Celebration of a great North East Harrier League season
THE curtain came down on the Start Fitness North East Harrier League season with a standing-room only presentation evening in the sponsors’ Newcastle store.
Individual grand prix awards and team successes were awarded with leading masters’ athlete Guy Bracken in attendance to hand out the prizes.
From under-13 to masters (veterans) they stepped forward to huge applause after a season that has seen the league grow to arguably the best supported and organised in the country.
And for one family in particular the night will live on in their memory for many a year.
Elswick Harriers’ Lee Bennett, his daughter Robyn and son Rowan all made it to the presentation table, Lee leading the way in the masters category. Robyn topped the listings in the under-20 women’s section while Rowan finished in third place in the under-15 boys age group.
Unfortunately, the leading female of the family, mum Jill, couldn’t quite make it a full house despite tackling five of the six fixtures where she eventually finished in 32nd place in the veteran women’s division.
Of course, while the Bennetts were rightly roundly applauded, that was also the case for all of the prizewinners.
The top senior women’s prize went to Morpeth’s Emma Holt who scored maximum points in three of the four races she contested only being denied a clear run at Herrington when teammate and recent Commonwealth Games 5,000m bronze medallist Laura Weightman got the better of her.
In the senior men’s grand prix Jarrow and Hebburn’s Andy Burn came out on top while in the under-17 category Morpeth’s Taylor Glover claimed the top award for the second year in a row.
There was a popular winner of the veteran women’s grand prix with the leading award going to Morpeth’s Jane Hodgson, who came top of the pile in all of the six fixtures.
The under-15 boys competition was won by Houghton’s Henry Johnson who topped the table with maximum points as did Ines Curran (Gateshead) who led the way in the under-15 girls section. Alnwick’s Lauren Brown came out on top at under-13 level after scoring maximum marks in five fixtures while Chris Perkins (Birtley) was one point short of a maximum to take the title in what was a highlycompetitive under-13 boys section.
Team trophies were awarded to Morpeth Harriers who claimed the senior men’s division one title; Gosforth, who came out on top in division two and Blaydon, who led the way in division three.
Morpeth also topped division one of the senior women’s contest with Heaton topping division two and Saltwell division three.
Gateshead were awarded the under17/20 women’s trophy while Morpeth came out on top in the under-17 men’s section. Houghton were crowned champions in the under-15 girls age group with once again Morpeth claiming the under-15 boys title.
Blackhill Bounders scored a notable success in the under-13 boys age group while Alnwick led the way at under-13 girls level.