Morpeth run out double winners
MORPETH Harriers won the Sherman Cup for the seventh successive season and regained the Davison Shield in the annual competition, which decides the best male and female team in the five age-groups - from under-13 to veterans.
In the Davison Shield, Morpeth’s Laura Weightman – in her first competition this winter – outclassed the senior women’s field, leading all the way on the two-lap course at Temple Park in South Shields.
Her margin of victory was one minute 39 seconds over clubmate Emma Holt, who took second place after a hard battle against Heaton’s Danni Smythe.
With five runners in the first 10, Morpeth took the team title, which helped them win the Shield for the first time since 2012 (they had won it for nine seasons in succession at that time).
First veteran was Gemma Floyd in eighth, who again led Morpeth to the team honours.
Morpeth’s win in the Cup was more predictable as they won three of the five team races.
They lost out in the senior and veteran men’s competition. In the former, Tyne Bridge Harrier Carl Smith led throughout over the three laps, crossing the line 16secs ahead of Dan Jenkin of Durham, with Adrian Bailes of Birtley taking third place. Smith led his club to the team honours. Teenager Taylor Glover led Morpeth’s challenge in sixth place. Rob Walker was leading veteran, helping Sunderland to team honours.
■ JUNIOR race reports in Wednesday’s Grassroots Sport.