Turnout is top of the League!
CROSS-COUNTRY running is in a healthy state in the region if the numbers who turned out in the opening fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League are anything to go by.
Nearly 500 youngsters took part in the junior races in Wrekenton despite it being early season and the tough course set out by Saltwell Harriers not to everyone’s liking.
The under-17 men faced a course of five kilometres and it was English 1,500m champion Will Bellamy (Houghton) who took the opening contest - albeit by just a matter of one second ahead of the fast-finishing Tom Balsdon.
To cap a fine day for Bellamy he was the fastest on the course as Blyth’s Josh Fiddaman, from a handicap of 2min 30sec, could not quite close him down to finish six seconds adrift of the quickest time.
Houghton, with Izaak Taylor (fourth) and Sam Gibson (fifth) came out on top in the team race ahead of Morpeth.
The under-17/20 women also raced over five kilometres .
It was Morpeth’s Holly Peck who claimed a comfortable 42-second victory ahead of Houghton’s Lydia James Gosforth’s Rebecca Wren in third place.
Competing in the older age group, Gosforth’s Rhian Purves was the fastest on the course - posting a time five seconds quicker than Peck after running from a 2min 30sec penalty.
Houghton won the team event ahead of Morpeth and Gosforth.
The under-15 and under-13 age groups contested a course of three kilometres with another tight finish unfolding in the older boys’ race. Victory went to Blaydon’s Will Collinson, who finished one second ahead of Blackhill’s Leo White as Zak Old claimed the bronze award a further four seconds adrift.
Fastest on the course was Morpeth’s Euan Duffin who, from a handicap of 1:40, worked his way through the field to finish in 13th place in recording a time 29 seconds faster than Collinson’s.
Tynedale’s Charlie Daley was second fastest, 14 seconds adrift of Duffin with Tynedale on top in the team stakes ahead of Morpeth and Durham City.
It was an Alnwick one-two in the under-15 girls’ contest, victory going to Lauren Brown by three seconds ahead of Millie Breeze.
Birtley’s Katie Francis claimed third place as Ines Curran (Gateshead) posted the day’s fastest time after working her way through to finish in 14th place from a 1:40 handicap.
It was no surprise Alnwick claimed the team honours ahead of North Shields Poly and Birtley.
Morpeth’s Joe Dixon was a comfortable winner of the under-13 boys’ race, prevailing by 26 seconds.
Tynedale’s Nathaniel Henderson finished second with Gateshead’s Matthew Das completing the onetwo-three.
Fastest on the course was Blackhill’s Tom Slane, who defied a 1:40 penalty to finish in ninth.
Morpeth’s Bertie Marr was second quickest and team-mate Ryan Davies third.
Morpeth won the team race ahead of Tyne Bridge and Durham City.
Only five seconds separated the leading three in the under-13 girls’ race, victory going to Gateshead’s Anabel Milburn.
Gosforth’s Hannah Wightman finished runner-up just three seconds behind with Poppy Old (Elswick) two seconds fourther back in third place.
Fastest on the course was Chester-le-Street’s Freya Clarkson, then Durham City pair Charlotte Dillon and Freya Gibson.
Gateshead won the team race ahead of Elswick and Derwentside.