BAYNE STAR PERFORMER AT YORK MARATHON

There were more than 3,000 finishers in Sunday's ASDA York Marathon, with six Morpeth Harriers making the journey down the A19.
First run in 2013, the race continues to grow in popularity, largely because of a largely flat, scenic and well-supported course that starts and finishes on the University of York campus and progresses past the iconic York Minster before heading out through the neighbouring villages of Sand Hutton and Stockton on the Forest, past the Battle of Stamford Bridge site to return via Dunnington and Osbaldwick.
The race was won by Tom Charles in a time of 2:24:22 with Becky Penty first female finisher in 2:47:43.
Morpeth’s over 40 veteran Will Clark had a fine run to come home inside three hours with a time of 2 hours 57minutes and 50 seconds for 100th place.
Shaun Land was 332nd in 3:20:14 and Ed Hillier 666th in 3:42:17 after both had looked well set for times around about the three hour mark at half way.
Training partners Anna Wright and Jennifer Belton had good runs in each other’s company after months of careful preparation together on the roads around Morpeth, Wright clocking 3:37:28 for 587th and Belton 3:38:39 for 598th.
Performance of the day in a blue and white vest, however, would have to be that of evergreen Over 65 veteran Gavin Bayne, who clocked a remarkable 3:15:57  in 280th. Amazingly after such a time, Gavin was still  not 1st in his category, the honour going to Brian Martin of local outfit Quakers AC who recorded 3:10:34.
With the race incorporating the BMAF Marathon Championships for 2021, Gav’s performance did, however, win him a British Masters Silver medal and gain him selection for the England Masters at Bournemouth next year.