Cross country returns to start line after long wait
The first senior men’s and women’s cross country event in the North East for more than a year will take place at Thornley Hall Farm, Peterlee, on Saturday.
The inaugural North Eastern Counties Cross Country Relay Championships for senior men, women, veterans and U20s men has overcome many obstacles to get the go-ahead.
They had to commit to following England Athletics and local safeguarding restrictions, which are in place due to the pandemic.
Entries have been restricted to just 30 teams in each of the races with the senior men covering four legs with the other teams covering three legs over a distance of just under 3,000m.
SunderlandHarriershave strong teams entered in both the senior men’s and veterans’ relay and team manager Jimmy Johnson is confident of medal success.
He said: “We are all looking forward to Saturday, it’s been a long time coming and hopefully this is the start of the return to athletics competition. We have had a couple of false starts and we are all eager to get back to normality.
“The senior team is strong and I expect them to medal, they are Michael Wilson, Nathan Reed, Liam Taylor and Stephen Jackson.
“Stephen is a recent signing from Elvet Striders and he had a great run on Saturday where he hammered his PB over 5k in the Podium 5k at Barrasford, knocking 36 seconds off his previous best with his time of 15:05.
“The other lads are all experienced relay runners that are looking forward to racing again and I expect them all to give a good account of themselves.’’
The Sunderland B team is Michael Edwards, Owen Walpole, David Wilkinson and Ian Dixon. Walpole is another recent signing joining the club from Tyne Bridge Harriers. His personal bests include: 800m 1:52.35; 1,500m 3:49.10; and 3,000m 8:29.45.
The over-40s veterans have a new look with Michael
Barker and Sam Thurlbeck making their debuts in this age group. They are joined by Chris Jackson.
The B team is Dave Lash, Steve Gordon and 50-yearold Chris Auld who also makes his club debut following his move from Crook.
There are a host of rules and regulations that athletes must be aware of and they include the following:
1 You must leave immediately after racing. No spectators allowed.
2 No spectators (policy for license approval) at the venue, start, on the course and at the finish. If waiting for your event there is restricted viewing of the course on the farm track at the top of the hill. Social distancing must be adhered to.
3 Team managers (face masks on) collect club number and race pack for all categories from the farm social area. Athletes to provide their own pins.
4 Last leg runners in the first three teams will collect the medals in a secure bag from a table at the end of the finish funnel and pass on to their team manager. As this is a championship only one set of medals can be won by a club in each category.
Timetable: Masters women 10am, masters men 11am, senior women 12pm, senior men 1.15pm, U20 men
1.18pm. Directions to farm (DH6 3LY) and parking (old tarmac road within the farm area): From the (A1) west go round the Old Thornley roundabout, heading west take the second entrance on the left, approx. 700m (car parking sign). From the east (A19) as above after the roundabout. No right turns on or onto A181 (arriving and leaving). On leaving a oneway system is in operation, exit via the first entrance to the farm from the roundabout (no right turn onto the A181). Car parking is free. Jon the landowner has nominated a charity – Man Health, all donations appreciated.
A marathon challenge between Sunderland Harriers
and Gunjur Athletics club from The Gambia saw more than 60 athletes taking part.
The charity virtual event over 26 miles came about after former Sunderland Harrier Brian Bewick moved to The Gambia last year and linked up with the local club.
The race involved teams of 20 men and six women with every athlete having to run over a measured road mile and the times were added together to decide the winners.
Sunderland’s team catered for all age groups and included junior Evie Compson and club stalwart 72-year-old Eddie Maddison.
The top-20 male times were added to the top six female times to give a total time of 2:28:32.
The fastest mile was by Michael Wilson (4:25) who recorded this during a 2km time trial on the track.
Other runners that broke five minutes were Owen Walpole 4.40, Craig Gunn 4.41, Michael Barker 4.50, and Nathan Reed 4.54.
The fastest woman was Over-45 Colleen Compson with 6.03.
Total time for Gunjur was 2:14:43 for an easy win. A total of £309.20 from entry fees and donations was raised by the Harriers and will be presented to Gunjur AC, who had 11 sub-5 minute times.
Bewick organised road closures for the event and also provided certificates for all Gunjur participants.
Houghton Harriers U23 Cameron Allan shattered his personal best (15:57) for 5k when he recorded 14.18 in the Ardingly PB5k.
Sunderland Harriers’ annual meeting will be a zoom meeting next Monday night at 7pm.
The provisional time table for the track events at Morpeth on Sunday, April 18 are: 11am 800m, 12.30pm 200m, 2pm 3,000m. The field events will start at 10.30am and the timetable will be published after entries close to allow scheduling for athletes who are doubling up in events.