Terry O’ Gara 5k

Lee Bennett in action at the 2019 Terry O’ Gara 5k

Lee Bennett was Morpeth’s first finisher in the annual Terry O’Gara 5k
held on the old Wagonways at the West Allotment Country Park
on Sunday 28th April 2019

The race also incorporated the NEMAA 5k Championships for 2019.
A close race was narrowly won by Matthew Linsley of Gateshead Harriers in 15 minutes 34 seconds
after Jordan Middlemiss of host club Wallsend had made all the running till a few hundred metres of the
finishing line, only to be reeled in by all three of the chasing pack, Linsley, Gus Withers and Conrad Franks.

Bennett clocked 16m 35s in 12th place, but had the distinction of being first Over 50 male and first Morpeth home. There were also NEMAA medals for Morpeth Harriers Dave Nicholson and Gavin Bayne
(2nd and 3rd Over 60 in 18m 52s and 19m 36s respectively).

Other Morpeth male finishers were Graeme Thorpe, 29th in 17m 40s and Jason Dawson, 54th in 18m 54s.

There was some consolation for Wallsend in the women’s race where Danielle Hodgkinson,
running on home turf, had a convincing victory in 16m 45s.

Morpeth’s Pam Woodcock matched Benett by winning the Over 65 category in 24m 39s.
Claire Calverley was 9th O/35 in 22m 5s, Sue Smith 5th Over 50 in 23m 31s
and Lesley Chapman 4th Over 55 in 24m 5s. In her first outing in a blue and white vest,
​meanwhile, newcomer Taylor Murdy ran a very impressive 20m 54s finishing 115th, and was ninth in her age group.