Morpeth Harrier David Swinburne finished an impressive sixth in 16m20s, after being an early leader.
Alan Shepherd, who like Hudspith is a long term member of Morpeth Harriers,
was the next to finish for the club, coming home in 14th place in 17m34s,
and he was third placed Over 40 Veteran Man.

Archie Jenkins was the final Morpeth Harrier home,
finishing 184th in 22m11s, and he was 8th Over 60 Veteran Man to finish. There were a total of 1,063 finishers in this very popular event.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Middlesbrough 5k Road Race !
2012 North Eastern Counties Track & Field Championships !
British Masters Road Relay Championships !
Heaton Harriers Jesmond Dene Handicaps !
OTHER NEWS FROM MAY....
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
Middlesbrough 5k Road Race !
2012 North Eastern Counties Track & Field Championships !
British Masters Road Relay Championships !
Heaton Harriers Jesmond Dene Handicaps !
OTHER NEWS FROM MAY....
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Unfortunately due to renovation work being carried out in the centerfield,
in preparation for the forthcoming Europa Cup Athletics Meeting in 2013,
the events Long Throws had to be held outside the Main Arena,
which meant that spectators could not witness those achievements along with the Track Programme.

Three of those medals were Silver, firstly with Peter Newton adding to his 10,000m
Gold by finishing a close second in the Senior Mens 5,000m.
Newton clocked 14m36.33s, finishing just five seconds adrift of Durham City’s Dan Garbutt,
after the pair had been locked into a head to head battle for the majority of the twelve and a half lap contest.

Newton’s Morpeth clubmates Michael Dawson and Ross Floyd
finished in sixth and seventh places in respective times of 15m28.82s, and 15m46.39s.

Mitchell Green ran well to take Silver in the Under 13 Boys 100m in 14.46s.

Hannah Rank finished second in the Under 20 Womens 5,000m in 20m51.70s.

After an excellent heat run in 12.35s to finish second, Morpeths Alex Nesbitt powered his way
home in 12.22s to win a well earned Bronze Medal in the Final of the Under 15 Boys 100m.

Another three Bronze medals were claimed by
Kieran Hedley (Under 13 Boys 1500m) 4m57.22s,
Jacob Hopkins (Under 15 Boys 1500m) 4m43.84s,
and Philip Winkler (Under 17 Mens 1500m) 4m23.86s.
Elliot Kelly also performed well in the Under 17 Mens 1500m,
when finishing fifth in 4m34.19s.

For Hedley, Hopkins, and Kelly, they were also new personal best performances.

In a tough Senior Mens 1500m Final, unfortunately Morpeth Harriers
Matthew Nicholson and Lewis Timmins were ran out of the medals,
finishing fourth and fifth with respective clockings of 4m01.49s, and 4m02.53s.

Lizzie Rank secured her place in two Under 13 Girl Track finals.
She finished fourth in the 70m Hurdles in 15.54s,
and then went on to finish seventh in the 800m in 2m54.66s.

Although failing to qualify for the final, Kirsty Lang
clocked a new personal beat in the Under 15 Girls 200m heats, of 30.10s.
In the Field Events Lang also cleared 1.35m to take a Silver in the Under 15 Girls High Jump.

There was also success of Morpeth’s only Gold on the day going to
Veteran performer Andy Wake in the Pole Vault, where he cleared 3.60m,
which was quite poignant as it was the twenty fifth anniversary of his very first win in the Championship.

Click here for Day 1 Track Results

Click here for Day 1 Field Results

More medal success was achieved by athletes from Morpeth Harriers at the second
day of competition at the North East Counties Track and Field Championships,
held at Gateshead International Stadium on Sunday 13th May.
Eight more medals were added to the first day tally of nine,
and three of those came from superb Gold Medal winning performances.

Jonathan Taylor won the Senior Mens 3000m Steeplechase Final in 8m50.10s,
and his Morpeth club colleague John Woods won the Silver Medal,
when clocking 10m27.00s, knocking a whole thirteen seconds off his previous best,
set at Whitley Bay, the previous week.

In the Under 15 Boys 800m, Ryan Green completed
his fifth win in succession to win a well deserved Gold Medal.
He certainly added more gloss to his achievement, by clocking a brand
new personal best of 2m04.88s over the two lap affair,
a time which easily gets him within the English Schools
qualification requirements, a goal that has been his ultimate aim.
Green’s run was so dominant, he won with nearly a full three seconds to spare
over his most dangerous rival, Markham Lonsdale of Gateshead Harriers.

There were also another two excellent Morpeth Harriers performers in this event,
as Jarod Lewis and Jacob Hopkins, although not medal winners,
clocked new personal bests of 2m11.19s, 2m17.91s respectively, when placing fourth and sixth.

Green, Lewis and Hopkins must have drawn great inspiration from watching their
training partner and fellow Morpeth Harrier Kieron Hedley in the event immediately beforehand.
Hedley ran a perfectly judged race to not only clock a new personal best of 2m28.97,
but also to win a much prized Gold Medal in the Under 13 Boys 800m,
and this was a well earned medal to follow up his previous day’s Bronze Medal in the 1500m.

In the Senior Womens 1500m Final, Morpeths Ashley Gibson picked
up an excellent Silver Medal, when placing second to Shildon’s Kate Avery.
Avery won the event in a new Championship best of 4m20.75s,
which just eclipsed the previous figures set by Blaydon’s Jill Hunter back in 1988.
Gibson can however feel well pleased that her clocking of 4m25.02s was only
fractionally adrift of her personal best, despite a swirling wind.

In the Under 15 Boys 200m Final, Morpeths Alex Nesbitt picked up a very well
deserved Bronze Medal, despite being just a fraction adrift of his personal best with 26.24s.
He had won his earlier heat in a faster 25.96s.

Lewis Timmins consoled himself over his failure to win a medal in the
previous day’s Senior Mens 1500m, by winning a prized Bronze Medal
in a talent packed 800m Final, that actually had twelve athletes
at once on the track competing for ultimate glory.
Timmins managed to work his way through to finish in 2m01.55s.

In the Under 17 Womens 1500m Final, Alison Brown
finished third to a record breaking performance by New Marske’s Chloe Loredo.
This earned her a much deserved Bronze Medal, with her clocking of 5m19.55s.

Philip Winkler clocked a new personal best of 2m06.08s,
but sadly could not add to his previous day’s 1500m Bronze Medal,
as he placed an agonising fourth in the Under 17 Mens 800m.
Elliot Kelly also clocked a new personal best of 2m14.65s in this event.

Other Morpeth Harriers who made it to finals,
but unfortunately failed to capture medals were
Matthew Ingledew (Under 13 Boys 200m) (4th) 33.51s,
and Robbie Elder (Under 13 Boys 200m) (5th) 36.56s.

Unfortunately Morpeths Jack Hepple went out in the heats
of the Under 20 Mens 800m, where he clocked 2m14.56s.

Click here for Day 2 Track Results

Click here for Day 2 Field Results

WHATS NEW INDEX
British Masters Road Relay Championships !
Heaton Harriers Jesmond Dene Handicaps !
OTHER NEWS FROM MAY....
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

They finished nearly seventeen minutes behind the event winners Highgate Harriers,
after getting an excellent start, when Neil Wilkinson came home in third place
on first leg with his clocking of 15m43s.

Wilkinson was the squads best performer, with the other clockings coming from
Paul Waterston (16m40s), Mike Winter (18m39s), Ian Corner (22m28s),
Phil Walker (17m07s), Fergus Bates (17m11s),
Michael Thomsen (17m17s), and Jim Alder (19m30s).

WHATS NEW INDEX
2012 North Eastern Counties Track & Field Championships !
Heaton Harriers Jesmond Dene Handicaps !
OTHER NEWS FROM MAY....
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Fellow Morpeth Harrier Marie Drozdowicz, on a much more
generous handicap of 15m40s, finished 49th in 23m22s.

WHATS NEW INDEX
2012 North Eastern Counties Track & Field Championships !
British Masters Road Relay Championships !
OTHER NEWS FROM MAY....
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Senior Team Managers John Thompson, David Swinburne (Men), and Mike Bateman (Women),
had worked very hard to get their respective squads together, and it was encouraging to gain an early season
placing of third, with promising times ahead in the four match programme.

The occasion also gave the respective Team Managers an early opportunity to blood
some prospective Under 17 and Junior talents, who by performances shown on the day,
clearly warmed to the situation.

There were good points accrued by the Mens section, where wins by Will Driver (100m),
David Swinburne (5,000m), John Woods (3,000m Steeplechase and Triple Jump),
and Paul Appleby (Discus), with added B event victories by Jonnie Nisbet (800m),
Elliot Kelly (1500m), Thomas Straughan (3,000m Steeplechase), Steven Appleby (Discus and Shot)
Will Driver (Javelin), and Wayne Gedge (Triple Jump), giving extra weight to a good all round team performance.

Driver’s 11.3s, saw him win narrowly in a good early season sprint to the line,
and he was very unfortunate not to gain a second victory of the day in the 200m,
where he clocked a very promising 23.4s.
He will take some consolation however from his winning effort of 35.52m
in the B event of the Javelin, which proved to be fifth overall in the competition.

Co Team Manager David Swinburne, warmed up for his victory in the 5,000m in 16m34.6s,
by demonstrating his versatility and finishing fifth in the 400m A event in 64.5s.

John Woods rose to his call into the Morpeth squad brilliantly,
by winning the 3,000m Steeplechase in 10m40.2s,
and then going on to win the Triple Jump with a best of 10.84m.

Paul Appleby had his usual industrious day in the Field Events,
and he clearly enjoyed his victory in the Discus, with his best throw of 33.23m,
proving to be nearly two and half metres better than his closest rival.
He also went on to finish third in the A event of the Hammer (25.14m),
and third in the A event of the Shot, where he putted a best of 9.29m.
Paul was very ably backed by his brother Steven, who finished second in the A event of the Hammer,
with a best of 22.36m, and enjoyed two B string victories in the Discus (29.62m), and Shot (9.04m).

Michael Dawson narrowly missed out on two A string victories in the 800m (2m07.3s),
and the 1500m (4m16.6s), however he was very ably backed up by the excellent B string
victories achieved by Jonnie Nisbet (2m06.0s), and Elliot Kelly (4m35.1s), with the latter
achieving a personal best on his first ever Northern League outing as an Under 17 athlete.

Another Morpeth Harrier having his first Northern League outing was Thomas Straughan,
who had an excellent win in the B race of the 3,000m Steeplechase in 10m55.4s,
which made him third overall in the event, and he finished fourth in the 400m B race in 65.8s.

