Taylor coasts to a fine victory in Strollers’ Pierto-Pier event
After two cancelled races through the pandemic, the Sunderland Strollers’ Pierto-Pier run returned on Sunday with a big field of 1,203 finishers.
AndheadingthemwasSunderlandHarriers’LiamTaylor, who won the race from South Shields to Sunderland, following the coastal paths by a big margin.
The run started beside the Pier at South Shields and roughly a mile along the sandy beach the race moved to The Leas.
Here,runnerscouldchoose any route apart from the road or footpath down to Souter Lighthouse then going on to Seaburn and the promenade beforeeventuallymovingback onto the beach to finish at Roker Pier, covering a distance of approximately seven miles.
Taylor recorded 38.17, well ahead of runner-up, Blackhill Bounder Gary Wallace (39.08) and third placed Kris Axon, of Claremont (39.21).
Over-50 Paul Robson, of Wear Tri, was fourth (39.42), Jack Brown, of Jarrow, took fifth (40.43) and Tim Jones, of Washington,wassixth(40.56).
Taylorsaid:“Iwasverycomfortable throughout the run. I was never under any pressure.
"Ialwayslikesupportinglocal races and this is one of the best. I’m looking towards BlaydononJune9formynextrace.”
Sunderland Harriers had Alex Seed in ninth (41.14), Over-40 Michael Edwards 15th (42.20), Over-45 Dave Lash 49th (46.17) and Over-50 Ed Sweeney 69th (47.31).
Houghton Harrier CameronAllanshatteredhispersonal best when finishing second in the British Milers’ Club 1500m at the Birmingham Grand Prix clocking3.41.76whenfinishing secondtoJoshuaLay(3.40.22).
Sunderland Harrier Michael
Wilson had a below par run when finishing 14th in 3.52.53.IntheBrace,Wallsend Harrier Sam Charlton won with 3.45.09.
Sunderland Harrier Joe Armstrong recorded 3.51.82 in the C race. His brother Scott ran 1.53.84 in the 800m.
Houghton Harrier Will Bellamy won the Under-20s 1,500m in the North Eastern TrackandFieldChampionship atMiddlesbrough.Herecorded 3.59.30.
Sunderland Harrier Duncan Hughes was sixth in 4.06.43.
HoughtonHarrierEvaHardie won the senior women’s 5,000m title in 17.39.92. Anna Pigford finished third in the 1,500m (4.54.34).
Sunderland Harriers best performer came from Under13s Samuel Thompson, who won the 220m in 27.64, was second in the 100m 13.84 and third over 800m 2.24.90.
Sunderland Harriers finished close runners-up in the Wallsend Gordon Smith Memorial Road Relay.
The three-stage relay comprised two senior runners and oneveteranOver-40,whocompeted over exactly two miles.
It was Steve Rankin that opened for Sunderland and he got the team off to a good start in finishing third in 9.56.
Veteran Michael Edwards was next off and he returned with a time of 10.33 in taking the lead for the Wearsiders.
NathanReedtookoffonthe anchor leg and despite putting every ounce of his strength into his race, he was caught by Morpeth’s Sam Hancox, who ran the fastest time of the day with 9.38.
Reedrecorded9.54tofinish five seconds behind Hancox.
The North Eastern Counties Athletics Association 10,000mChampionshipstakes place on Saturday at Riverside Leisure Complex, Riverside South, Ropery Lane, Chesterle-Street, DH3 3SJ. First race starts at 1.15pm.