Xmas Park Runs

There was a sprinkling of athletic activity over the Christmas weekend,
including a truly outstanding and sparkling 5k performance at
the Druridge Bay Park Run on Saturday 24th December,
where Morpeth Harriers European and Commonwealth Women’s 1500m medallist,
and recently crowned North Eastern Counties Cross Country Champion
Laura Weightman, broke the Women’s course record,
previously set in 2015 by Alnwick Harrier Jo Gascoigne-Owens.

Finishing overall second to her Male club colleague Sam Hancox,
who clocked a winning time of 16m33s,
Weightman posted a superb 17m15s,
which saw her take 67 seconds off the previous record figures.

Twenty-three seconds adrift of Weightman in third place
was another Morpeth Harrier Mark Snowball.

Another prominent Morpeth finisher at Druridge was Josie Cram, who was third Lady home in 19m13s.

Morpeth Harriers dominance was also clearly in evidence at the
Christmas Day Druridge Bay Park Run on Sunday 25th December.

Former Men’s course record holder Ian Harding was the first finisher in 17m17s,
followed home in second place by club colleague Mark Snowball,
who was running for the second day in a row.
Snowball posted a time of 17m59s.
​
Also, running for the second day in a row was Catriona MacDonald,
who finished fifth overall as first Lady in 20m38s,
which was one second adrift of her best time on the course.

Meanwhile also on Saturday 24th December at Wallsend Rising Sun,
Morpeth sisters Lorna andCatriona MacDonald dominated the Ladies race,
finishing first and second respectively
in sixth and eighth places overall, posting times of 19m31s, and 20m24s,
for the latter it was a new personal best for the distance.
​
Splitting the pair of them was their Father Alistair,
who clocked 19m56s on his first appearance at the venue.

In the Newcastle 5k Park Run on Saturday 24th December,
Morpeth Harrier Daniel Melling finished ninth in 18m50s.

​All of the Park Run’s over the weekend reported Cold and Very Windy conditions.