Wayne Gedge won the B event of the Triple Jump with 9.95m,
after also finishing third in the B event of the Long Jump with 4.38m.
This backed up Team Manager John Thompson’s A string effort of 4.57m, which saw him finish fifth.

The Morpeth Harriers Womens team were rocked by the non appearance of Elaine Telford,
who had fallen ill shortly before the event, however the rest of the squad rallied well
to the cause to produce some good encouraging results.

Claire Reid managed a victory in the A event of the Javelin (17.35m),
and went on to finish second in the A events of the Hammer (28.35m),
Discus (31.41m), and Shot (10.00m).
The Discus and Shot performances were sweetened by the B string victories
by Under 17 athlete Chelsey Morrison, with bests of 17.89m, and 7.23m respectively.

On the Womens track, Morpeth Harriers best performance came in the 1500m,
with Morag Stead finishing a good second to Wallsend’s Danielle Hodgkinson in 4m54.3s.
Under 17 athlete Alison Brown, crowned her Senior debut very nicely and very
competently by taking the B race in 5m16.7s.

Fellow Under 17 athletes Rosie and Molly McDonald also enjoyed
their particular Senior debuts, with Rosie finishing second in the A 400m (69.7s),
fourth in the A 200m (30.8s), and fifth in the A 100m (14.5s).
Molly backed twin sister Rosie up in the 200m where she finished second in 30.6s,
and in the 400m where she also finished second with 71.8s.
In the 800m B race, Molly gallantly gained a third second placing of the day in 2m43.2s,
very ably backing up Gemma Floyd’s A race placing of second in 2m30.7s.

Morpeth Harrier Kate Chapman gave great chase to North Shields Poly’s Claire McManus
to finish just nine seconds adrift in the 3,000m, with her finishing time of 11m12.9s.

The Morpeth Harriers Mens 4 x100m squad consisting of Wayne Gedge,
John Thompson, Elliot Kelly, and Will Driver, finished fourth in 50.3s.

Subject to confirmation the full match result was as follows
1st North Shields Poly 372pts,
2nd Wallsend/Blyth 294pts,
3rd Morpeth Harriers 266pts,
4th South Shields/Birtley 257pts,
5th Houghton Harriers 232pts,
6th Richmond & Zetland 185.5pts.

Click here for complete match results

WHATS NEW INDEX
National Young Athletes League Division 1
Sunderland 10k !
BUCS Track and Field Championships !
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

A very stringent effort was made on both their parts and their participating athletes
over the two gender and three age groups, to ensure a successful start to the season,
which saw them finish second, (subject to further confirmation),
behind a very strong Middlesbrough (Mandale).

Best Morpeth Harriers efforts on the day in terms of graded performances
came from Ryan Green and Georgia Priest, who both achieved Grade 4 ranking
with their achievements in the Under 15 Boys Long Jump (5.17m),
and Under 13 Girls Shot (6.06m) respectively.

For Green it was indeed an added bonus to the fact that he is very much indeed a man in impressive form.
Having achieved three track wins in succession, Sunday also saw him achieve his fourth,
when he comfortably won the Under 15 Boys 800m, albeit just outside his personal best with 2m07.8s.
He was also backed up well in this event by James Hepple, who took the B race in 2m20.9s.
Georgia Priest for her part, also finished third in the Under 13 Girls 800m A race in 3m07.2s.

Lizzie Rank in a separately run B race, had a comfortable win for
Morpeth in a faster run race, by clocking a good 2m53.7s.

On to more detailed performances over the age groups,
and at Under 13 Boys level, Morpeth Harrier Joe Dowd
gave good account for himself in the 75m Hurdles (15.7s),
100m (15.3s), and High Jump (1.20m).

Luke Waring clocked 16.0s in the 100m, and 31.5s in the 200m,
and achieved a best of 3.38m in the Long Jump.

In the 200m Tom Hizzart clocked 32.4s,
and cleared 1.15m in the High Jump,
and did 3.47m in the Long Jump.

Kieran Hedley is also having an enterprising start to the Track and Field season,
and he can be well pleased with his victory in the Under 13 Boys 800m in 2m33.4s.
Hedley also did well in the Shot, when putting 4.80m.

Alex Cunningham clocked 5m34.2s in the Under 13 Boys 1500m
Morpeth Harriers Under 13 Boys 4x100m Relay team comprising
Waring, Hizzart, Cunningham, and Hedley clocked 63.4s when finishing third.

In the Under 15 Boys events, apart from Green,
Morpeth Harriers also saw good performances from the following
Jamie Davison (100m) 13.9s, and (200m) 28.2s,
Hans Paulsen (100m) 14.5s,
James Hepple (200m) 28.1s,
Jarod Lewis (300m) 45.8s, and (1500m) 4m47.9s.

Morpeth Harriers Under 15 Boys 4x100m squad comprising
Green, Paulsen, Lewis, and Hepple took second team place in 53.7s.

Good results came from Morpeth Harriers Under 17 Mens squad.
Phil Winkler finished second in both the 400m and 800m events
in respective times of 56.2s, and 2m08.1s, and went on to achieve 5.39m
in the Long Jump, where he also finished second.
He was accompanied in the 400m by his Morpeth Harriers
clubmate Matthew Denton, who clocked 61.1s.
Denton also won the 400m Hurdles in 72.5s.
Matthew also clocked 13.3s in the 100m,
where Henrick Paulsen also clocked a slightly faster 13.1s.

Elliot Kelly had a comfortable win in the Under 17 Mens 3,000m in 9m51.7s,
and showed his versatility by clocking 27.9s in the 200m,
to accompany Henrick Paulsen’s 27.3s

The Morpeth Harriers Under 17 Mens 4x10mm squad comprising
Winkler, Henrick Paulsen, Kelly, and Denton clocked 52.9s when finishing second.

In the Under 13 Girls 70m Hurdles Morpeth Harrier Harriet Priest ran the
clubs fastest time of 14.6s, with clubmate Lizzie Rank clocking a second slower.
Naomi Arkle had a couple of excellent runs in the 75m (12.2s), and 150m (26.5s).
Her Morpeth Harriers clubmates Harriet Priest and Teegan Dryden
clocked 12.5s and 27.2s respectively as the B athletes.
Naomi Arkle also won the B Shot Putt competition, with her best effort of 5.60m.

Morpeth Harriers Under 13 Girls 4 x 100m squad finished third in 63.2s,
courtesy of Arkle, Dryden, and Harriet and Georgia Priest.
Kirsty Lang, who has been a mainstay of the Morpeth Harriers Young Athletes

set up for sometime now, was undoubtedly the outstanding performer in their Under 15 Girls squad.
She ran well in the 100m (14.8s), and 200m (30.2s),
and made an excellent clearance of 1.30m in the High Jump.
In the 100m B race, Morpeth Harrier Florence Thomson clocked 15.7s,
and in the 200m B race Olivia Priest clocked 34.2s.
Charlotte Jewell clocked 5m29.9s in the Under 15 Girls 1500m, and threw 10.77m in the Discus.

Morpeth Harriers Under 17 Women managed to add a successful tally
to their clubs score with some superb efforts.
Alison Brown was the fastest in the 800m with 2m35.5s,
and she was well supported by Molly McDonald in the B race, clocking 2m46.4s.
Brown also teamed up with McDonald’s twin sister Rosie in the 300m,
which saw Rosie finish second in the A race in an excellent 47.4s,
with Alison taking the B race in 48.9s.
These efforts are all the more remarkable because these three had all
competed in the Senior League match on the previous day.
Rosie and Molly also competed as the B competitors in the 100m and 200m respectively,
with finishing times of 15.3s, and 31.7s, very ably supporting their Morpeth Harriers
clubmates Alys McKee and Beth Laidler, who clocked 14.2s, and 31.3s.

In the Under 17 Womens 1500m, Morpeth Harriers Hannah Sheerin
and Beth Wooley clocked 5m30.3s and 5m39.5s respectively.

Chelsey Morrison was Morpeth Harriers outstanding competitor in the Under 17 Womens Field Events.
Again it was a very tall order for the youngster, however she responded well to her Team Managers
call by winning the Shot with her best of 7.43m, finishing second in the Hammer with 13.36m,
and placed fourth in the Discus with 16.61m.

Beth Wooley scored valuable points in the Shot B competition with 5.64m.

Lucy Pargeter produced an excellent supporting effort of 16.06m to win the B event of the Discus.

In the Under 17 Womens Long Jump, Morpeth Harrier Beth Laidler
secured third place with her best effort of 4.17m, and Alys McKee
supported well by finishing second in the B event with 3.84m.

FINAL MATCH RESULT (Subject to Scrutiny)
1st Middlesbrough (Mandale) 815pts,
2nd MorpethHarriers 515pts,
3rd Chester Le Street 431pts,
4th Houghton Harriers 407pts,
5th Birtley 257pts,
6th Alnwick/Blyth 217pts.

Click here for complete match results

WHATS NEW INDEX
Northern League Division 3
Sunderland 10k !
BUCS Track and Field Championships !
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Jonny Taylor produced a new personal best of 7m57.16s,when he placed
an excellent third to Bristol's David Bishop in the UKA 3,000m Championship
that were incorporated into the BUCS Championships on Saturday 5th May.
Taylor is obviously a man in good form, as he heads into
a busy and important Summer's activity on the track.

Laura Weightman decimated the Womens 3,000m Field
on the final lap to win in a new personal best time of 9m02.62s.

Elsewhere in the Championships, Morpeths Neil Gunstone and James Taylor
competed in the 3,000m Steeplechase.
Gunstone clocked 10m16.66s in his heat for 14th place.
In another heat Taylor also placed 14th, in a new personal best of 10m12.38s.

WHATS NEW INDEX
National Young Athletes League Division 1
Northern League Division 3
Sunderland 10k !
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Kate Chapman was the fifth Lady to finish in a time of 41m05s.

Other Morpeth Harriers finishers were as follows
Jim Alder (73rd) 42m05s,
Graeme Leathard (78th) 42m25s,
Marie Drozdowicz (3rd Over 50 Lady) 47m48s,
and Josie McCreeton (828th) 58m09s.

WHATS NEW INDEX
National Young Athletes League Division 1
Northern League Division 3
BUCS Track and Field Championships !
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

They beat the host club by twenty eight seconds to retain their winners title,
with North Shields Poly, a further twenty seconds adrift in third place.

