Morpeth’s lads Relay prove the top squad
JUNIOR ATHLETICS
MORPETH Harriers’ were the region’s young star performers at the Northern Athletics Road Relay Championships at Sportcity, Manchester, writes BILL McGUIRK.
The Northumbrian trio of Ben Waterfield, Euen Duffin and Dylan Davies came out on top in the under-15 boys’ 3x3,100m contest heading home Horwich by seven seconds with Salford a further six seconds adrift in third place.
North Shields Poly led at the first changeover thanks to Josh Blevins, whose time of 11min 15sec was the second quickest overall of the day. Morpeth, meanwhile, were in in eighth position but thanks to Duffin’s 11:19 - the third fastest overall - on stage two they were now at the head of affairs, a position Davies consolidated on the glory leg.
The Poly eventually finished fifth with Gateshead, who had Ethan McGlen their fastest (11:30), in 12th and Morpeth’s second string crossing the line in 25th spot. Houghton Harriers’ under-17 men and under-17 women produced a bronze medal performance in Manchester. Pictured, left to right, are Will Bellamy, Henry Johnson, Sam Gibson, Lydia James, Eva Hardie and Anna Pigford Morpeth Harriers’ under-15 boys topped the podium at the Northern Athletics Road Relay Championships in Manchester. Pictured, left to right, are Ben Waterfield, Dylan Davies and Euan Duffin
Houghton Harriers had a double to celebrate, their under-17 men and under-17 women both making it on to the podium after finishing third in their respective events.
Henry Johnson ran the lead off leg in the 3x3,700m contest and came home in sixth place (11:59).
Sam Gibson, who finished third in the Junior Great North Run earlier this month, set about cutting back the deficit and managed to move through to third with an identical time to Johnson.
English under-17 3,000m champion Will Bellamy had the honour of running the final leg.
Against a number of the north’s leading athletes, he managed to hang on to third place with the day’s sixth-quickest time as the chasing pack closed in.
Morpeth, with Daniel Melling their quickest, finished seventh
(36:10) while Houghton’s B team closed in 25th position (41:36).
In the under-17 women’s relay over the same 3x3,700m course, Houghton (Lydia James, 14:19) were back in 11th place at the first changeover.
However, that all changed on leg two as Eva Hardie showed signs of her old form to move the black and golds through to second place with the stage’s fastest time (13:28) and the fourth fastest overall.
It was left to Anna Pickford to stay in contention on the final leg and though she was overtaken by a Salford athlete she saw off the rest of her rivals to come home in third place with a time of 14:17.
Houghton claimed the bronze awards in 42:04.
Morpeth, with Holly Peck their quickest runner (13:39), secured eighth spot in 44:37.
RAVENSWORTH Bowling Club is celebrating a first after two of its members came out on top at the English Bowling Federation Championships in Skegness.
Jimmy Taylor and Pat Connelly qualified for the prestigious fixture after winning the Durham senior pairs title.
In Skegness, Taylor and Connelly accounted for local rivals Northumberland 21-11 in their opening contest and then Lincolnshire 21-16.
In the semi-finals the Gateshead duo saw off North Cambridgeshire 20-4 before defeating Cleveland 15-10 in the final.
■■NEWCASTLE University Boat Club rowers won four medals for Great Britain at the FISU World University Rowing Championship in Shanghai, China.
Natasha Harris-White raced in both the women’s eight and the coxless four, cruising to the gold medals in the two disciplines.
James Robson raced in the men’s eight crew, helping Team Great Britain dominate the races and win the final in style.
Frances Russell claimed silver in the women’s pair.
■■NEWCASTLE Hockey Club’s senior men’s team started its season with a 2-1 victory over Jesmond Parish Chruch Church Seconds.
Neil Dale scored both goals for Newcastle as they claimed their first victory over Jesmond since December 2013.
■■AMBLE East End Walking Football Club is seeking new members.
The club trains on Tuesdays (6.00-7.00) at James Calvert Spence College Sports Hall and plays in the Blue Flames Walking Football League once a month.
Contact Josh Rutherford on 07714 862 292 for more details.
■■SNORTING Lisbon top the Soccersixes’ Consett Premiership after five wins in five matches.
■■KILLINGWORTH-based undereight football team KYPC is seeking sponsorship to cover the cost of new strips and winter training jackets. Anyone able to help should contact Curtis Dawson on 07896 521 965.