocking 10.53s. She also competed in the 60m sprint, proving to be 14th fastest, posting a time of 8.86s. In the Senior Men’s 60m, Morpeth’s David Storey clocked 7.45s in his first-round effort, making him eighth fastest, and he clocked 7.46s in the second round a little later, which proved to be the twelfth fastest. After suffering a disqualification in the first round 60m, Morpeth Veteran Man Wayne Gedge returned to run in the second round, clocking 8.47s, which made him 19th overall fastest in his age group. Under 17 Woman Meghan Winter clocked 8.65s in the 60m, which made her third fastest in her age group. Winter also finished fourth in the Shot Putt, with her best effort of 8.51m. David Thomas of Morpeth won the Under 20 Men’s High Jump with his best clearance of 1.55m. Thomas also was tenth fastest in the first round 60m, with his clocking of 7.98s. Another good Morpeth Field Event performer was Adam Willoughby, who cleared 1.45m for second place in the Under 15 Boys High Jump. In the Under 15 Girls Long Jump, Morpeth’s Olivia Hawkes produced a best of 3.78m, which saw her finish sixth. |
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