Dawson got them off to a good start, by coming home a close second behind Gosforth Harriers,
whose first leg runner Finn Brodie, emerged as the fastest man on the night with 9m49s,
only two seconds quicker than Dawson, who ended up as second equal fastest on the night.

The second equal fastest just happened to be shared with Morpeth Harriers
third leg runner Ian Harding, who brought his club home to victory following
Neil Wilkinson's second leg of 10m03s, which was the second fastest

Veteran Mens time, behind North Shields Poly's Guy Bracken.
All in all the event was very well supported, with over 100 teams facing the starter.

WHATS NEW INDEX
National Young Athletes League Division 1
Northern League Division 3
Sunderland 10k !
BUCS Track and Field Championships !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

A great number of the clubs Veteran Athletes gathered for the annual presentation of awards,
which Pam and Tony were hosting for the very last time,
and those present were unanimous in their appreciation for the generosity
shown by the couple over the six years of support that they have given.

Pam addressed those present by thanking Morpeth Harriers Press Officer George Patterson,
and Webmaster Hudson Stoker for all of the support and help they had given in promoting their sponsorship,
to Alistair MacDonald for a great deal of the photography that had supported them,
Peter Scaife for keeping the grand prix standings up to date,
John Butters for setting up the Google Group, which had set up
a superb communications link between athletes,
and to Claire Bruce and Kim Taylor, for organising the raffle on the night,
where proceeds were going to Claire’s chosen charity, St Oswald’s Hospice.

Tony Woodcock said that he had been absolutely thrilled to sponsor
the Veteran’s Grand Prix for six years, and he wondered where the time had gone.
In closing he welcomed the new sponsor to the floor in Phil Walker,
whose Morpeth based Wealth Management Group was to take over
the mantle for the coming year, and hopefully future years.

Phil began by saying he had attended a few of Pam and Tony’s Presentation Nights
over the years since he had transferred from Blaydon Harriers,
and had always enjoyed the occasion, however he had not really appreciated the time,
effort and support that was needed to go towards the event.
However he had grown to like the idea, and felt that the club needed to keep the event alive,
and that he now appreciated what was required to maintain it.

He was very pleased with the new format, which he felt clearly
gave the not so elite members of the club an ideal opportunity to
achieve some success from their running, and he went on to thank,
John Butters, Hamish McCallister-Williams, Rob Hancox,
and Peter Scaife for their input in setting up the new format,
which was already showing to attract a great deal of interest.

Phil also announced that in addition to the Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix,
he would also be providing sponsorship towards the Morpeth 10k in the Summer.

Before the Main Presentation, Pam Woodcock announced that she had an
award for the Morpeth Harrier Fell Runner of the year, which went to Mike Steven.

Hamish McCallister-Williams felt honoured to be MC for the Main Presentation,
as he felt that this was a very auspicious year in terms of Pam and Tony’s handover of the reins to Phil.

The following 2011 Grand Prix awards were then presented,

LADIES
1st Marie Drozdowicz,
2nd Jane Briggs,
3rd Jane Hodgson.

MEN
1st Paul Waterston,
2nd Rob Hancox,
3rd Phil Walker.

Following the awards ceremony, Pam and Tony Woodcock were
presented with flowers by way of thanks for all their generosity.

To round off the night’s presentations Pam Woodcock announced a surprise award,
which was presented to Hamish McCallister-Williams for his devoted service to Coaching at the club.

The evening was further rounded off by a Raffle, plus an auction for an
opportunity of a stay lasting two nights, at the Holiday Home
in Cumbria of Kevin and Linda Bray, and all proceeds went to St Oswald’s Hospice.

Those present enjoyed a wonderful buffet,
as kindly served and provided by the Joiners Arms.

WHATS NEW INDEX
National Young Athletes League Division 1
Northern League Division 3
Sunderland 10k !
BUCS Track and Field Championships !
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

There were three 1500m races, which attracted a total of 28 enthusiastic competitors,
who included four Morpeth Harriers athletes.
Three of them ran in the all Male A race, which proved to be a very exciting race at the front,
which was eventually won by Gateshead Harrier Ryan Stevenson,
who fought off the very close attention of Morpeth’s Matthew Nicholson,
to win in 3m51.39s, with Nicholson recording an equally excellent 3m51.83s.
Third place went to Nicholson’s club colleague Lewis Timmins, who recorded 4m00.64s.
The third Morpeth Harrier to finish was Michael Dawson, fresh from his tough challenge
in the previous week’s North East Counties 10,000metres Championship, who finished ninth in 4m18.20s.

In the Mixed B race, Morpeth Harrier’s Ashley Gibson finished seventh,
as the only Female in the race, in a time of 4m26.05s,
which will surely be bettered somewhat as the season progresses.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Gateshead Harriers Track & Field Open Medal Meeting !
Start Fitness North Eastern Athletics League !
Craig Dixons Olympic Experience !
Morpeth Olympic Games !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Most notable amongst the Morpeth Harriers performances came from Under 15 Boy Ryan Green,
who achieved his third victory in succession in the new Track season,
when he won the 800m in fine style from Gateshead Harriers Under 13 Boy’s
Inter Counties Cross Country Champion Markhim Lonsdale,
who was running his first event as a first year Under 15.

Green certainly firmly put his older stamp on the event,
as he won with a second to spare over the competitive Lonsdale,
in a time of 2m08.55s, which was agonisingly just two seconds
outside his personal best, set at Shildon seven days before.

Nevertheless, Green can take much satisfaction from the fact that after
three events in less than ideal conditions, he remains unbeaten,
and he can look forward to his clubs first Young Athletes League
encounter at Whitley Bay this weekend, with eager anticipation.

He has also set his stall out for perhaps his biggest challenge in two weeks time,
a medal in the North East Counties Track and Field Championships,
and he has certainly laid down a tough gauntlet for all potential opponents to follow.

It was also a good day for another of his Morpeth Harriers colleagues,
and training partner, Kieran Hedley, who produced a personal best of 2m33.23s,
when claiming his first ever Track victory in the Under 13 Boys 800m.
He won with a good ten seconds to spare over his namesake Kieran Pinkney of Chester Le Street.

Ryan Green’s younger brother Mitchell, also gained a new personal best of 14.15s,
when placing third in the Under 13 Boys 100m.

Alex Nesbitt of Morpeth Harriers finished third in both the
Under 15 Boys 100m and 200m with respective clockings of 12.61s, and 25.82s.

A superb new personal best of 4.46m was achieved by
Morpeth’s Ria Fairnington in the Under 15 Girls Long Jump.
She also claimed another victory in the High Jump, with her best clearance of 1.30m.

In the Senior Field events, Morpeth’s Craig Pickup cut a lonely figure,
as he won the Javelin with his best throw of 31.54m, which was a personal best for him,
and he took second place in the Shot with a best of 7.97m.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
BMC Regional Track Meeting !
Start Fitness North Eastern Athletics League !
Craig Dixons Olympic Experience !
Morpeth Olympic Games !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

It also forced organisers to cancel the programmed Hurdle and Steeplechase events,
and a great deal of Field events, which resulted in only the Long Jump
managing to escape the force of the elements on the Field.

Despite the poor conditions, there were at least five new personal bests
achieved by athletes from Morpeth Harriers, three of them coming from the Track.

One event that did survive thankfully, was the newly arranged
North Eastern Counties 10,000metres Championship, which preceded
the League programme, instead of being incorporated into the Main Championship,
being held at Gateshead Stadium in two weeks time.

Five athletes toed the start line for this event, and they were led home
by the pre race favourite Morpeths Peter Newton,
whose last experience at the distance on the track,
had seen him take the Northern Championship last summer.

Newton successfully managed to lap the whole field twice within the twenty five lap affair,
and came home to a resounding victory in 30m27.3s, with his Morpeth Harriers
clubmate Michael Dawson claiming the Silver Medal in 33m00.9s.

Third place and Bronze medal went to Heaton Harrier’s Ian Robinson, who clocked 34m49.4s.

The other two competitors Rob Hand (Durham City) and David Moir (Tyne Bridge) clocked 35m50.8s,
and 35.56s respectively, and it was quite remarkable that all five had managed to get under 36mins
considering the conditions that prevailed, with wind adding a slight extra hazard.

On to the League programme, and Morpeths Ryan Green added another season’s
personal best to his tally in the Under 15 Boys 1500m, which he won in 4m31.8s.
Not far behind him in third place was club colleague Jarod Lewis,
who was slightly outside his personal best with 4m41.8s.

Having his first race on the Track as an Under 15 Boy,
Morpeth’s Jacob Hopkins ran well to finish fifth in 4m51.3s, again a personal best.
Also having his first race as an Under 15 Boy was Sam Williams,
who did well to finish eleventh in 5m47.01s.

In the Under 13 Boys 1500m, Kieren Hedley finished second in 5m10.4s.
Fellow Morpeth Harriers Matthew Ingledew and Robbie Elder finished
eighth and ninth respectively in 6m39s, and 6m42.6s.

The Under 13 Boys 100m saw victory come the way of Morpeths Mitchell Green in 14.4s.
Another 100m victory on the night, was achieved by Morpeths Under 15 Boy Alex Nesbitt,
who clocked a new personal best of 12.3s.

Nesbitt also went on to achieve a new personal best in a difficult Long Jump
because of the conditions, with a best of 4.74m.
Another Long Jump personal best’s was achieved by Nesbitt’s Morpeth
club colleague Ria Fairnington who did a best of 4.37m.

Jonny Nisbet was fourth Under 20 Man in the 1500m, where he clocked 4m19.1s.

Morpeth’s Joe Elder was sixth fastest Under 17 Man in his 1500m, in 5m05.1s.

In the Under 17 Womens 1500m, Beth Woolley was second in 5m41.6s.
Her Morpeth Harriers clubmate and training partner Alice Kelly was
second in the Under 17 Womens 300m in 51.1s.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
BMC Regional Track Meeting !
Gateshead Harriers Track & Field Open Medal Meeting !
Craig Dixons Olympic Experience !
Morpeth Olympic Games !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

There were a variety of well-known names,
Nell McAndrew (whom was the first woman across the line),
Fatima Whitbread, Roger Black, Mel C, Sally Gunnell,
not to mention HRH Princess Beatrice (whom I beat).
Holly Wiloughby and Iwan Thomas hosted the event,
with acts such as Escala and Flawless being pre-race entertainment.

