Harriers take the overall honours

Jan 7 2008 The Journal

THE competition for the league titles intensified after the third fixture of the Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League at Temple Park, on Saturday. Heavy rain through the week meant the underfoot conditions were heavier than normal at this venue.

Morpeth Harriers won the overall team title in the senior men’s race and regain the lead from Heaton in Division Two. Sunderland Harriers were first in Division One and the defending champions now lie joint second with South Shields, three points behind Elswick.

Paul Given of Sunderland easily won the individual race from medium pack runner, Stewy Bell of Chester-le-Street. Mark Brown of Morpeth clocked the fastest time finishing sixth, from the fast pack.

In the women’s race, fast pack runners, Tracy Laws of Chester-le-Street and Michelle Holt of Sunderland passed long-time leader Alice Rolfe-Silvester of Claremont in the closing stages to take the first two places. In the team event, Heaton took the honours and now head the table, two points ahead of Sunderland.

It was a good day for fast pack runners, with Marcus Cram of Morpeth (under-15s boys) and Steph Bruce of Tynedale (under-13s girls) winning their respective events.

Rachael Denton of Morpeth won the under-15s girls’ race and also clocked the fastest time. Gateshead’s Claire Baudouin easily won the Junior women’s race, with Delyth James of Morpeth moving through to second from the fast pack.

Tristan Venus of Tynedale (under-17s men) and Adam Harrington of Morpeth (under-13s boys) clocked the fastest times in their respective events, both moving to top three places from the fast pack.

Chris Lamb of Chester-le-Street won his second race in 2008, with a clear victory in yesterday’s Old Monks Six Multi Terrain event, at Hart Village. Lamb, successful on New Year’s Day at Morpeth, took an early lead, extending his advantage to 57secs at the finish line. Andrew Minister of Hartlepool, who won this event two years ago, took third place.

Carolyn Summersgill of Middlesbrough, easily won the women’s race, coming home in 14th. Her time bettered the course record, set in 2007, by runner-up Tracey Waller of Hartlepool, by a massive 67secs.

LES VENMORE