seniors fall short at track & field season opener

The club's track and field season began in earnest on the weekend of 26 and 27 April, with Morpeth's senior athletes in action at Whitley Bay in their opening NESDL Division 1 fixture.
The senior team's performance did not quite match the brilliance of the sunshine, as they finished last of the six competing squads.
Facing the opening gambit with a much under-strength squad, was not what Manager George Patterson would have wished for, as only 13 male, (an unlucky number maybe), and six female athletes turned out to do battle as much as they could.
Unfortunately, the six women were very quickly reduced to five, as Veteran specialist thrower Claire Reid was forced out as early as her first event, the Hammer competition, picking up a hamstring injury executing her first throw.
Nevertheless, her effort of 20.48m, was enough to guarantee her third place in the final outcome.
Fellow Vet Vina Desai managed to throw 13.71m to secure second place in the B competition.
On a brighter note, the men managed three double wins in the three major distance events.
Peter Smallcombe, and club newcomer Chris Coulson ran away from the rest in the men’s 1500m, with Smallcombe eventually winning the race in 3m55.93s, with debutant Coulson not far behind in second place in 3m56.69s taking the B race.
Another Morpeth Harrier taking part in the 1500m was Bertie Marr, who finished fourth overall in 4m12.65s.
In the Men’s 800m, Josh Fiddaman took his chance for a race victory around 220 metres from, home, to eventually cross the finish line in 1m57.40s.
Another Senior League debutant Ethan Bond won the B race in 2m06.20s.
Sam Hancox also took part for Morpeth in the 800m, finishing in a time 2m14.58s.
Both Hancox and Bond had also earlier secured a double victory in the 5000m.
Hancox won the 12-and-a-half lap event in 16m00.30s, and Bond took the B race in 16m24s.
Alistair Douglass, who normally associates himself with 800m and 1500m events, certainly answered his team manager's call, by taking part in the 100m and 200m events.
He finished fourth in the A race of the 100m in 13.03s, and third in the A race of the 200m in 25.56s.
Rob Hancox, father of Sam, took part in the B race of the 100m, finishing sixth in 18.04s.
Backing up Douglass most effectively in the 200m B race was Ben Harding, who finished third in 26.27s.
Another Morpeth Harrier in action in the 200m was Paul Bellingham, who posted a time of 30.43s.
In the 400m A race, Ben Harding finished fourth in 57.3s, and Anthony Liddle ran a good B race to finish second in 58.39s.
Jason Dawson also competed in the 400m for Morpeth, finishing in a time of 59.7s.
To round off the Men’s track events, Morpeth finished second in the 4 x 400m Relay in 4m01.06s courtesy of the running of Anthony Liddle, Bertie Marr, Sam Hancox and Ethan Bond, and in the slightly earlier 4 x 100m, Morpeth finished third in 53.17s, from the running of Jason Dawson, Paul Bellingham, Ben Harding and Alistair Douglass.
In the men’s Field events, Anthony Liddle’s clearance of 1.50m in the High Jump for third place was one of the highlights.
Jason Dawson threw 27.16m for fourth spot in the A String Javelin.
Sam Hancox threw 13.68m for fourth in the B String.
Dave Marshall threw 14.13m for sixth place in the Discus, and Ethan Bond Putted 5.66m for sixth place in the A String Shot.
In the B String Shot, Dave Marshall Putted 4.94m for fifth place.
Rob Hancox secured sixth place in the Long Jump, with a best of 2.80m.
Back to the Women’s competition, and Kirsty Burville did well in her first league outing to record an excellent second place in the 3000m in 11m37.02s.
Ellie Wickens finished third in the 200m in 28.6s, and fourth in the A race of the 100m in 14.05s.
Abbie Ross finished third in the B 100m in 14.26s.
Wickens was a late replacement for the injured Reid in the Javelin and finished sixth in the A String with a best throw of 10.45m, being partnered by Vina Desai, who was sixth in the B String with a best throw of 8.03m.
In the women’s Triple Jump, Olivia Gent finished fourth with her best effort of 9.68m, and in the A string of the Long Jump, she achieved a best of 4.45m, which secured fifth place.
Partnering Olivia for Morpeth in the Long Jump was Abbie Ross, who managed a best of 4.25m, for third in the B String.
It is such a shame that the day's efforts could not produce a better result, but the attitude of the entire Morpeth squad on the day was exemplary, and with hopefully more support coming from the club in the remaining three fixtures, a better result is not beyond reality. We remain hopeful.