I did the run in 40.55, which I was proud of, having only been running just over a year now.
The stadium looks amazing and you can already feel a buzz around the place,
months before the Olympics kicks off. The different arenas look stunning,
with the race entwining between each of the arenas that are on site,
butterflies were in my stomach as I passed each amazing landmark.
The race was 5 miles with a lad from Loughborough taking the crown
of first person across the finish line.

By the time I got to the end, there was still thousands of people in the stadium,
cheering each individual on to cross the line,
I did a bit of showboating, as you do, trying to encourage the crowd to scream louder
and did a customary Usain Bolt-esque sprint finish at the end.
Once finished I received a goody bag containing a medal, chocolate, foil, and other smaller things.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
BMC Regional Track Meeting !
Gateshead Harriers Track & Field Open Medal Meeting !
Start Fitness North Eastern Athletics League !
Morpeth Olympic Games !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Whilst the games themselves were very much competitive,
and in this aspect Mr Polley’s lecture certainly paid more respect to fact,
rather than myth, the event certainly held its very own place in local folklore,
however he very clearly outlined that they could never be recognised
nationally in relation to the modern Olympiad,
merely for the fact that the participants competed on a professional basis,
totally alien to amateur status given to the competition shortly to be held on our very own shores.

Mr Polley is obviously a very informed man, as he very eloquently described
the goings on within the Morpeth Olympics, as he told a captivated audience
that competitors would travel a great number of miles to actually take part,
if only to supplement a working weeks earnings.

Betting was most common, and local hostelries were very often
the place where wagers were struck, and one can just imagine the result
and recriminations that ensued over a lost bet.

Polley’s recently issued book, “The British Olympics”,
(Britain’s Olympic Heritage 1612-2012, (priced at £17.99)
and available through English Heritage,
devotes ten whole pages to the Morpeth Olympics,
where he traces through its 88 year history,
and tells of how they began in 1870 in Old Brewery Field,
which is now housing, that quite appropriately includes addresses
such as Olympia Hill, and Olympia Gardens.

In 1896 the games moved to Grange House Field,
now the home of Morpeth Harriers & AC, and Morpeth Rugby Club,
where they remained until 1914.

The First World War then interrupted proceedings;
however in 1919 the games were revived,
and took place at the Old Cricket Field in Stobhill.

However they only stayed for one year at this venue,
as in 1921 they moved to their fourth home in Mount Haggs Field in Morpeth,
where they remained for eighteen years, until once again war intervened.
Following the Second World War, the Games returned for the second time to Grange House Field,
where they remained until their eventual demise in 1958.

The lecture was organised in conjunction with the Morpeth Gathering,
and was very much a fitting tribute to the area,
in the year of the Official Olympic Games being held in London.

Harriers Chase Olympic Trophy !

WHATS NEW INDEX
Gordon Smith Memorial Relays !
Morpeth Harriers Veterans Grand Prix Awards Night !
BMC Regional Track Meeting !
Gateshead Harriers Track & Field Open Medal Meeting !
Start Fitness North Eastern Athletics League !
Craig Dixons Olympic Experience !
Morpeth Olympic Games !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Fresh from warm weather training in Kenya, Swinburn was having his first outing over the longer distance,
and certainly paid a hard penalty for his hard first half of the race,
which saw him clock 68m27s, as he slowed dramatically to record 2hrs36mins49secs.

Nevertheless Swinburn will have learnt a lot from the experience,
and will now hopefully turn his attention to the Summer track campaign for his club,
and should be capable of performing well over the 5,000m and 10,000m
distances, which should also lead to a promising Autumn on the roads.

Further down the field, Morpeth Harriers second finisher
came in the form of Hamish McCallister-Williams,
who clocked 3hrs11mins55secs, when placing 2,226th,
and was 131st in the Over 50 Veteran Mens category.

Next home for the club was Tony Lewis, who completed
in 3hrs19mins53secs, and was 3,149th finisher.

Other Morpeth Harriers who finished were Jane Briggs (2,120th Lady) 3hrs57mins31secs,
and Paul Tomlinson (9,211th Man) 4hrs02mins50secs.

Unfortunately, Andrew Lawrence, having his first experience over
the Marathon distance, was forced out at 24mile suffering from exhaustion.

LONDON MINI-MARATHONS

In the Mini Marathons that accompanied the Main event,
and covered a 5k route from Billingsgate to The Mall,
Morpeth Harriers had several runners representing the North East.

One of the regions finest performers was Under 15 athlete Alison Brown,
who came home as fourth from the region in 58th place in her age group.

Also fourth from the region in the Under 13 Boys event was
Morpeth’s Jacob Hopkins, who was 42nd in his category.
Accompanying Jacob in this event was clubmate Kieran Hedley,
who was sixth from the region in 60th place.

In the Under 17 Boys event, Morpeth Harrier Jonnie Nisbet
finished in 52nd place, and was fourth from the region.

Under 15 Boy Elliot Kelly bravely completed the Under 15 Boys event,
after suffering stomach cramps during proceedings.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Terry O’Gara Memorial 5k Road Race !
Anne Marie Readshaw Track & Field Meeting !
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League Awards !
Athlete of the Month Award !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

It was very fitting that nearly 200 runners should turn out in tribute to the former Wallsend Chairman,
who had passed away exactly three months before the race, that was very much his very own brainchild.

Among the finishers were 13 Morpeth Harriers, who were led home
by young Thomas Straughan, who finished well in 15th place in 17m10s.

Next home from the club was Paul Waterston,
who was third Over 45 Veteran Man in 18th place in 17m19s.
Paul was closely followed home in nineteenth place by club colleague John Woods, (17m20s).

Fourth Over 45 Veteran Man was Morpeth’s Phil Walker, who finished 25th in 17m39s.

Further Morpeth Harriers performances were as follows
Sam Hancox (37th) 18m22s,
Rob Hancox (48th) (7th O/45) 18m58s,
Graeme Leathard (55th) (8th O/45) 19m27s,
Chris Waugh (62nd) (5th O/50) 19m41s,
Jim Alder (68th) (7th O/50) 19m56s,
Mike Steven (73rd) (8th O/50) 20m20s,
Richard Thomson (81st) (11th O/45) 20m44s,
Scott Wilkes (91st) (13th O/45) 21m12s,
and Marie Drozdowicz (106th) (1st O/50 Lady ) 21m55s.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Virgin London Marathon !
Anne Marie Readshaw Track & Field Meeting !
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League Awards !
Athlete of the Month Award !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Ryan knocked a whole six seconds off his previous figures when he won
the Under 15 Boys 800m from his North East rival Henry Johnson of the host club.
After sitting in behind Johnson for most of the two lap event,
Green stole away with 200m remaining, to win in 2m06.18s.
Johnson had tried to force the pace at the bell, however Green rigorously stuck
to the task in hand as the pair hurtled down the back straight for the final time,
and can feel well pleased with the early outcome of the rivalry.

Not to be outdone, Mitchell blossomed in his baptism of fire in the Under 13 Boys 100m.
Firstly he won his heat, and went on to record a very promising 14.5s,
that was good enough to reward a handsome victory in the final.

Morpeth Harrier Jack Hepple, who is very much in the process of resurrecting
his athletics career following two broken legs sustained in football,
did well to finish third in the B race of the Under 20 Mens 800m.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Virgin London Marathon !
Terry O’Gara Memorial 5k Road Race !
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League Awards !
Athlete of the Month Award !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

The medals were presented to all competing members of those squads by
Morpeth Harriers Club President Jim Alder at their clubhouse, on Mitford Road,
on Monday 16th April, and the trophy that each squad won from the league was also prominently on display.

Such was the strength of their Under 15 Boys, Elliot Kelly topped the league's Grand Prix rankings,
and clubmates Philip Winkler and Ryan Green took second and third places respectively.

In the Under 13 Boys section Jacob Hopkins was third in the Grand Prix rankings,
and clubmate Kieren Hedley was fifth.

The respective Under 15 and Under 13 squads are pictured below.
Under 15 Boys (L to R)

Joe Elder, Ryan Green, Elliot Kelly (with Trophy), Philip Winkler,
and Jarod Lewis, (missing on holiday, Hans Paulsen).

Under 13 Boys (L to R)

Lewis James, Philip Kirby, Kieren Hedley, Jacob Hopkins (with Trophy),
Sam Williams, and Euan Jones.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Virgin London Marathon !
Terry O’Gara Memorial 5k Road Race !
Anne Marie Readshaw Track & Field Meeting !
Athlete of the Month Award !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Jarod, who has very much played his part in his clubs successful Under 15 Boys efforts during the season,
finished 97th, and in the top half of the Junior Boys field.

He is pictured above receiving his certificate from Morpeth Harriers Vice Chairman Bill Woods,
at a presentation held at the Morpeth Harriers clubhouse, on Monday 16th April.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Virgin London Marathon !
Terry O’Gara Memorial 5k Road Race !
Anne Marie Readshaw Track & Field Meeting !
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League Awards !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
Worcester Half Marathon !
Sand Dancer 10k Multi Terrain Race !
ERRA National 12 Stage Road Relay Championships !
Cragside 10k !
Park Run !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
Spar Great Ireland 10k Road Race !
Sand Dancer 10k Multi Terrain Race !
ERRA National 12 Stage Road Relay Championships !
Cragside 10k !
Park Run !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

The innaugural winner finished fourth behind Kenyan Peter Some, who won in 2hrs12m01s.
Batochir clocked 2hrs13m01s, finishing a whole three minutes clear of Salford's Tomas Abyu, who placed fifth.
Wallsend Harrier Yarod Hagos was ninth in 2hrs19m30s.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Spar Great Ireland 10k Road Race !
Worcester Half Marathon !
Sand Dancer 10k Multi Terrain Race !
ERRA National 12 Stage Road Relay Championships !
Cragside 10k !
Park Run !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Wilkinson was also first Veteran Man when finishing third in 34m52s.
Other Morpeth Harriers finishers were Paul Bentley,
who was first Over 65 Veteran Man in 44m28s,
and Bernie Cordes, who was first Over 75 Veteran Man in 54m35s.

Athlete of the Month Award !
Spar Great Ireland 10k Road Race !
Worcester Half Marathon !
Brighton Marathon !
ERRA National 12 Stage Road Relay Championships !
Cragside 10k !
Park Run !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Being able to only field seven of their Bronze medal winning North of England squad,
Morpeth were always going to be under pressure, however the individual performances
of Peter Newton (26m47s) on the 5.38mile long fifth leg, and Lewis Timmins (14m43s)
over the short 2.99mile third leg, proved to be the high points of their days efforts,
and these along with the dogged determination and inspired leadership demonstrated
by Team Manager David Swinburne, who clocked 15m58s on the short eighth leg,
which kept them in a very respectable leading North of England club position.

