Record entries mean 10k will be double the fun
WELCOME RACE PROBLEM GETS A CREATIVE SOLUTION
TONIGHT’S North Eastern Counties 10,000 Metres Championship at Monkton Stadium has given the organisers a big problem – albeit it’s a nice problem to have.
Despite a huge increase in the numbers taking to the roads for a 10k, to contest the distance over 25 laps on the track has, in the past, largely been a no go.
Over the years the championships have been moved around the region in an attempt to drum up support but it’s only recently that the numbers lining up have reached double figures.
But tonight’s championship has received a staggering 40 entries – a figure which has necessitated splitting the group into two races.
Such a number, which is more than double last year’s turnout, has come as a surprise to championship secretary Keith Willshire.
And he has had to liaise with tonight’s North East Grand Prix (NEGP) administrators on how to fit two 10,000 metre races into a full programme of track and field events.
“It’s staggering really that we have 40 athletes entering though on reflection there aren’t many 10,000m track races in the region so maybe it’s not to be unexpected when you see the numbers now turning out in road races,’’ said Willshire, who is hoping that entries for next month’s main North East Championships at Middlesbrough will also attract lots of entries.
“Chris Betts, the NEGP organiser, has been very accommodating in helping to come up with a solution to run two races on the night and I personally thank him for that and I hope that the athletes set to compete later in the evening will also be supportive knowing that the meeting will be disrupted in a small way.
“The plan is to seed the two races with the first one setting off at 6.10pm followed by the second, which will have six women amongst the line-up, starting as soon as the last runner has crossed the line.
“It’s not ideal but it’s the best scenario we can come up with having been blessed with such a large entry.’’
Many of the technical officials on duty tonight will be able to recall the time that only two or three competitors would enter the 10,000m championships but it looks as though that will now no longer be the case.
North East Counties CrossCountry team manager Stewy Bell won the title on at least three occasions, lifting the gold medal at Gateshead in 2004 when he beat only one rival so the staggering number taking to the track tonight pleases him – especially as his son Jordan is among the entries.
“I can recall the 10,000m being part of the main championships before it was moved around to different tracks in an effort to try and increase the numbers,’’ said Bell, a leading figure in the promotion of the Blackhill Bonders club.
“In 2002 the race was held in Darlington and there were six of us on the start line then a couple of years later at Gateshead there was just a couple of us – Michael Jones of South Shields was the only other.
“So to see so many wanting to run this year can only be a good thing for I know there was talk 10 years ago or so of cancelling the event all together.
“Perseverance by the championships committee has certainly paid off and they should be congratulated for their wisdom in keeping the race going.’’
Among the 40 entries there are six women which is also a record since the North East Championship was first held in 2014, which was won by Jarrow and Hebburn’s Heather Robinson who, as well as retaining her title the following year, is among the entries once again tonight.