Terry gives masterclass in rain to take silver in 8k ATHLETICS
TERRY SCOTT led the region’s charge at the British Masters CrossCountry Championships at a rainswept Wavertree Stadium in Liverpool, writes BILL McGUIRK.
The Tyne Bridge athlete relished the conditions on a pancake-flat course to lift the over-45 section, finishing in second place overall in the 8k championship, just three seconds behind Telford’s Paul Ward who was contesting the over-50 age group.
Second in his section behind Scott was former international Ian Grime, of Salford, who crossed the line 29 seconds adrift.
In the opening race of the day for women and older masters over 6k, the medals haul set the scene for a superb afternoon despite the inclement weather, with no less than four individual awards being won and one team silver for the region’s Mersey visitors
Darlington’s Ian Barnes, a prolific competitor over the years, did what he had to do to win gold in the over-80 age group.
In the women’s over-45 section, Jarrow and Hebburn’s Elaine Leslie came close to joining Barnes on the top of the podium. However, in the end she had to give way to Cumbria’s Clare McKeown, the Border Harrier winning in 25min 12secs with Leslie finishing runner-up 10 seconds behind.
Leslie was back on the podium again when she added a second silver after the team results for the over-45 section were announced with the South Tyneside club finishing runners-up behind Bingley Harriers.
However, it was a bitter-sweet result, as both teams finished with the same 40 points total, with the Yorkshire outfit claiming victory on count-back,
Backing up Leslie were Heather Robinson and Vicki Thompson.
Other North East medallists were North Shields Poly’s Carla Maley and Maggie Loraine (Gateshead), who finished in bronze position in the over-35 and over-60 sections respectively.