With the absence of leading performers Serod Batochir, Nick McCormick,
Ian Hudspith, and Jonny Taylor, the club were obviously short of firepower,
however the input of replacements Ben Harrison, James Taylor, making his
championship debut for the club, Ian Harding, young Thomas Straughan,
another championship debut, and leading Veteran Paul Waterston,
who is only just recovered from injury himself, could not be undervalued.

In addition to finishing seventeenth, Morpeth Harriers were also fourth from the North of England,
behind Leeds City (2nd), North of England champions Liverpool Harriers,
who on this occasion were second in tenth place, and Salford Harriers (16th),
who only passed Morpeth on the final leg, to take third by a mere forty seconds.

As usual it was a battle of the fastest on the long Leg One,
and for Morpeth Harriers this was down to Matt Nicholson,
and although he could only hold 23rd place,
such was the fight at the front end of affairs, his 27m12s,
was only just over a minute adrift of Northern rivals Stockport Harriers,
who had tried to grab a piece of early glory,
courtesy of former Sunderland Harrier Patrick Martin,
whose (26m01s) eventually emerged as the fastest long stage time of the day.

Next it was the aforementioned Timmins to join the fray for Morpeth Harriers,
and he succeeded excellently by climbing a massive ten places to thirteenth
to hand over to third leg runner Michael Dawson, who although only slipped back
to seventeenth with his individual 28m37s, managed to put Ben Harrison into a
challenging position on the short fourth leg.

With good opposition all around him Harrison battled relentlessly,
however he slipped back to twentieth with his individual 15m43s.

Fortunes were revived somewhat however with Peter Newton’s
aforementioned effort on Leg Five, that saw him take Morpeth Harriers
back up amongst the strong challengers, by finishing fourteenth,
with the fourth fastest time of the leg.

As debutant James Taylor set of on the short sixth leg,
it was now a case of preserving a respectable placing,
and although he was personally somewhat disappointed with his clocking of 16m26s,
he only lost a couple of places, leaving seventh leg runner Ian Harding with the task
of continuing the fight as he took Morpeth Harriers into the second half of the contest.
Harding perhaps paid the price somewhat, as having only just got back into training
following a back injury, he got round the long seventh leg in a very painful 28m31s,
which by his own admission was around a minute adrift of what
he would reasonably expect, and he had slipped to seventeenth.

Next to go for Morpeth Harriers was the aforementioned Team Manager David Swinburne,
and his inspired effort took his squad back up into sixteenth place.

Ross Floyd on ninth leg bravely battled to hold on to this placing,
as he got round the long ninth leg in 28m33s.

Thomas Straughan, who was having his first ever twelve stage run as a Morpeth Harriers Senior,
can take personal delight in that he managed to gain a place to fifteenth
at the end of his short stage ten clocking 16m52s.
Straughan’s only previous memory of Sutton Park, had been when running
as an Under 15 Boy at the National Young Athletes Road Relays several years ago,
and he certainly rose to the occasion demanded of him on the day,
and remains an athlete of much promise.

Eleventh leg for Morpeth Harriers fell to the responsibility of
former Junior Great North Run winner Sam Forester,
who on the day was a little disappointed in that he slipped back
to sixteenth with his clocking of 28m44s.

The twelfth and final leg for Morpeth Harriers fell to Veteran Paul Waterston,
and although he battled hard to get round in 17m10s, he could not quite match
the chasing Salford Harriers final leg runner, who grabbed the third
North of England spot in the closing stages.

So Morpeth Harriers ended the contest in seventeenth place in a total of 4hrs25mins16secs,
which was 14mins59secs behind the winners Tipton Harriers on the day;
however the squad can still feel proud to be competing with the best in the country on the road,
and still be in the top third of the field.

As aforementioned the North East’s other representatives Gateshead Harriers
managed to finish a respectable twentieth in 4hrs27mins39secs,
the highlight of their performance being Ross Murray’s 14m00s for the fourth leg,
which gave him the fastest short stage time of the day.

Sadly no North East club travelled to contest the Six Stage Womens event,
which was easily won by Aldershot and Farnham.

Click here for complete results

WHATS NEW INDEX
Spar Great Ireland 10k Road Race !
Worcester Half Marathon !
Sand Dancer 10k Multi Terrain Race !
Brighton Marathon !
Cragside 10k !
Park Run !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

In finishing sixth overall in 18m07s over the 5k circuit, Ashley Gibson was first Lady,
and Kate Chapman, when finishing 43rd in 21m03s, was 4th

WHATS NEW INDEX
Spar Great Ireland 10k Road Race !
Worcester Half Marathon !
Sand Dancer 10k Multi Terrain Race !
Brighton Marathon !
ERRA National 12 Stage Road Relay Championships !
Cragside 10k !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
Spar Great Ireland 10k Road Race !
Worcester Half Marathon !
Sand Dancer 10k Multi Terrain Race !
Brighton Marathon !
ERRA National 12 Stage Road Relay Championships !
Park Run !
Morpeth Harriers Grand Prix Update 16.04.2012
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

The busy weekends either side of the Easter holidays saw the first results in for the
newly revamped Morpeth Harriers 2012 Grand Prix
Click here to see latest tables

With performances now ranked according to percentages (using the rate my run web link),
Gordon’s run in the North Tyneside saw the first 80% plus rating for a Morpeth Harrier
and he jumps to the top of the table in League 1, just ahead of Alistair, a percentage point lower at Blyth.

Meanwhile, Mick Thomsen’s North Tyneside run, along with Fergus’ and Scott’s at Blyth
see them take early leads in Leagues 2, 3 and 4 retrospectively.

The next two races are the Wallsend 5k next weekend with a short gap thereafter to the Clive Cookson 10k.
Remember the format: you need a minimum of six races in total,
but you must include one of 5k, one of 10k and one of over 10k from the chosen list.
A full breakdown of the rules is available on the GP pages, as are the complete tables.
It’s still not too late to join up for the Grand Prix of course and there are a lot of races still to be run,
so if you’re interested, speak to someone at the club on a Monday night or send us an e-mail

A big thanks is due to John Butters who has taken on the somewhat onerous job of inputting the relevant results.

And don’t forget! The 2011 Grand Prix presentation night –
always the highlight of the Harriers social season -
will take place on Wednesday 2nd of May in the Joiners’ Arms.
The event is free, but Pam needs an idea of numbers,
so either sign up on the club notice board or send Pam an email
This will be Pam and Tony’s swansong of course,
with Phil Walker having taken over the sponsorship for the event,
so let’s make it a special occasion.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Spar Great Ireland 10k Road Race !
Worcester Half Marathon !
Sand Dancer 10k Multi Terrain Race !
Brighton Marathon !
ERRA National 12 Stage Road Relay Championships !
Cragside 10k !
Park Run !
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

2011 winner and course record holder Batochir was always at the head of affairs
after the start at The Parks Leisure Centre in North Shields, as the Ethiopian seemed
content to tuck in behind him as the pair battled a very slight headwind on their journey
towards the finish line at St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay.

Indeed it was Batochir who tried to inject some early pace as they rounded from
The Gibraltar Rock Public House to the three mile point at the Park Hotel in Tynemouth,
however he failed to shake off his rival as they reached there in 14m46s.

Batochir’s course record was definitely in danger at this stage,
and it was difficult to determine who was going to take the honour.

The final turn into the finish straight nearly brought disaster for Geremew however,
when he failed to negotiate the turn, and Batochir attempted to seize the advantage.

Once realising his error the Ethiopian battled to get back on terms,
and just managed to squeeze his way into the lead as the pair approached the finish line.

Both athletes recorded 30m46s, which was fractionally outside Batochir’s 30m20s,
however Geremew got the nod from the judge to claim victory.

Geremew and Batochir’s front running tactics had drawn them well clear of the rest of the field,
and third man home was Sunderland Harrier Kevin Calvert, who clocked 32m27s.

Fourth place went to North Shields Poly’s Ian Twaddle,
who was also first Male Veteran in 32m50s.

Morpeth Harrier Nathan Shrubb finished fifth in 33m01s.

He was closely followed home in sixth place by his clubmate Sam Forester, who clocked 33m20s.

Seventh place went to the First Lady finisher, in Clapham Chasers
former Elswick Harrier Justina Heslop, who could feel very pleased
with her clocking of 33m56s, which broke the Womens course record
of 35m40s set by Durham City’s Rosie Smith in 2011.

Eighth place went to North Shields Poly’s Guy Bracken in 33m58s,
and he was also second Veteran Man.

Ian Crampton of Durham City finished ninth in 34m11s,
and North Shields Poly’s Gary Moore finished tenth in 34m23s.

Morpeth Harriers had four other finishers in the top sixty, who were as follows
Neil Gunstone (20th) 35m14s,
Michael Thomsen (27th) 36m03s,
Gordon Dixon (49th) 37m36s,
and John Butters (55th) 37m51s.

The finishing positions of Batochir, Shrubb, Forester and Gunstone
contributed to Morpeth Harriers Mens team eventually placing second
on countback to the host club North Shields Poly.
With both clubs totalling equal points, North Shields took the title by virtue
of their fourth and final counter just managing to finish ahead of Gunstone.

Other Morpeth Harriers finishers in the Mens race were as follows
Jim Alder (125th) 41m11s,
Mike Steven (170th) 42m38s,
Eric Adams (226th) 43m55s,
Graeme Leathard (280th) 45m19s,
and Michael Morris,
who ran purely as a fun runner on the day,
and finished 941st in 61m02s.

In the Ladies Race Morpeth Harriers had five runners in the race who finished as follows
Marie Drosdowicz (41st) (2nd O/50 Lady) 45m54s,
Pam Woodcock (102nd) (1st O/60 Lady) 49m52s,
Susan Smith (127th) 51m07s,
Jane Blackett (277th) 56m26s,
and Lesley Young (278th) 56m27s.

Drosdowicz, Woodcock, Smith, and Blackett combined
to make Morpeth Harriers 15th Womens Team.

Over 1700 runners took part in the event, which was once again
splendidly organised by North Tyneside Council,
and congratulations once again go to their willing band of helpers, and to North Shields Poly,
plus North Eastern Counties Athletics Officials for their valued assistance.

