NEMAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

The NEMAA Cross Country Championships took place in challenging conditions at the Rising Sun Country Park in Wallsend on Saturday afternoon, with some six Morpeth veterans taking part and winning between them three individual and one team Gold, and one individual Bronze.

The first race of the day saw all-conquering Jane Hodgson retain her title when finishing ahead of the rest of the field in the Women’s and Men Over 65s competition, completing the course in a time of 21 minutes 28 seconds ahead of nearest rival Kim Simpson of Gateshead (22:13).

Over 65 Nicholson placed third in 24:14 behind race winner Stanley Owen of Salford Harriers (23:41) and Brian Martin of Quakers Running Club in third (23:45). Never a fan of cross country, club colleague Gavin Bayne was nonetheless unlucky to miss out on a medal in fourth (24:45).

Winning their respective O/75 and O/80 categories were club stalwarts Paul Bentley (31:21) and Walter Ryder (47:15), with Ryder having made his annual visit South from Wester Ross to take part at the ripe old age of 84. The team of Nicholson, Bayne and Bentley also won a team Over 65 Gold.
​
There was only Morpeth Harrier taking part in the longer Veteran Men Over 35 race, with Jason Dawson 37th and 9th Over 50 in 34:49. The race itself was won by Bristol and West AC O/40 Jarlath McKenna in 27:53 with Stephen Jackson of Sunderland Harriers second (28:11) and Darrell Hastie of Gala Harriers third (28:32).