Andy Burns off rivals to take honours
NORTH East athletes representing England and Scotland in the annual British and Irish Cross-Country International did the region proud at the latest edition in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
As well as three top-three individual placings every representative returned home with a team medal.
Setting the standard during a great day’s sport at Grancha Park was Jarrow and Hebburn’s Andy Burn, who came out on top in the 35-year-old age group after being in the leading group throughout 8km contest.
Burn, the European Masters’ 10,000 metres silver medallist and making his cross-country international debut, proved too strong for a trio of Ireland rivals who tracked him before they slipped away on the final circuit.
While Burn was wearing an England cross-country vest for the first time, a delighted Terry Scott (Tyne Bridge) was making his third England appearance, and managed to make it onto the podium for a second time, picking up a bronze medal after just moving up into the over-45 category.
Scott, back in fine form after injury issues, was on the podium for a second time, together with Evenwood’s John Clifford (14th), after helping England to team gold.
Elswick’s Mark McNally, no stranger to the international scene having represented England on a number of occasions through the age groups, added to the North East’s medal haul by finishing third in the over-70 section.
There was local rivalry in the women’s over-35 contest with Jacqui Etherington (Sunderland) representing Scotland and Birtley’s Tracy Milmore and Carla Maley (North Shields Poly) lining up for England.
And, at the end of the day, bragging rights were shared after Milmore led the region’s charge finishing in seventh place with Etherington 37th and Maley 43rd.
However, in the team results, which was won by Ireland, Scotland pipped England by just one point to claim team silver.