Click here for complete Mens Results

Click here for complete Womens Results

WHATS NEW INDEX
Victoria Park 5 Mile Race !
Osterlauf 10k Road Race !
Elswick Harriers Good Friday Road Races !
Blyth Valley Transped 10K Race !
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
North Tyneside 10k Road Race !
Osterlauf 10k Road Race !
Elswick Harriers Good Friday Road Races !
Blyth Valley Transped 10K Race !
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
North Tyneside 10k Road Race !
Victoria Park 5 Mile Race !
Elswick Harriers Good Friday Road Races !
Blyth Valley Transped 10K Race !
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL....
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Ross Floyd’s short stage second leg saw Morpeth Harriers still very much in contention,
despite him dropping to third with his individual clocking of 11m59s,
for the two and a half mile one lap, and they were only a mere twelve
and eight seconds respectively behind new leaders Derby,
later to rank unfinished, and second placed North East
rivals New Marske, eventually to fade to eleventh.
Floyd’s leg saw him also clock the day’s 31st fastest short stage time.

Third leg saw Michael Dawson enter the fray for Morpeth,
and unfortunately he paid the penalty for a perhaps over enthusiastic start,
as he slipped back to seventh in completing the two laps in 24m31s.

Andrew Lawrence’s fourth leg of 12m09s, did draw some respite for Morpeth,
as he clawed back one place at the expense of Leeds City, the 2011 Silver medallists,
who were eventually to join Morpeth in a tremendous tussle for the Bronze medals,
behind the aforementioned Liverpool Harriers, who at this stage were moving
ever so closer to honours, and Salford Harriers, who were the big threat lying in second place,
with New Marske now holding a slender lead, having deposed Stockport.

Matters got even brighter for Morpeth Harriers on Matt Nicholson’s long fifth leg,
which saw him rise a further place to fifth with his excellent clocking of 23m03s,
which in turn proved to be third fastest of the leg, and twenty first fastest of the day.

Morpeth Harriers sixth leg runner Neil Gunstone, who was only drafted
into the squad at a late hour, certainly proved his worth on the day.
Team Manager David Swinburne and Club Secretary Mike Bateman
had managed to track down Gunstone in Dundee, where he was on a family visit,
and he willingly motored back on the Friday, to make the further journey
on to Liverpool to take his place in the squad.

Gunstone’s clocking of 13m20s saw him drop only one place,
and again it was Leeds City, who were the close fighting opposition.

This was redressed somewhat however when Nick McCormick made his
long awaited re-appearance in a Morpeth Harriers vest on the long leg seven.
McCormick had plenty of class opposition to battle with, as he locked horns
with the talented James Wilkinson of Leeds, and eventually he pulled away from
the Yorkshireman to gain two places to fourth, and passing a Sale Harriers
runner into the bargain, with his second fastest clocking of the leg of 21m47s,
only surpassed by Liverpool Harrier Jonny Mellor, who gained a tremendous lead
by clocking the days fastest long stage time of 21m43s, a lead from which they
never surrendered over the course of the rest of the competition.

As Liverpool pulled further away at the front, it was also now quite evident
that Salford has also benefited from Andi Jones’s 22m40s taking them into second place,
with Stockport holding on to third spot.

Morpeth Harriers eighth leg runner Ian Hudspith did manage to close the gap however,
with a superb 11m21s, which was fourth fastest short stage time of the day, and fastest of the leg.

This proved just enough for ninth leg runner Lewis Timmins to take Morpeth
into a medal position with his clocking of 23m20s,
proving too much to handle for the Stockport opposition,
who had also found himself passed by the strong running
Leeds City team boss Simon Deakin (23m06s).
Timmins’s time was fourth fastest of the leg, and this in turn paved the way
for an exciting battle for the Bronze medals between Morpeth and Leeds over the final three legs.

First blood went to Leeds City however, with Michael Williams’s 11m55s tenth leg clocking,
proving just too strong for Morpeth’s Neil Wilkinson’s 12m31s,
however Peter Newton fastest clocking on leg eleven of 22m31s,
proved to be exceptional, as not only was it tenth fastest of the day overall,
it also gave Morpeth Harrier Team Manager, and newly elected Club Chairman
David Swinburne just enough margin to hold off the recognised threat
from Leeds City’s final weapon Darran Bilton.

Swinburne truly gave his all as he battled to hold on to third place,
and he was a very relieved man, who was greeted by his much elated
Morpeth Harrier clubmates, when he crossed the finish line in 12m18s,
and still holding a twelve second margin over Leeds City,
for the well earned Bronze medals.

Morpeth Harriers were also the first home from the North East,
with Gateshead Harriers A team having come
through well it the late stages to finish seventh.

After a very strong start New Marske faded to eleventh,
and Gateshead Harriers B team finished 44th of 47 finishing clubs.

All three North East clubs have qualified for the National Championships,
due to be held at Sutton Coldfield in three weeks time.

Unfortunately Morpeth Harriers Senior Women were unable to field
a team in their 6 stage contest due to late withdrawals through injury,
and no other North East squads travelled to an event that was won by Rotherham
Harriers, who beat their Yorkshire rivals Wakefield, who were the 2011 champion

WHATS NEW INDEX
Radley Open Graded Track Meeting !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

The race which attracted a field of over 500 runners was won by
Shettleston's Sale Harriers bound Daniel Bradford in a time of 31m36s.

The first three finishers for Morpeth Harriers were all relatively homebred,
and it was Under 20 athlete Jonnie Nisbet who led the contingent home in 14th place in 35m16s,
despite having to take a breather during the event with stomach cramps.

Next for Morpeth was Tom Brooks, also an Under 20 athlete
who continues to improve with every outing.
Tom finished 20th in 35m50s, and ten seconds and one place
behind him was Thomas Straughan, who is also a promising name for the future.

Next home in 25th place was Fergus Bates, who clocked 36m25s, to finish as 5th Over 40 Veteran Man.
Fourth Over 45 Veteran Man was Alistair MacDonald, who clocked 37m26s when finishing 40th.

Other Morpeth Harriers results known at time of going to press are as follows
John Woods (46th) 37m42s,
Sam Hancox (57th) 38m19s,
Stephen Bradley (66th) 38m46s,
Mike Winter (70th) 39m00s,
Rob Hancox (79th) 39m23s,
and Andrew Richardson (100th) 40m43s.

WHATS NEW INDEX
North Tyneside 10k Road Race !
Elswick Harriers Good Friday Road Races !
NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
Northern Athletics Road Relay Championships !
Blyth Valley Transped 10K Race !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

The wonderful weekend sunshine continued to bless the area,
and the event was led home by Morpeth Harrier Michael Morris,
who was running his first race for some time, and he could be well
pleased with his effort that saw him cross the finish line
at Wallington in an impressive 73m29s, (new course record),
and approximately twenty four seconds ahead of his
closest rival Conrad Franks of Gateshead Harriers.

Morris, who in the past has been a leading member of his clubs successful relay squads,
now, tends to concentrate his efforts on triathlon, and he will be competing in an Iron Man
contest in Germany in July, and regarded this outing as an ideal preparation.
Third place went to Tynedale Harrier Richard Parker, who was first Veteran Man, in a time of 77m33s.

In addition to Morris several Morpeth Harriers were amongst the field of finishers.

Morpeth Harriers results are as follows
Mike McKean (52nd) 91m37s,
Hamish McAllister-Williams (56th) (2nd Over 50 Male) 92m13s,
Chris Steel (68th) 94m41s,
Ed Hillier (86th) 96m18s,
Joanne Brown (137th) (2nd Over 40 Lady) 100m45s,
Michael Briggs (138th) 100m46s,
Richard Sill (142nd) (3rd Over 50 Male) 101m06s,
Eric Adams (163rd) 103m59s,
Anthony Richardson (179th) 105m41s,
Richard Kirby (211th) 108m04s,
Pam Woodcock (278th) (1st Over 60 Lady) 113m05s,
Sue Smith (335th) 117m27s,
Rachel Forster (388th) 122m58s,
Jane Blackett (461st) 137m13s.

Places are still available for forthcoming events
to be held at Cragside, Bamburgh, again Wallington,
and a 10k at Matfen between now and Mid-October 2012,

Click here for more details

WHATS NEW INDEX
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League ( 6 )
English Schools Cross Country Championships !
Veterans North Eastern Athletics Association XC Championships !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

It also brought to a close, a particularly busy and competitive
Cross Country season for athletes from Morpeth Harriers,
and at least brought some reward for two of their teams, and six of their individuals.

On the team front, the clubs Under 13 and Under 15 Boys won their respective divisions,
with the former only achieving success at the final hurdle due to a superb performance
on the day that saw them finish first, and well ahead of prospective challengers Tynedale Harriers.

The six individual awards gained by athletes from Morpeth Harriers will be presented
at a special awards ceremony, to be held at the sponsor Start Fitness’s
premises on Pilgrim Street, Newcastle on Thursday 12th April at 5.45pm.

Morpeth Harriers Under 13 Boys were undoubtedly boosted by a
superb front running performance from young Samuel Williams,
who almost led from gun to finishing tape, to win with eight seconds to spare over his closest rival,
who just happened to be the days fastest performer in Tynedale’s Matthew Jackson.

Not far behind Matthew in fourth place overall, and second fastest on the day,
Morpeth’s Jacob Hopkins, who by virtue of this performance,
emerges as third in the seasons overall Grand Prix rankings,
which will earn him an award at the aforementioned presentation evening.
Morpeth Harriers Under 13 Boys team score on the day was completed by Kieran Hedley,
who finished in eighth place, and was fourth fastest.
That performance sees Kieran as fifth fastest cumulatively in the seasons Grand Prix rankings.

Other Morpeth Harriers Under 13 Boy performances on the day came from
Euan Jones (26th) (Fast Pack), and Lewis James (44th) (Slow Pack).

An truly excellent season for Morpeth Harriers Under 15 Boys
came to a very fruitful end by them winning their league title,
and by creating a new record in itself, by providing the league’s
Grand Prix standings with its first, second and third athlete.

On the day itself, it was those three athletes who further confirmed
their dominance, when combining to form yet another team victory.
Elliot Kelly sealed his Grand Prix victory by finishing as fastest on the day in second place overall,
and Philip Winkler (7th) (Fast Pack), and Ryan Green (9th) (Fast Pack) emerged
as third and fourth fastest on the day to take the second and third spot cumulatively.
Although not a counter on this occasion, Jarod Lewis had another good run to finish fifteenth from the Fast Pack.

Unfortunately there was some disappointment on the day,
when Morpeth Harriers Senior Men missed a golden
opportunity to win the Division 1 title for the first time.
Instead it went to Gateshead Harriers, who by comparison turned
out in force on the day, and very easily won by a fair margin.

