early promise despite disappointing result at neydl opener

The opening fixtures of the 2026 NEYDL (North East Youth Development League) took place on Sunday 19 April.
For this season Morpeth Harriers & AC have joined forces with Tyne Bridge Harriers for their competition in Division 2 of the league.
Whilst the best of starts was not achieved in their first match at Whitley Bay, there was a great deal of hope in achievements made on the day.
The combined squad finished last of the eight squads on show, however there was only a mere 73-point difference between fifth place and eighth.
For their part, Morpeth provided no fewer than 16 athletes to compete on the day.
The match also saw the new age groups in operation for the first time.
They are, Under 14 (any athlete 12 or 13), Under 16 (any athlete 14 or 15), and Under 18 (any athlete 16 or 17).
Under 18 athlete Alexandria Hodgson as expected won the Hammer competition, producing an on the day best of 50.1m, which is a very encouraging start to what should be a breakthrough season for her.
Another impressive Morpeth performer was Under 16 Girl Sophie Pledger, who won both the 100m (12.98s), and 200m (26.19s).
Giving good B race support on each occasion was Morpeth’s Sophie Peace, who finished third and fourth in respective times of 14.63s and 30.28s.
Under 16 Boy Mason Gaylor also made an excellent start to his NEYDL campaign by winning the 800m in 2m05.47s, finishing fourth in the 300m in 40.57s, and second in the A String of the Long Jump, with a best of 4.71m.
Other Morpeth Harriers to feature in the Long Jump were Charlie Townsend, who won the B String with a best of 4.17m, and Jacob Thompson, who produced a best of 2.57m.
Thompson also finished sixth in the B race of the 800m in 2m49.27s.
Townsend also finished third in the 200m A race, producing a time of 24.96s.
Charlie Townsend’s brother Lucas had an excellent debut in a Morpeth vest, by finishing second in the Under 16 Boys Shot Putt, producing an on the day best of 6.87m.
Morpeth Under 16 Boy Jack Dhawar finished third in the Javelin with a best of 15.31m, he also finished fourth in the A race of the 1500m in 4m45.68s.
Under 16 Girl Heidi Wilkinson finished second in the 1500m in a time of 4m58.62s.
There were a couple of good performances by Morpeth athletes in the Under 18 Boys events.
Daniel Craig finished second in the 1500m in a time of 4m45.68s, and Lewis Green finished fourth in the 400m in 62.52s.
There were some excellent results for the Morpeth/Tyne Bridge team in the Under 14 Boys, especially in the 1500m, where Joseph Fawcett finished second in the A race in 4m51,59s, and younger brother Will took the B race in 5m17.04s.
Morpeth Under 14 Girl Izzy Cromar finished fourth in her 1500m, posting a time of 5m27.43s.
A combined Morpeth/Tyne Bridge team finished fourth in an Under 16 4 x 100m Relay in , 57.64s.
MATCH RESULT
1st Chester Le Street/Durham C 590pts, 2nd Middlesbrough AC 467pts, 3rd South Shields/Elswick 457pts, 4th Blaydon/Wallsend/Gosforth 451pts, 5th Birtley/Jarrow & Hebburn/Phoenix F 392pts, 6th New Marske 384pts, 7th Tynedale/Prudhoe 372pts, 6th Morpeth/Tyne Bridge 319pts.