Big entry Heads its way to league meet
THERE was again a huge turnout by the region’s young athletes for the latest round of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League at Aykley Heads, Durham City.
Around 500 competitors took their chance over a tough course.
As usual the youngest age group, the under-11s, opened the day’s action and, just as he has done all season, first across the line in the boys’ race was North Shields Poly’s Zak Brannon.
Brannon covered the 1,500-metre course in 4min 51sec as Jem Henderson (Tynedale) chased him home in second place 11 seconds adrift. Wallsend’s Luke Pichler finished a similar distance behind in third place.
The girls lined up to contest the same distance and again it was the in-form Elswick athlete Poppy Wilde who was first home.
Billingham Marsh House’s Sophie Quinn was a clear second five seconds behind as Daisy Graham claimed third place, just edging out her Birtley twin sister Maggie by three seconds.
The under-13 races were over a distance of 2.1 miles and a 1min40-sec handicap proved no hardship for Blackhill’s Tom Slane, who triumphed by 17 seconds.
The first eight home defied the penalty as Brandon Pye (Houghton) claimed second ahead of Gosforth’s Ethan Bond.
Ryan Davies, who finished fourth, led Morpeth to team success ahead
of Durham City and Gateshead. The 1:40 handicap proved just too much for Charlotte Dillon in the under-13 girls’ contest, the Durham City athlete having to be content with the bronze medal behind Tynedale pair Abigail Thornley and Daisy McLintock.
However, Dillon did lead her club to team glory ahead of Chester-leStreet and Tynedale.
The under-15 races were also over a distance of 2.1 miles - and it was another victory for Tynedale in the boys’ event.
Harrison Cutler, first past the post in the previous league outing in Gosforth Park but subsequently disqualified for not wearing a club vest, made no mistake on this occasion.
He hung on to claim victory by 12 seconds from Chris Perkins (Birtley), who had given the winner 1:40 start.
Perkins, who the previous week won the Scottish short course crosscountry title, finished 11 seconds clear of third-placed Josh Blevins (North Shields Poly).
Cutler led Tynedale to team victory, Morpeth finishing second and Gateshead third.
The first two home in the under15 girls’ event took full advantage of a 1:40 start - victory going to Chester-le-Street’s Lucy Scothern, who finished 29 seconds clear of runnerup Amelie Marshall of Tynedale.
Gateshead’s Ines Curran worked her way through the field to finish just one second adrift of Marshall to claim third place.
Scothern’s victory helped Chester-le-Street to team success ahead of Houghton and Gateshead.
The under-17 race was won by Blaydon’s Tom Rutherford, who held on to win by five seconds after receiving a start of 2:50.
Morpeth’s Ross Charlton was closest at the finish to claim second place ahead of team-mate Daniel Melling who finished a further seven seconds adrift.
Thanks to Charlton and Melling and third scorer Tom Balsdon, Morpeth were team winners - Blaydon second and Houghton third.
The combined under-17/20 women’s race proved no problem for Morpeth’s Holly Peck, who worked through the field from a 2:40 penalty to finish first.
Morpeth team-mate Kay Errington claimed second spot with Houghton’s Eva Hardie, who also progressed after giving away more than two minutes, in third.
Despite having the first two home, Morpeth were pipped by Gosforth in the team stakes - the Newcastle squad claiming victory on countback after the two clubs finished on the same points total.