Terry O’Gara 5k Road Race

Following a year very much in the athletics wilderness, Morpeth Harrier Sam Hancox
is indeed back, and very much bouncing.

The recent Blyth 10k Road Race winner produced yet another emphatic win in the Terry O’Gara 5k Road Race
on Sunday 22nd April 2018, held at Wallsend, finishing in a time of 15m29s, his second-best time for the distance, his best being the 15m08s, that he posted in the Sunderland 5k event in 2016, where he finished second.

Sunday’s time saw him finish with thirty-seven seconds to spare over Blyth’s Ellis Hetherington.

Also finishing well to the fore for Morpeth Harriers on Sunday, were Under 17 athlete Daniel Melling
and Tom Inness, who finished in seventh and eighth places, posting respective times of 16m42s,
and 16m50s, both new personal bests.

Not far behind these two, was new acquisition Rowan Bennett, who finished eleventh in 17m05s,
and he was second Junior finisher to Melling, this was also an excellent new personal best for the distance.

Morpeth Harriers next finisher was Matthew Boyle, who placed 22nd in a time of 17m52s,
just two seconds and one place ahead of the winner’s Father Rob,
who was second in the Over 50 Veteran Men’s category.

Just behind them in 24th and 25th places were Rowan Bennett’s Father Lee,
and older sister Robyn, who have also just swelled the ranks of Morpeth Harriers, all having left Elswick.

They were both given identical times of 18m07s, in Robyn’s case, it represented
a new personal best for the distance, and she won the overall Women’s title.
Lee was fourth in the Over 40 Veteran Men’s category.

The event, which also incorporated the North East Masters Athletics Association Championships,
had a total of 182 finishers,
amongst them also the following Morpeth Harriers.
Gemma Floyd, who finished 35th in 18m54s, and was third Women’s finisher, and was first Veteran Woman,
​David McGuckin (98th) (4th O/60 Man) 21m24s, Susan Smith (137th) (12th O/45 Woman) 23m33s,
​Paul Bentley (152nd) (3rd O70 Man) 25m01s, and Pam Woodcock (157th) (1st O/65 Woman) 25m42s.