Elswick Harriers Good Friday Road Races

Start of the 2019 Senior Women relays on Good Friday

It was certainly a “Good Friday” in every sense of the word for the hard-working athletes of Morpeth Harriers, as they triumphed in the sun at the annual Elswick Harriers Good Friday Road Races, held at Newburn Business Park.
By the time the Senior Relay events, (4 Legs for Men, and 3 for Women) got underway, the early morning misty conditions had gradually given way to warm sunshine, and by the time the final event for Men had concluded, the refreshing abundance of water bottles was clearly in evidence, as a just reward for efforts made all round.

Morpeth Harriers won  the Women’s event by a one minute fifty three second margin over second placed
Gosforth Harriers, with Jarrow and Hebburn a further ten seconds adrift in third place.

The Morpeth squad led throughout, after Olympian Laura Weightman, who always enjoys this event,
paved the way by producing an early lead of nearly a minute and a half over early second placers
Gateshead Harriers, courtesy of Junior athlete Chloe Wellings.

For Weightman’s part, she had clocked an excellent 10m53s,
which ironically was only a mere second outside her own course record, set in 2017.
She had only missed out in 2018 because of her Commonwealth Games involvement
and had first competed in these events as an Under 13 athlete.

Catriona MacDonald (12m53s), eagerly held on to her lead during the second leg,
and it was left to seasoned Veteran Jane Hodgson (12m21s) to confirm an excellent victory effort.

Morpeth Harriers Senior Women’s B team finished in an excellent fourth place, as first B team,
courtesy of Holly Peck (12m56s), Lorna Macdonald (13m09s), and Robyn Bennett (12m52s).

In the Veteran Women’s relay, Morpeth finished fifth, courtesy of Helen King (13m15s),
​Claire Calverley (15m26s), and Gemma Floyd (12m57s).

Laura Weightman on the first leg for Morpeth