North East Harrier League (3) Gosforth Park, 27th October

Senior Womens race at Gosforth Park on Saturday 27th October

For the first time in a good number of years Cross Country racing returned to Gosforth Park
on Saturday 27th October 2018, when local club Gosforth Harriers hosted the third
Start Fitness sponsored North Eastern Harrier League, on land to the North West of the extensive estate,
which encompasses the famous Northern Racecourse, where feature races such as the Northumberland Plate,
and Eider Chase take place, along with the Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

On Saturday it was definitely the turn of the thoroughbreds, as runners tested out a brand-new course.
The Senior Women’s field had a total of 460 finishers in their two large lap event, which included
an excellent ten from Morpeth Harriers, whose combined performances saw them finish sixth
in Division 1 on the day.

They were led home by Emma Holt, who on her second outing in the league this season,
finished 15th from the Fast Pack, posting the second fastest time overall, only surpassed
by Wallsend Harrier Danielle Hogkinson, who won her second Harrier League in succession from the Medium Pack, having won previously at Druridge from the Slows.

Holt was joined in the Morpeth team count by Victoria Gibbs (37th) (Medium Pack),
Rachelle Falloon (40th) (Fast Pack), who posted the sixth fastest time of the day,
and Jilly Bell (122nd) (Slow Pack).

Other Morpeth Senior Women’s performances came from Lorna MacDonald (141st) (Fast Pack),
​Sue Smith (158th) (Slow Pack), Alison Brown (197th) (Fast Pack), Jane Briggs (218th) (Medium Pack),
Jill Bennett (228th) (Medium Pack), and Frances Naylor (305th).

Womens Results

Sue Smith (left) and Jilly Bell (right) in action at Gosforth Park

Rachel Falloon at Gosforth Park

Alison Brown at Gosforth Park

Photos courtesy of Stuart Whitman