Northern Athletics Inter Counties Track and Field Championships

Four athletes from Morpeth Harriers represented the North East Counties at the annual
Northern Athletics Inter Counties Track and Field competition,
held at Leigh Sports Village in the North West, on Saturday 7th July 2018.

The region finished in third team place, seventy-eight points adrift of winners Yorkshire,
with second placed Lancashire, only twenty-six points ahead.

Following some very encouraging throws, one which exceeded 32 metres, which clearly pointed the way towards a possible new personal best performance, Jessica Gardiner ended her days Under 15 Girls Discus competition, winning with a best of 29.87m, which was only a mere 56cm better than her North East team colleague Grace McDonald of Middlesbrough AC, who finished a superb second, making it a tremendous result for the region.
Both girls had encouraged each other throughout the various stages of the competition, such was their team spirit.

Another Morpeth winner was Andrew Knight, who in his first competitive appearance for a few weeks following injury, had a clear victory in the Under 17 Men’s Shot Putt, with his best effort of 16.57m.
This proved to be another excellent result for the North East, as Gateshead’s Luke Allen
won the B String, with 12.75m, finishing third overall.

Knight, who will represent Northumberland Schools at this weekend’s English Schools competition,
received superb encouragement throughout the competition from club colleague Jessica Gardiner,
from the stands, with him repaying the compliment throughout her competition.

Other Morpeth Harriers in action at the event, were hurdler Amy Lott, and 800m runner Ben Waterfield.

Lott won the Under 15 Girls 75m Hurdles B String event in 11.44s,
with Yorkshire’s Elle Hinchcliffe claiming the A String in 11.40s.

The North East A String athlete Charlotte Rutter finished fourth in 11.68m.
Waterfield meanwhile, finished fourth in the A String 800m in 2m09.95s.