The inaugural running of the Morpeth to Newcastle Marathon and Half Marathon events on Sunday 30th October 2016, organised by Total Racing International attracted just under 1000 finishers between them. The Marathon started just outside Northumberland Sport Headquarters at Hepscott Park on the A192, and the Half Marathon commenced at the Spanish City in Whitley Bay. Amongst the runners in both events were several members of Morpeth Harriers, most notably Andrew Lawrence and Karl Taylor. Following a tense tussle in the Marathon with Gateshead Harrier Conrad Franks,
Lawrence was forced to settle for second place in a time of 2hrs40m20s. Franks won in 2hrs38m05s, with Sedgefield Harrier Justin Cox a distant third in 2hrs49m54s. Other Morpeth Harriers finishers of note in the Marathon at the time of going to press were, Alistair Douglass (15th) 3hrs10m08s, Richard Sill (78th) 3hrs48m22s, and Gary Mason (114th) 3hrs57m00s. In the Half Marathon Karl Taylor finished second to Saltwell’s Eritrean athlete Abraham Tewelde. Taylor clocked a finishing time of 73m28s, to Tewelde’s winning time of 69m21s. Third place went to Gateshead Harrier Kevin Connolly of Gateshead Harriers, who posted a finishing time of 76m29s. Other prominent Morpeth Harriers finishers in the Half Marathon at the time of going to press were, Paul Banks (17th) 86m00s, Tony Lewis (18th) 86m07s, and Neil Shashova (192nd) 108m30s. The Marathon route took in Bedlington, Plessey, Hartford, Blyth and Seaton Sluice, before reaching the Spanish City, then went through Cullercoats, Tynemouth, North Shields, Wallsend, and Walker, before finishing on the Newcastle Quayside (East). Half Marathon runners experienced the latter part of the course from the Spanish City. Thankfully the weather was kind to most runners on the day, although Marathon runners reported several instances of slight headwind. Comments are closed.
|
Archives
March 2024
|