Seniors revel in runaway success

Oct 15 2007 by Kevin Dinsdale, The Journal

GATESHEAD and Chester-le-Street were respective runaway winners of the senior men’s and women’s events at yesterday’s Blaydon Harriers Nichol Hunter Memorial Metrocentre Relays at Shibdon Pond.

Gosforth led for the first two legs of the men’s race before Chris Parr, taking over six seconds behind the leaders, turned the deficit into a winning margin of 1min 55secs.

Ryan Stephenson moved defending champions North Shields Poly from seventh to second on the final leg, with Morpeth maintaining third place.

Ian Hudspith’s second leg, when he moved Morpeth from seventh to third, was the fastest of the day, bettering Parr’s figures by two seconds.

Chester-le-Street defended their senior women’s title, their winning margin a massive 3mins 29secs.

Their three runners – Kathryn Waugh, Emma Waterhouse and Alyson Dixon – also clocked the fastest three times, with Dixon the quickest.

Their B team held second place for the first two legs, before they were overtaken by Sunderland on leg three.

Sunderland won the veterans’ relay with Brian Rushworth clocking the fastest time on leg three, when he took over in third place.

The Wearsiders also won the Under-15 boys’ race. The honours were spread in the other races, with Tynedale (Under-17 men), Gateshead (Under-13 boys), Gosforth (Under-15 girls) and Birtley (Under-13 girls) winning their respective events.

LES VENMORE