Fun run before 10k at Ribble

RECENT North Eastern Counties Cross-Country silver medallist Calum Johnson joined a record turnout in yesterday’s 32nd Woodlawn School’s Christmas Pudding Fun Run.

Over a revamped three-mile course on the Whitley Bay seafront, which attracted too many Santa Clauses too count among the near1,000 starters, Johnson, who was first home in the event 12 months ago, used the run as a workout before lining up in this weekend’s Ribble Valley 10k in Clitheroe - a race noted for producing fast times.

Johnson, together with European Cross-Country representative Scott Beattie and fellow Morpeth runners Ross Floyd and Thomas Straughan and Salford’s Tom Cornthwaite, quickly established themselves at the head of the field as they headed off from the start at the War Memorial towards St Mary’s Island.

The five were still locked together around the midway stage of the three-mile contest, though Straughan was the first to feel the pressure as the pace increased.

Approaching the final mile, Johnson and US-based Beattie were left running shoulder-toshoulder as Cournthwaite and Floyd dropped away.

With the finish line fast approaching, Johnson made a break for victory - which proved decisive and he came home to a huge round of applause with a comfortable 14-second cushion.

Floyd, a past winner of the event, claimed third position ahead of Cornthwaite and Straughan.

In the women’s contest, victory went to former Wallsend Harrier Danielle Hodgkinson.