Morpeth Harriers finished third in the division on the day, however all credit
must go to those who turned out on the day to fly the club flag.
First of those was newcomer James Taylor, who firmly used his fell running talents,
and certainly looks a promising act, as he came home in third place from the Slow Pack,
only headed by Durham City’s Dan Garbutt, and
Gateshead’s Keiran Flannery, both also from the Slow Pack.

Next home for Morpeth Harriers was Tom Brookes, who finished eighth from the Slow Pack.
Ross Floyd, who is hoping to grab a place in Morpeth Harriers 12 Stage Road Relay team
at this weekends North of England Championships in Liverpool,
firmly put his name in the hat for possible selection, when he came home as
the clubs third counter, when finishing 44th from the Fast Pack, and as tenth fastest overall on the day.
Three places behind Ross came clubmate John Woods, who had an excellent run from the Medium Pack.

Next came Morpeth Harriers Road and Cross Country Team Manager David Swinburne,
who as usual led by example by finishing in an excellent 55th place from the Fast Pack.
Unfortunately Morpeth Harriers had to look to 109th place to close their scoring count,
with Michael Winter doing his level best from the Slow Pack, however it just was not
quite enough to manage a required team success.
Credit must also go to Phil Walker and Rob Hancox, who turned out on the day
to finish in 136th and 154th places from the Medium and Slow Packs respectively.

In the Senior Womens event, Morpeth Harrier Jane Hodgson confirmed her superiority
in the Grand Prix standings by finishing in second place on the day, and only lost out on the day for fastest,
albeit by six seconds, to Durham City’s Rosie Smith, who had chosen to run from the Medium Pack,
giving her a two minute advantage for a rampant Hodgson to chase down.

Such is the quality of Hodgson’s performance, that she should get so close to a seasoned International talent.
Hodgson will however have the satisfaction of picking up her Grand Prix award from Start Fitness.

It was extremely pleasing to see Morpeth Harriers close as a team
in the Senior Womens event for only the second time this season.
Further team support came from Gemma Floyd (9th) (Medium Pack),
and Maxine Czarneka (51st) (Fast Pack).
Those placings gave Morpeth Harriers second team placing on the day
behind Tyne Bridge Harriers in Division 2.

Morpeth Harriers also finished as a team in the Under 13 Girls event, when they placed fourth.
They were led home by Teegan Dryden (17th) (Fast Pack), with further team support coming
from Lois Scott (20th) (Slow Pack), and Georgia Priest (25th) (Fast Pack).

Morpeth Harrier Alison Brown continued her busy strong season by finishing sixth
in the Under 15 Girls event, which also sees her finish as sixth in the overall
Grand Prix standings for the campaign, and clubmate Charlotte Jewell continued
her impressive progress when finishing tenth from the Fast Pack.

Having already sealed victory in the Grand Prix standings for Under 17 Men,
Morpeth Harrier Jonnie Nisbet sensibly chose not to take his place on the start line,
for what would have been his last race in that age group.Instead he wisely chose to take a
well earned break after a hectic spell of Cross Country activity,
and he will also be one of the clubs athletes to be honoured
at the forthcoming presentation evening at Start Fitness.

Morpeth Harriers sole athlete in the Under 17 Mens event was Sam Hancox,
who ran well to finish eleventh from the Fast Pack.

In the non scoring Under 11’s race, Morpeth Harrier Ailsa Jones
ran with a great deal of credit to place thirteenth overall.
She was also fourth Female finisher.

Other Morpeth Harriers to feature in this event were Matthew Ingledew (18th),
Robbie Elder (20th), and Charlotte France (34th).

In summing up the Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League season
Morpeth Harriers can feel well proud of the efforts of their younger age Boys teams,
can say tough luck to those Senior Men who made the effort, and can look
forward to a great deal of promise from their younger girls,
and to build on some strengths that exist in their Womens squads.

On a closing note Morpeth Harriers would wish to thank all those involved the organisation
of this seasons league for their sterling efforts in providing a good competition.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Run Northumberland Half Marathon !
English Schools Cross Country Championships !
Veterans North Eastern Athletics Association XC Championships !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

In the aggregate scores at the end of the Championships,
the Boys squad finished in a very respectable sixth
amongst the lesser populated counties,
whilst the Girls managed to place seventh cumulatively.

Best performers in the Boys, were undoubtedly their Intermediates,
who finished an overall twentieth, with Morpeth Harrier Elliot Kelly,
making his way through very nicely to finish as their third counter in 107th place overall,
and as seventh from the North Eastern Counties.
In doing so he also finished twenty seven places ahead
of his club mate and training partner Philip Winkler,
who was fourth counter, and by his own admittance was not
as sharp on the day as he would have wished.

Next best Boy performers were the Juniors, who finished twenty first overall,
and were led home by Morpeth's Ryan Green, who had been in the top fifty in the early stages,
but paid a little for his over exuberance by slipping back to an eventual 81st.
Best Morpeth Harrier performance in this age group was undoubtedly
Northumberland's third finisher in Jarod Lewis.
Beginning very steadily, he worked his way through to finish
a well accomplished 97th, and can also take some added satisfaction
from the fact that he was fourth from the North East to finish.
His Morpeth Harriers clubmate Jacob Hopkins, who has come through
very well after a long hardworking season, rounded things off very nicely
by coming home as fifth from Northumberland in 180th place,
when running against rivals who are a year older.

Northumberland's Senior Boys finished in twenty second place overall,
and afterwards Morpeth Harrier Jonnie Nisbet was very philosophical
about his personal performance that saw him finish 68th,
as second counter, and as sixth from the North East region.
Nisbet would have hoped for a top fifty placing on a personal basis.

In the Girls events, the best performers were the Juniors who finished fifteenth overall,
however no Morpeth Harrier could quite make the final squad,
and such is the overall strength in this age group.

Next best were the Seniors who finished twentieth, and Morpeth Harrier
Ailsa McGregor was fourth counter in 144th place.
Clubmate Hannah Rank was seventh home for Northumberland in 209th place.

Two Morpeth Harriers were amongst the finishers in the
Intermediate Girls event, where Northumberland finished thirtieth.
Alison Brown was third counter in 196th place overall. and Beth Woolley
was seventh home for the county in 281st place.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Veterans North Eastern Athletics Association XC Championships !
Gateshead Indoor Track Meeting !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Paul Bentley, who back in the 70's and 80's used to coach
Morpeth Harriers International representative Don Speight,
and was a regular member of some of the clubs successfull
Senior squads during that period, won the Over 65 Mens title,
by covering the required 6k course in a very respectable 28m15s.

Walter Ryder, who is also an England International at Veteran level,
travelled all the way down from his home in Cromarty in Scotland,
to retain his North Eastern Over 70 Mens title in a time of 28m46s over the 6k course.

WHATS NEW INDEX
English Schools Cross Country Championships !
Gateshead Indoor Track Meeting !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

In the Senior Mens 60m, Veteran sprinter Wayne Gedge
clocked a personal best of 8.3s when finishing fourth.

Alex Nesbit finished fourth in the Under 15 Boys 60m in 7.9s,
and Ria Fairnington clocked a new personal best of 8.6s
when finishing third in the Under 15 Girls 60m.
Ria also produced a seasons best in the High Jump,
when she cleared 1.35m, which was 10cm short of her personal best.

WHATS NEW INDEX
English Schools Cross Country Championships !
Veterans North Eastern Athletics Association XC Championships !
Gateshead Indoor Track Meeting !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Batochir has now taken up residency in the North East,
as he prepares for his biggest Marathon challenge in London,
and hopes to take in the forthcoming North of England Relays,
the Brighton Marathon, plus a few other events that will see
him don his clubs colours, hopefully with success.

Another Morpeth Harrier to finish in the Trafford 10k
was Michael Dawson, who clocked 31m44s,
when placing 30th of a total of 668 finishers.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Finchley 20 Mile Road Race !
Silverstone Half Marathon !
UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships !
Athlete of the Month Award !
Claire Bruce Needs Your Help !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
Trafford 10k !
Silverstone Half Marathon !
UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships !
Athlete of the Month Award !
Claire Bruce Needs Your Help !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
Trafford 10k !
Finchley 20 Mile Road Race !
UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships !
Athlete of the Month Award !
Claire Bruce Needs Your Help !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

North East Counties AA Chairman Bill McGuirk spoke
very proudly of the squads efforts on Sunday morning,
and clearly highlighted the regions Senior Men
as being the outright stars of the show,
as they saved the best to last by winning
team Gold Medals in their 12k team event.

Whilst New Marske's Ricky Stevenson could be very pleased with his individual Silver,
when finishing a close second to recent National winner Keith Gerrard
of Newham and Essex Beagles, representing Lancashire,
he could be very equally pleased that his efforts saw
him lead his North East colleagues to team Gold,
with a great deal of worthy support coming from the other five counters,
that included no less than four members from Morpeth Harriers.

Jonathan Taylor, who had certainly looked a possible candidate
for an individual medal in the early exchanges,
could count himself to be very unlucky to closely lose
out in the closing stages to Belgrave's Phil Wicks, representing Surrey.

However the excellent performances by Morpeth's Lewis Timmins (11th),
Peter Newton (28th), and Matthew Nicholson (31st),
added to Leeds City's Carl Smith (48th), sealed the well earned team medals.

Credit must also go to Gateshead's Ryan Stephenson (85th),
and Durham City's Michael Grimes (101st) for their non scoring efforts.

Another Morpeth Harrier who gave a very creditable performance on the day was Ben Harrison,
who in finishing 190th closed Cumbria's team score to give them fifteenth team place.

The regions Under 17 Mens squad just missed out on team medals,
finishing fourth in their 6k event, with Jonny Nisbet coming home in 35th place as fourth counter.

A much weakened Senior Womens squad performed well to finish as sixth team in their 8k event,
with a very exhausted Jane Hodgson of Morpeth Harriers being their third counter in 43rd place.

Led by Gateshead's Markhim Lonsdale, who ran well to take the individual Gold Medal,
the North East's Under 13 Boys squad finished in a very creditable seventh team place in their 3k event,
with Morpeth Harrier Jacob Hopkins coming home as their third counter in 54th place.

Although outside the scoring four, his clubmate Kieron Hedley
can feel well pleased with his placing of 151st, and as seventh from the region.

