Harriers and Durham club link up to get kids running
a limited extent, and devising a suitable award and reward system.
“We also feel that we could organise inter school events. The use of personal diaries might also encourage people to reflect on their own training and competitive efforts alongside target and goal setting.’’
The steering group, which also includes Sunderland middle distance coach John Archer, sprint coach Andy Abbot and Paul West, will formally report back in July when the project is complete.
Birtley Athletics Club stage their three-stage cross country relays for the second time at Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy on Sunday. The event also incorporates the North East Masters Athletics Association Championships.
Sunderland Harriers dominated the championships last year by winning the Over-35 and Over-45 men’s relay gold plus bronze medals in the Over-65 event.
They also provided three runners that ran the fastest lap times in their category and placed three teams in the first eight in an entry of 74. The only event they did not win medals was in the senior men’s race where they finished eighth. But this time there is high hopes that the team can get in the frame with Liam Taylor, Andy Powell and Steve
Rankin, the selected trio.
All three athletes are in good form going into the relay as shown by recent results.
The Over-35 masters team is Steve McMahon, Chris Jackson and Michael Edwards, while the Over45s sees Paul Blakey, Tim Field and Michael Thompson in action.
Timetable: Race 1 -Teams of three (two laps of 1500m) - 10.00am M35-44, M4554, M55-65, M65+. Race 2: 11.00am Senior Women/ Masters W35-44, W4554, W55-64, W65+. Race 3: 11.50am Senior Men.
In the Brass Monkey Half Marathon in York it was won by Richard Start of North Derbyshire RC (1.07.35). Liam Aldridge (Billingham) in sixth (1.08.59) and Stephen Jackson (Elvet Striders) seventh (1.09.05), were first home from the North East.
Sunderland Strollers had John Cook with a time of 1.14.58, Andrew Forbes was next (1.18.23), Luke McCormack (1.20.08) Over-45 Neil Proctor (1.26.18) and Over-55 Ritchie Gerry (1.28.55).
Sunderland Harrier Over-45 Martin Blenkinsop finished in 1.26.21 and Houghton Harrier David Gribben was first Over-60 (1.28.21). The women’s winner was Lorna Young of Leeds (1.18.30) with Birtley’s Tracy Millmore first Over-35 in fourth (1.19.51).