north east races round-up

Morpeth fielded the maximum of six teams once again at the midweek Weetslade Relays, held in excellent conditions in the grounds of Lockey Park, Wideopen.

This year saw some slight change to the course, with the start and finish area now moved to the far corner of the field, but the race high (or low) light remains the lung-bursting ascent of the old Weetslade spoil heap half way through the 2.7 mile course.

After several years of success, but a second place team finish last year, Morpeth again lost out despite a plucky team performance, but this time to Tyne Bridge in their first ever victory in the event, with last year’s winners Sunderland Harriers a close second.

The team of Sam Hancox, Lizzie Rank and Ian Harding did at least make the podium in third place however.

With Sam coming home in first place after a strong leg 1 (13:40, the day’s 2nd fastest time), Lizzie had the difficult task of being the hare to chase on leg 2. Finishing in 17:31, she was eventually caught on the course by TBH’s Jess Eaton (16:35, the day’s 2nd fastest female clocking – again veteran Justina Heslop ran the day’s fastest female time here) and the Sunderland runner, but did enough to leave Ian in contention on leg 3, with his 14:27 (the day’s 4th fastest male veteran time) meaning a cumulative time of 45:38 for 3rd place. TBH won in 43:37, with Sunderland Harriers 2nd in 43:55.

There was also a top ten finish for Morpeth’s B team (47:28) of Matt Walton, Jane Briggs and Will de Vere Owen, with Will running the day’s fastest overall time of the day (13:32) after Matt’s 15:03 and Jane’s 18:53.

The C team – aka ‘Team Bennett’ – made it three Morpeth teams in the top twenty, with Lee clocking 16:02, Robyn 18:58 and Lee Cuthbertson 15:27 for an overall time of 50:27.

Morpeth’s three other teams were 28th (52:10), with Shaun Land (15:46), Tayla Douglass (18:10) and Gavin Bayne (18:14); 49th   (55:44), with Mike Winter (18:25), Nicola McCoy (19:35) and Richard Glennie (17:44); and 97th  (1:05.49), with Dave Nicholson (19:00), Pam Woodcock (26:07) and Stephen Land (20:37. 

A special mention for Pam, who was determined the 6th team would not be incomplete, and in the absence of anyone else coming forward, stepped up herself to fill the space over what is probably her least favourite surface – a real club Trojan.

Great night had by all, with the most memorable comments from Jane – ‘ running with Matt Walton? I used to teach him!’ – and Gavin – ‘I enjoyed everything about the night - except the running!’ Thanks to all who turned out. Hopefully a bit easier next year to get teams out.
 
Seven Morpeth runners out in the popular (and always sold out) Bridges of the Tyne 5 miler this year, with Sam Hancox, a winner for the last two years but still working his way back to full racing fitness, having to settle for 2nd this time in a time of 25 minutes 34 seconds behind Sunderland Harrier Stephen Jackson, with NSP’s Neil Sillence in 3rd (25:55; on this occasion Sillence clearly not Golden).

Richard Deathe was 21st and 5th O/40 in 28:04 and Lee Cuthbertson next in, 46th in 29:20.
Jason Dawson was 86th and 9th O/50 in 31:29, Neil Gunstone 142nd in 33:59, Robyn Bennett 186th and 13th Senior Female in 35:36 and Laura Mclean 200th and 6th ) O/35 in 36:16.
Some 459 finished.
 
Just short of 400 finishers by contrast at the annual Tynedale 10k, a race which always used to attract a strong field from Morpeth but where, this time, only two Morpeth Harriers ran.

Jamie Johnson was 33rd and 1st O/50 in a time of 39 minutes 51 seconds and Norman Clark 278th and 3rd O/70 in 55:55.

The race was won by Gala Harrier Darrell Hastie in 31:50, with the ubiquitous James Anderson of NSP 2nd (32:38) and Sunderland’s Liam Taylor 3rd (32:59).

Derwent Valley Running Club’s Bex Hewitson was 1st Female home in 40:34, with TBH’s O/50 Kathryn Stevenson 2nd (40:57) and another Gala Harrier on a cross border raid, Julia Johnstone, 3rd in 42:11.
 
Another midweek race saw Rachelle Falloon 2nd Female home at Newburn River Run in a time of 29:41, with visiting runner Megan Stenhouse of Rugby and Northampton first in a time of 29:41. The race was won by Sunderland Harrier Steve Rankin in 25:37.

Dave Nicholson was 83rd in 35:33 and Andrew Dippie not far behind, 95th in 36:47.
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Some 258 finished.

Off road meanwhile, Anna Wright and Nicola McCoy took themselves up the A197 and into the Cheviots for the Yeavering to Wooler Trail Race, where Anna finished 14th in 1 hour and 50 seconds, and was 5th Female finisher, and Nicola 17th and 6th in 1:04:54. Roderick Bruce was one place behind Anna, 15th in 1:01:47.