Terry O’Gara Memorial Road 5k Race

Just under 200 runners took part in the annual Wallsend Harriers Terry O’Gara Memorial Road 5k Race,
which was held on a brand new course on West Allotment Country Park on Sunday 24th April.

The event was won by Shildon’s Cameron Boyek in a finishing time of 14m48s,
with Elswick Harrier’s Ethiopian Tadele Geremew finishing second in 15m10s,
just ahead of Morpeth Harrier’s leading Veteran Man Ian Hudspith,
who was given an identical time.
Not far behind Hudspith in fourth place was his Morpeth club colleague Sam Hancox,
recent winner of the Blyth Valley 10k, who is in the form of his life,
which was further proved by his time of 15m18s.

Morpeth Harriers next finisher was John Butters,
who finished eighth in 15m51s, and was second Over 40 Veteran Man.

Other very prominent finishers for Morpeth were Jordan Scott and Elliot Kelly,
who finished 17th and 26th respectively posting times of 16m22s, and 16m58s.

It also was another step on the road competitively for Kelly,
who spent most of the winter months out of action with illness.

Four places behind Kelly was club colleague Emma Holt,
who finished third in the Ladies race behind Elswick’s Justina Heslop (22nd) 16m40s,
and Birchfield’s former Wallsend Harrier Danielle Hodgkinson, who finished 25th in 16m47s.
Holt posted a finishing time of 17m13s.

Other Morpeth Harriers results were as follows
Matthew Boyle (35th) 17m31s, Michael Thomsen (37th) (8th O/40 Man) 17m37s,
Rob Hancox (42nd) (5th O/50 Man) 17m44s, Steve Haswell (74th) (19th O/40 Man) 19m07s,
Paul Bellingham (80th) (14th O/50 Man) 19m44s, Peter Scaife (82nd) (15th O/50 Man) 19m49s,
Jim Alder (87th) (16th O/50 Man) 19m56s, and Archie Jenkins (135th) (4th O/60 Man) 22m32s.

Doubts were expressed regarding accuracy of the course, it was felt to be slightly long by some competitors,
however at time of going to press this matter had not been fully clarified.
One aspect of this was, that Ian Hudspith’s time on the actual course run,
could well prove to be a national age group record, if further investigations come to light.