ATHLETICS

Richmond and Zetland Harriers

At the recent cross country at Croft, Richmond and Zetland Harriers showed their excellent all-round abilities in the Ladies, mens and junior races. The ladies race turned out to be a battle between two Harriers Jo Adams and Michelle Nolan, with Jo triumphing and Michelle close behind in second. They were ably supported by Izzy Starkey (11th), Jackie Keavney (16th), Donna Riddler (17th), Holly Hommett (27th), Pauline Whittaker (37th), Fiona Wilson (50th) and Laura Dunphy (72nd). They brought the ladies team home in an outstanding second place.

Not to be outdone, the men showed their depth of class with a fantastic first in the team race. Led home by Harry Springhall in fourth, Rob Scott, younger brother of GB’s Marc in eighth, Ken Harker in 12th, Carl Jones (17th), Alan Ashcroft (37st), Mark Flannery (40th), Ronnie Corbett (52nd), Andy Everard (84th) and Simon Withers (88th).

The juniors were also mixing it at the top of the tree with their performances on the same day. First up were the U13 boys, George Veitch was first Harrier across the line in seventh, closely followed by Dylan Soley (ninth) and Lewis Moore (tenth). This culminated in a great team second. The girls U13 team was placed third with Anna Harrison (12th), Elise Remillard (16th) and Cassie Ramsay (17th). The U15 boys team were also placed second, Harry Robson running an excellent second, Archie Hunt (11th) and Joey Remillard (16th). The U15 girls were led home by Laura Kirkham (eighth) and Vanessa Roper (12th). Luck Hack (fifth), closely followed by James Greer (sixth), Aaron Auton (seventh) and Ryan Canizo (tenth) were the second placed U17 boys team.

The juniors were also in action again during the week at the Sports Hall athletics competition at Richmond. Great performances in the U13 girls, included Eliza Withers taking the honours in the two and four lap competition and Elise Remillard, third in the four lap but triumphing in the six-lap race with Cassie Ramsay in second. Katie Wood was second in the four lap, third in the six lap, but came into her own in the field events. She was first in the Speed B, second in the long jump, fourth behind the leaping salmon that is Eliza Withers in the Vertical Jump, but triumphed again in the triple jump! The U13 boys competed in the same events with Joe Withers placed second in the two and four lap distances. Vanessa Roper was the sole Harrier representative in the U15 girls with excellent performances in all events and a win coming in the two lap race.

A few Harriers took part in the weekly parkrun at Darlington with some PBs smashed. Rob Scott was second across the line in a new PB showing what a talent he is after only taking up running a year ago. Michelle Nolan was also in PB form and the second lady across the line, that 18 minute barrier surely will fall soon. Lucy Hack was just behind Michelle in ninth place, Jo Adams on her way back from injury as the third lady and 14th position with Andy Everard getting closer to his PB time in 28th place.

Two other Richmond members headed across to Newcastle to test themselves against a high class field at the Norman Woodcock Memorial Race held over 5 miles at Gosforth Race Course. First across the line was Shona Fletcher in 28.14, second lady and just 40 seconds behind the winner GB’s Alyson Dixon. Ken Harker also had a great race and was the 1st V40 over the line in 29.01, showing that he’s still in great form.

*richmondzetlandharriers.co.uk

Crook and District AC

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Caption: Sam Beckett, Rob Teasdale, David Best, David Goodfellow, Geoff Hewitson and Caroline Teasdale at the Norman Woodcock 5 mile race last Saturday

The Norman Woodcock Memorial 5 mile race hosted by Elswick Harriers and held at Newcastle Racecourse attracted six runners from the club last Saturday afternoon where David Best raced to a new personal best time of 28.00 to come home in 20th. Not far behind was Sam Beckett in 23rd position with a time of 28.09 while Rob Teasdale also chalked up a new PB in 28.20 coming over the line in 27th place. Caroline Teasdale ran a cracking race to clock 32.09 in 72nd position with Geoff Hewitson hot on her heels in 32.25 coming 75th.

Dave Goodfellow earned himself a 107th place finish with a time of 35.52.

Crook’s parkrunners were in action on Saturday morning with Jason Bridgewater continuing his recovery from injury by clocking a time of 19.59 in 19th place. Paul Smith ran a time of 21.07 in 36th position while Graham Laverick crossed the line in 59th place with a time of 22.55.

Hackworth parkrun saw Natalie Mulholland finish fourth with her time of 23.29. Gemma Henderson wasn’t too far behind in 24.08 to come seventh with Matthew Hargraves a place behind in 24.27. Steve Manifold completed the three-lap course in 24.42 to come tenth while Chris Clynes came 14th in 27.22. Next came George Cawkwell in 28.59 to earn 17th place while Matthew Brookes ran a time of 31.44 to come 20th with Allen Purdham next across the line in 31.52.

Jordan Rawlins clocked 19.11 at Riverside parkrun to finish fourth while Craig Downs was tenth in 20.24 and Jason Marr completed the 5K route in 20.35 to come 15th.

At Sedgefield parkrun Amanda Taylor and Jason Allison ran together in 29.02 which earned them finishing positions of 74th and 75th respectively.

* Crook AC train every Tuesday and Thursday nights at Peases West running track, Crook. All abilities are catered for and you are assured of a warm and friendly welcome.

Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

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The club's annual Christmas Dinner and presentation evening took place at the weekend with trophies being awarded after a long season of club championship races.

