masters shine at croft circuit

​The NEMAA XC Championships for 2023 took place at the Croft Circuit, Dalton-on-Tees on Saturday with five Morpeth Harriers in action over the two race programme.
 
Race 1, for Women and Masters athletes Over 65, saw four of those five running, with all of them winning medals.
 
Gateshead’s Gilliam Manford was 1st home, winning the O/40s category, with club colleague Kim Grimoldby 2nd and 1st O/35. NSP’s Vicky Gibbs, late of this parish, was 3rd and 2nd O/40.
 
Dave Nicholson, 5th in the race, was pipped by a mere five seconds to the O/65 title by Hartlepool Burn Road Runner Dave Wallace.
 
Thereafter, Paul Bentley was 1st O/75 and 30th overall, Archie Jenkins 2nd O/70 and 35th.
 
Most remarkable run of the day was undoubtedly our own Walter Ryder, still the club’s oldest competitive runner at the age of 85, and making his annual trip to the North East from his eyrie in  Wester Ross to pick up his Gold medal. His passion for competition is an example to us all: well done Walter!
 
Race 2, for Masters Over 35, was won by the ubiquitous Jarlath Mckenna of Bristol and West by nearly a minute, ahead of Sunderland Harrier Stephen Jackson in 2nd and Tyne Bridge’s Michael Hedley 3rd.
 
Paul Brown had his first run out in a good while, finishing in 39th place overall and 12th Over 55 (actually the most keenly contested category, and proof the average age of runners must be going up).