GARDINER STARS AS SCHOOLS COMPETITION RESUMES

Regional schools action finally resumed at Gateshead Stadium on Saturday, 19 June, with the holding of a combined Northumberland Championship.
The event incorporated a trials event for any athlete with a distinct possibility of an English Schools Championship, which will be held in Manchester, scheduled dates of 9-11 July.
Several Morpeth Harriers figured amongst the Northumberland contingent, most notably Intermediate Boy, and Under 17 Man Edward Gardiner, whose progression in his chosen Hammer event has been quite remarkable, considering the pandemic, and a distinct lack of competition.
Edward has worked extremely hard under the continued diligence and guidance of his coach Neil Ellerby, with the occasional help of his elder sister Jessica, herself an accomplished Hammer thrower, although injured at present, and dedicated father Alan, who ferries the siblings to varied venues, seeking competition opportunities for the talented pair.
On Saturday, Edward truly excelled, and within his series of throws, he managed a new personal best of 33.83m with the 5kg implement, a performance, whilst raising a few eyebrows, also makes him thirty second in the UK, and well out in front regionally.
He improved on his previous best by around 3.89m, and looking further ahead, he is now focussed on improving on all of this and gaining the opportunity of hopefully competing at the English Schools in 2022.
Watch this space.

Rising star Edward Gardiner

In addition to Gardiner, another five Morpeth Harriers achieved personal bests in respective events.
Under 15 Boy Oliver Tomlinson improved his 1500m time, when he posted 4m50.5s, when winning the Junior Boys event, taking approximately two seconds off his previous figures.
In the Intermediate Boys 1500m, Under 17 Man Bertie Marr finished third in a new personal best of 4m12.8s, taking just over seven seconds off his previous figures for the distance.
Joe Anderson was unfortunately a couple of seconds adrift of his personal best, when he finished second in the Senior Boys event in 4m18.2s.
Morpeth Harriers had two athletes in the Intermediate Girls line-up.
Caitlin Flanagan finished sixth in 5m40.0s, and Sophie Cunningham was two places behind her, posting s new personal best of 6m11.2s.
Moving down to 800m, and Junior Boy Joseph Close posted a time of 2m14.6s, when finishing second.
In the Intermediate Boys 800m, Liam Roche shaved a fraction of a second off his best time, when placing fourth in 2m06.3s.
Moving up to 3000m, and Joe Dixon clocked a new personal best of 9m23.7s, when finishing fourth in the Intermediate Boys event, taking a massive twenty-five seconds off his previous figures, set at Gateshead in August 2019.
Last but certainly not least is Triple Jump specialist Charlotte Earl, who won her event with a best of 10.24m.