Great North Run weekend 9th/10th September 2017

Morpeth Harriers were well represented in events over the Great North Run weekend,
with some 26 runners taking part in Sunday’s half-marathon and
another 19 taking part in the previous day’s Junior Races on the Quayside.

The main event itself was won for the fourth time by Sir Mo Farah, now retired from the track,
in a time of 1 hour and six seconds with New Zealander Jake Robertson some six seconds behind.
Kenyan Mary Keitany, this year’s London Marathon winner, won the women’s race in a time of 1:05:59,
the third fastest ever time over the course, with compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot a good way behind in 1:07:44.

Leading veteran Ian Hudspith was again first home for Morpeth in a time of 1:07:58 to finish in 24th place overall. While he was also third placed local runner, behind Abraham Tewelde of Saltwell Harriers
and Dom Shaw of New Marske, more importantly he was again first in his Over 45 age category.
Hudspith, whose 5k and 10k times put him first in the in the UK all time age group rankings for those distances,
still remains therefore in 2nd for the half-marathon behind Billy Venus, whose 1:05:40,
set over the same course in 1986, remains the target to aim for.

Next runner home for Morpeth was Andrew Lawrence, 69th overall in 1:14:50 with Mark Snowball 140th (1:18:55). Other leading club times were: Andrew Hebden, 165th in 1:19:48;
Matthew Boyle, 213th in 1:21:28 and Tony Lewis, 238th in 1:22:14.
Clare Walker was Morpeth’s first woman home in a time of 1:54: 50.

Best performance of the previous days Junior 5k races was that of Rory Leonard,
2nd in the Red Boys 15-16 race in 12 minutes 33 seconds with Dan Melling 7th in 13m 23.
Club mates Connor Marshall (11th in 13m 53s) and Ross Charlton (16th in 14m 28s) were also well placed.

Best placed in the 13-14 boys was Dylan Davies, 11th in 14m 45s
with his younger brother Ryan 24th (16m 10s) in the 11-12.
Among the girls, Laura Melling was 35th in the 11-12 Wave in 19m 27s
with Lauren Garrett also completing in 21m 41s.
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Report by Peter Scaife