EVENTS ROUND-UP

European Cross-Country Championships
Rory Leonard collected another international vest when representing Great Britain in the European Cross-Country Championships held at Piemonte-La Mandria Park, Turin on Sunday 11 December.
Running in the 8k U/23 race, Rory had a good run to come home just outside the top ten in 11th place in a time of 24 minutes 15 seconds.
The race was won by fellow Brit Charles Hicks in 23:40, just ahead of Zakariya Mahamed in 2nd (23:48). 3rd counter for the British team was Matthew Stonier, 8th in 24:11.
 
Simonside Cairns Fell Race
Closer to home, and certainly one imagines a lot colder, there were seven Morpeth Harriers involved in the Simonside Cairns Fell Race.
Despite the winter conditions prevailing and the bad weather route being used, ice making the slabs down off Simonside summit dangerous, there were some strong performances with the irrepressible Jarlath McKenna once again proving how strong he is off road to win in a time of 1 hour 12 minutes 36 seconds. Katherine Carman was 1st female finisher in 1:37:11.
Running in their NFR vests, Richie Hughes was 6th back in 1:19:40 with Lee Bennett 13th in 1:28:50.
Jane Kirby was 30th in 1:42:29 with Rich a few minutes behind in 1:45:20 in 33rd. Gary Mason was 34th in 1:46:00, Claire Calverley 52nd in 2:02:56 and Fran Naylor 55th in 2:36:33.
Well done to all for completing under the conditions.
 
Ronnie Walker Saltwell 10k
Last Saturday saw the running of one of the oldest fixtures in the calendar, the Ronnie Walker Saltwell 10k held over an undulating three lap course in Saltwell Park and, thankfully, surviving the freeze when parkruns across the region were all cancelled.
Won by Durham City runner Will Lindsay in 33:05 with another who must have travelled a long way to take part, Herne Hill Harrier Sophie Harris 1st female finisher in 35:58, there were some three Morpeth Harriers running.
Marking a welcome return after a number of months away from competition and coming home in a fine 12th place, Mark Banks finished the run in a time of 35:02.
Anthony Liddle was 52nd in 41:00 and Dave Nicholson 1st 0/65 and 107th in 45:21. Some 311 ran.