sam records pb at brampton 10-mile

​There were over 700 finishers at the 70th annual Brampton to Carlisle race on Sunday morning, with some twelve Morpeth runners well to the fore.
 
The country’s oldest 10 mile race – and now one of the oldest and most well-established races in the UK – the record books boast a prestigious list of past winners, including Ron Hill, Steve Cram and, of course, Jim Alder, a four time winner (64, 69, 70 and 71) and for a long time also a  course record holder.
 
Despite a slight south-westerly headwind, conditions proved to be surprisingly good on the day as the large field headed out on the B6264 towards Carlisle with high-flying Leeds City athlete Phil Sesemann, Project NE’s Kieran Walker and Morpeth’s Sam Hancox making the early running.
 
Unsurprisingly, Sesemann proved too strong for the opposition and pulled away to win in a time of 48 minutes 48 seconds with Maguire in 2nd place in 49:27.
 
Sam paid the price rather for the early pace and saw Birtley’s Adrian Bailes, a winner on the Town Moor last weekend, move through for 3rd (49:42), with Hancox having to settle in the end for a fine 7th place in a new personal best of 50:30.
 
Matthew Briggs was 12th in 51:51, and with Ali Douglas 22nd in 54:50 the team picked up a well-deserved 3nd place team prize behind Chorlton Runners and host club Border Harriers.
 
The women’s race was won by another Leeds City athlete, Steph Pennycook in 56:33 with Annabel Simpson of Fife AC 2nd in 56:42 and Border Harrier Camilla Mcknespiey 3rd (57:39).  Rachelle Falloon was 8th and 5th Senior Female in 1:00:58, like Sam a new personal best time.
 
Also running were Andy Lawrence, 25th in 54:55; John Butters, 35th and 4th 0/45 in 55:20; Lee Bennett, 51st and 3rd 0/50 in 57:00; Richie Hughes, 67th in 58:29; Gavin Bayne, 2nd 0/65 and 155th in 1:03:53; Rob Hancox, 160th and 6th 0/55 in 1:04:10;  Andriy  Volkov, 169th in 1:05:18 and Norman Clark, 588th and 4th 0/70 in 1:29:18.
 
The Men’s Veteran team also collected a 3rd place prize, although perhaps the most remarkable feature of the day was a new world best time for an Over 65 year old of 55 minutes 23 seconds run by Teviotdale Harrier Alastair Walker, an extraordinary performance in anybody’s books. 

*****​

There were four Morpeth finishers in the Slaley Half Marathon at the weekend, an off-road fixture around Slaley Forest that also included a 10k run.
 
Ed Hillier was 8th back in 1 hour 42 minutes 11 seconds, with Julie Vermaas 5th Female finisher and 3rd 0/40 in 1:44:18.
 
Anna Wright was just over a minute behind in 1:45:38, 5th 0/40 and 7th Female runner. Stephen Johnstone was 36th in 1:47: and also 3rd 0/50.
 
There were some 130 finishers overall, the winner Kieron Day recording 1:26:29 and Amy Fuller, now a Tyne Bridge Harrier, 1st Female finisher in 1:32:37 and also 6th overall.
 
Gateshead’s Conrad Franks won the 10k in 42:24 with NSP’s Michelle Thomson 1st Female back in 51:38.