Morpeth's Philip Winkler and Elliot Kelly,
were second and fourth counters
for the North East's Under 15 Boys squad,
who finished in tenth team place in their 4.5k event,
by finishing in 45th and 85th places respectively.

In the Under 15 Girls 4k event, where the North East finished seventh,
Alison Brown of Morpeth was sixth home in 152nd place overall.

Morpeth Harriers only other competitor on the day was Ailsa McGregor,
who was fourth counter for the regions Under 20 Womens squad,
who finished ninth in their 6k event.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Trafford 10k !
Finchley 20 Mile Road Race !
Silverstone Half Marathon !
Athlete of the Month Award !
Claire Bruce Needs Your Help !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

The event proved to be a success on the organisational front for the local club Alnwick Harriers,
who were heaped with praise for their skills in selecting a scenic,
yet tough course for all, which provoked acclaim despite its testing terrain.

It also saw Morpeth Harriers achieve a great deal of success on the day,
by providing the event with five of the fastest times achieved in the nine event programme,
three individual winners, one team victory for their Under 15 Boys,
which more or less cemented their position as League Champions
in the Grand Prix standings for the season, and an excellent Senior Mens performance,
where they finished third on the day from Division 1,
but comfortably ahead of Gateshead Harriers,
which now sees them back at the top of the division,
albeit with a slender one point lead, as they face a final showdown
at an equally tough and demanding Prudhoe course in three weeks time.

The best all round performance on the day for Morpeth Harriers
undoubtedly belonged to their Under 15 Boys squad,
who were led home in style by their North East champion Philip Winkler,
who managed to escape the close attentions of his second placed club mate Elliot Kelly,
also running from the Fast Pack, and to put a thirteen second cushion between himself and Kelly,
as he clocked the fastest time of the day.

It was very nearly a one, two, three for Morpeth, with Ryan Green,
having made a wonderful recovery from the hamstring injury that he suffered
in the English National Cross Country in London the previous week,
just being outpaced by Chester Le Street’s Tom Goulding, and having to settle for fourth.

However Green’s placing along with Winkler and Kelly’s gave Morpeth Harriers
an emphatic team victory ahead of the host club Alnwick and third placed Tynedale.
Although not one of the scoring three, Jarod Lewis once again had an excellent run
when he finished tenth from the Fast Pack.

This result definitely presents an interesting scenario in the Grand Prix
standings for Winkler and Kelly as they go into the final meeting at Prudhoe,
with Kelly the current leader overall, and the only one who could
pip him for the title is Winkler, should he beat him in the final showdown.

Lewis Timmins certainly bounced back from his disappointments in London,
when he clocked the fastest time of the day by a fair margin
when finishing fourth overall in the Senior Mens event.
He also led the Morpeth Harriers squad home to third team place on the day,
with equally excellent assistance coming from club mate Peter Newton,
who clocked the second fastest time, also from the Fast Pack.

That third team placing, also saw them second from Division 1, which puts
them marginally ahead of Gateshead going into the final meeting at Prudhoe.
The Morpeth Harriers dominance was clearly underlined as their six counters
were all inside the first fifty five of a 342 strong field of finishers.

Third home for Morpeth was Thomas Straughan, who did well in his promotion
to the Medium Pack, when finishing in an excellent 26th place.
Next home was Stephen Bradley from the Slow Pack, from which he will live
to fight another day, as he finished in 31st place.
The scoring six were completed by Mick Thomsen (50th) (Medium Pack),
and Gordon Dixon (52nd) (Slow Pack), who definitely performed well
as a firmly established endurance competitor.
Just outside the scoring six was John Woods, who ran well as
a newcomer to the Medium Pack, when finishing 55th.

Morpeth Harrier Jane Hodgson firmly kept her grip at the top
of the Senior Womens Grand Prix standings, when finishing third
from the Fast Pack, and as easily the fastest performer,
when finishing a good thirty seconds clear of her closest rival,
the visiting and non scoring Jacqueline Fairchild of Trafford AC.

Maxine Czarneka was Morpeth’s only other finisher on the day,
when placing 20th overall, and as fourth fastest from the Fast Pack.

The Under 17 Mens event eventually became a stroll in the park for
Morpeth’s Jonnie Nisbet, as he sat in on the first of the two laps,
and eventually stole away to win by a very comfortable twenty eight seconds
over his closest rival Isaac Dunn of Blackhill.

In the absence of his fiercest rival Markhim Lonsdale of Gateshead Harriers,
Jacob Hopkins celebrated a superb victory in the Under 13 Boys event,
by a margin of six seconds over his closest rival.
However his run from the Fast Pack was a good fourteen seconds faster
than his closest rival in terms of handicapped time.
Morpeth Harriers finished as third team in this event,
with further support coming from Kieran Hedley (9th) (Fast Pack),
and Philip Kirby (27th) (Fast Pack).

In an event mainly dominated by Fast Pack runners, Morpeth’s Alison Brown
fought well to finish fifth in the Under 15 Girls event.
Charlotte Jewell, also running from the Fast Pack, came through to finish in 17th place.

Morpeth Harriers Under 13 Girls squad finished in fourth team place,
being led home by Olivia Priest, who finished sixth from the Slow Pack.
The scoring count was completed by Teegan Dryden (10th) (Fast Pack),
and Lois Scott (30th) (Slow Pack).
Lois was closely followed home in thirty first place
by Georgia Priest, who ran from the Fast Pack.

In the Non scoring Under 11’s event, Morpeth’s Matthew Ingledew
competed well in his first event to finish ninth.
His clubmates Adam Kirby and Harriet Priest finished fourteenth
and twenty fifth respectively, with Harriet being the ninth Female home.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Athlete of the Month Award !
Claire Bruce Needs Your Help !
Harriers Chase Olympic Trophy !
Jarrow Indoor Athletics Meeting !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Elliot who joined Morpeth Harriers from North Shields Poly during last Summer,
has come on leaps and bounds under the watchful eye of his coach Mike Bateman,
and has now become a firmly established member of the clubs Under 15 Boys squad.

He has been particularly outstanding during February,
especially in his recovery from injuries sustained when
knocked off his bike in a road accident.

An excellent Harrier League performance at Wrekenton at the beginning of the month,
saw him go to the top of the Under 15 Boys Grand Prix standings,
this was followed up by a superb run at the National Cross Country
Championships in London, where he finished 60th, and was second home from the region.

Elliot is pictured above, with his Certificate of Achievement,
alongside Morpeth Harriers Press Officer George Patterson,
at the clubhouse, on Monday 5th March.

WHATS NEW INDEX
Claire Bruce Needs Your Help !
Harriers Chase Olympic Trophy !
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League ( 5 )
Jarrow Indoor Athletics Meeting !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

In her time as a runner, Claire has completed numerous races,
including Half Marathon distance, and no less than three full Marathon's.
She now feels in need of a challenge that would require the need for slowness,
and not the necessity for speed !

In order to do this, and give something back, she has chosen to raise
money for her favourite local charity; St Oswald's Hospice.

St Oswald's Hospice is an amazing place, and staffed by equally amazing people.
The hospice requires £8.5 million per year to survive, and only £2 million comes
from the statutory authorities, so therefore it relies on around £6.5 million being
raised by donations by the public sponsoring mid-life crisis women like Claire.

After a chance conversation, whilst on a physio table,
she decided to enter The Wall endurance race (June 2012),
Sixty nine miles in two days along Hadrians Wall,
and even worse than that, camping overnight,
She actually admits to being far too soft for camping.

The thoughts of that really scared her, so as a mental diversion tactic;
she has agreed to join the Hospice's trek up to Kilimanjaro (June 2013.) Aargh !

So now she has two events to plan and train for,
one long and slow, and one high and slow.
Claire is asking for help in raising lots of money,

Click here to donate

WHATS NEW INDEX
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League ( 5 )
Athlete of the Month Award !
Harriers Chase Olympic Trophy !
Jarrow Indoor Athletics Meeting !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

The Morpeth event, starting in the 1870s, used to attract vast numbers of runners from far and wide
and also included high jump and pole vault plus Cumberland and Westmoreland wrestling.

As part of this year's Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering, the organisers have invited Martin Polley,
an expert on the alternative Olympics (there was another in Much Wenlock in Shropshire)
to give a lecture on the history of these events, particularly the Morpeth Games.

When the Morpeth Games were wound up in 1958, one of the trophies was presented
to Morpeth Harriers and was competed for in the club's annual race held on a long-established
route from Morpeth through Mitford, the Mitford Steads and back to Morpeth.

The trophy was presented to the race winner but has now disappeared.
Harriers Secretary Mike Bateman said ' We think that during the 1980s or 1990s
one of the winners didn't bring it back and since then we've lost track of it.'

'It would be great if we could get it back so that we can exhibit it at
the Morpeth Gathering lecture and other events leading up to London 2012.'

So if you are a previous winner of the Morpeth 11K race,
please have a look in your trophy cabinet for the Morpeth Olympic Games trophy and,
if you find it, please let the Harriers know

For those interested in the Morpeth Olympic Games Lecture
on Sunday 15th April 2012’ details are as follows

6pm THE MORPETH OLYMPIC GAMES
talk by sporting history expert Martin Polley,
author of English Heritage’s book “The British Olympics”
Evening ticket £5 in Morpeth Town Hall.

7.30pm ARCHIVE FILMS FILMS
Tom Temple’s Morpeth Olympics sequences
and other local sporting heritage films with Keith Hartnell
Evening ticket £5 in Morpeth Town Hall.

Tickets and accommodation information are available
from Morpeth Tourist Information Centre,
The Chantry,
Bridge Street,
Morpeth,
NE61 1PD
Tel: 01670 535200
or further information from
Kim Bibby-Wilson,
Chairman,
MNGC,
Westgate House,
Dogger Bank,
Morpeth,
NE61 1RE
Tel.: 01670 513308

More details can be found here

WHATS NEW INDEX
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League ( 5 )
Athlete of the Month Award !
Claire Bruce Needs Your Help !
Jarrow Indoor Athletics Meeting !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

WHATS NEW INDEX
Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League ( 5 )
Athlete of the Month Award !
Claire Bruce Needs Your Help !
Harriers Chase Olympic Trophy !
OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH....

Return To Top Of Page

Forthcoming Events

Sunday 20th May
Pier - to - Pier Race (MT)
South Shields to Roker

Sunday 20th May
National Young Athletes League Round 2
Whitley Bay

Wednesday 23rd May
North East Athletics League (2)
Monkton Stadium

Wednesday 23rd May
Clive Cookson 10k Road Race
Monkseaton

Return To Top Of Page