four harriers take on chevy challenge

The annual Chevy Chase run high up in the Cheviots was this held for a remarkable 67th time, with meticulous organisation by local outfit Wooler Running Club.
 
The 20 mile circuit takes in ‘some of the finest upland scenery in Northumberland’  as the organisers quite rightly boast and also includes climbs of the area’s two highest peaks, Cheviot itself and Hedgehope, but is certainly not one for the faint-hearted, not least when the usual mixed bag of Cheviot weather is thrown in.
 
Two runners nevertheless completed the race in under three hours, Heaton Harrier Chris Larkin completing in an outstanding 2 hours 46 minutes and 34 seconds, with Craig Jones 2nd in 2:53:06. Third place was taken by Ross Jarman in 3:02:49.
 
Keswick AC runner Shirley Murray had a similarly excellent victory in the Women’s race, finishing 9th overall in 3:20:18, over twenty minutes ahead of 2nd  and 3rd  female finishers Nicola Duggan (3:44:50) and Georgia Campbell (3:45:32), with less than a minute separating these two after twenty miles. 
 
This time there were four Morpeth Harriers out, some running in NFRA vests, with Nicola McCoy having a great run to come home 48th and 2nd woman O/50 in 4:09:32. Anna Wright was close behind her, 50th and 4th O/40 in 4:09:58.
 
Die hard fellrunner Gary Mason was 93rd in 4:31:08 and Jane Briggs  102nd in 4:37:34.