Stephan Tomaszewski was the Men's Club Champion on maximum points, with Rob Burn second, hampered by injury during the latter part of the season, and Cameron Choules third.

Christine Burn was Ladies' Club Champion, with Marian Codling 2nd and Faith Coy 3rd. Bryan Miller took the prize for Most Improved Male and Claire Gillan was Most Improved Female. The Endeavour Award went to Sonja Van Der Westhiusen, one of the clubs much loved and enthusiastic coaches. Sonja works tirelessly throughout the year to make sessions fun, interesting and productive, and she has a good turn of speed when she decides to do a race! A happy evening was had by all.

As the year comes to an end, thoughts turn to the annual Thirsk 10 Road Race and Wheelchair Race, and a 1.5 mile Fun Run, at Thirsk racecourse on March 22. Entries, paper or on-line, are now open and details of that and all the club's actitvities can be found at thirskandsowerby harriers.co.uk

Elvet Striders

A large number of Elvet Striders took part in parkruns around the world, Paul Pascoe and Angela Coates were by far the furthest away in New Zealand!

Husband and wife Malcolm and Kathryn Sygrove did the undulating road race, Langdale 10K on Saturday, Malcolm smashed his PB by almost four minutes achieving 46:46, Kathryn with a post-being poorly 52:10. They confirmed it was worth the long drive for the free Christmas pudding.

Sunday's Norman Woodcock Memorial 5 mile run at Newcastle Racecourse saw sub-30 performances from three of our fastest men, Stephen Jackson - 28:55 pipping Simon Gardner - 29:21 (PB) and Gareth Pritchard 29:40.

Hexhamshire Hobble, also on Sunday, saw Scott Watson lead a group of ten Striders through the first snows of winter to finish 5th MV50. Penny Browell was second FV40, followed in by Camilla Lauren-Maatta, Phil Owen, Innes Hodgson, Melanie Hudson, Dave Robson, Sue Jennings, Diane Watson and Kate Macpherson.

Jan Young and Conrad White ran Blyth Sands (approx) 5 miler on Sunday which they described as 'very cold and windy and sand like granulated sugar' Conrad came in the top 20 of the field and Jan won FV60.

Kerry Lister and Denise Benvin took part in their first Santa run of the season in Liverpool. The Santa suits didn't help their performance but they really enjoyed the experience.

Quakers RC

With very little to choose from last weekend, some Quakers resorted to heading further afield for races, although the most unique event was to be found on the track.

At the Great Langdale 10K in the Lake District, Katherine Hackett completed the course there in 41:02 along with Louise Trainor in 42:35.

At the Ulverston 10K race in Cumbria, Louise Trainor doubled up for the weekend finishing in 43:47 along with David Todd in 44:37.

On the coast at the Blyth Sands race, two completed the run along the beach from Blyth to Seaton Sluice and back again; Phil Clarke finishing in 41:30 and Michael Oliver in 43:14.

The usual trio were out on the hills, this time for the Frostbite 30 Mile event, a circular route from Pately Bridge which took in most of the Nidderdale Way. Dave Thompson and Annette Clarke completed the distance (which turned out to actually be 34 miles) in 6:39 with Charlie Bogg coming home in 7:27.

The weekend’s most unusual event saw Michael Joyeux gain redemption in the second of this year’s “Beer Mile” events, completing the alcohol fuelled run ahead of Phil Rutter and Anthony Corbett.

In the Saturday morning parkruns, Paul Dalton finished at South Park in 17:31, followed by Marc Ellis (17:55), Michael Joyeux (18:13), Brian Martin (20:10), Dale Chapman (21:15), Graham Park (21:16), David Mclachlan (21:37), Steve Mcallister (22:22), Peter Rowley (22:54), Richard Coulson (23:16), Gary Read (23:57), Danny Gordon (24:14), Paul Appleton (24:43), April Corbett (24:59), Julien Deckard (25:49), John Brant (25:51), Anthony Corbett (26:24), Phil Rutter (26:24), Glyn Casswell (26:45), Jeanette Appleton (26:50), Michael King (28:26), Lorraine Batts (33:55), Adrian Dent (35:18), Hazel Commane (35:54) and Ian Bond (40:01).

At Sedgefield, Paul Roberts finished in 21:50, along with Wendy Colling (24:59) and Jill Wallis (38:04) while Alan Prest did the Durham run in 31:12.

In Middlesbrough, Ty Hankinson completed the Stewart parkrun in 22:01 followed by Gill Colling (29:31) and Sally Singleton (29:32) while Stephen Moore ran at Albert Park in 20:01.

Darlington Harriers

Simon Rogers celebrated a personal best in the Darlington parkrun at South Park last weekend, impressing with a time of 17 mins 39 secs for fourth place.

Colin Taylor was two places behind in 17:50 and Paul Cook showed that he is picking up the pace again with 11th place in 18:14. Pete Armstrong was 18th in 19:47 and junior James Roberts recorded an identical time of 20:19 with Dominic Colley for 23rd and 24th places.

Another junior, Emma Hart, was 36th in 21:39. Steve Dauber was 133rd in 28:52.

Promising junior Layla Bell was in action at the EIS meeting in Sheffield. Running indoors for the first time, she recorded a creditable 8.37 secs in the 60m and 45.79 secs in the 300m, which is only just over a second outside her outdoor PB.

Tackling the Leeds Christmas 10k trail race recently was Paul Cook, who finished in the top 10 on a hilly and challenging course with a time of 40:19.

Harriers train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Eastbourne sports complex at 6.15pm when new members are always welcome.