Ferrier in late run to glory at Leeds

Jan 28 2008 The Journal

NORTH-East athletes had to wait for the final event for junior women to take the region’s only gold medal at Saturday’s Northern Cross Country Championships at a windy but dry Roundhay Park in Leeds, writes Les Venmore.

Gateshead’s Mary Ferrier came with a late run to overhaul long-time leader Rosie Edwards of Rotherham in the final strides. This was yet another Northern title for Ferrier, who has also won at Under-13s, Under-15s and Under-17s level.

In the junior men’s event, Morpeth’s Jon Taylor took the silver medal behind Yorkshire Senior champion and 2006 English Schools winner, Alistair Brownlee of Bingley. Taylor was supported by Nick Swinburn (ninth), Ross Floyd (18th) and Robert Balmbra (38th) as Morpeth gained the silver medals, the region’s only team success.

Elswick’s Philip Hurst took second place in the Under-17s men’s event a performance matched by Gosforth’s Michael Priestley in the Under-15s boys’ age-group.

Zoe Hewitson of Shildon finished third in the Under-13s girls’ race and Adam Carrington of Morpeth finished in a similar position in the corresponding boys’ race.

Athletes from just outside the region’s boundaries gained three titles. Fergus Roberts of Richmond & Zetland maintained his season’s unbeaten record to win the Under-13 Boys’ race by a sizeable margin.

Gemma Miles (formerly Philips) of Kendal convincingly won the Senior Women’s race from club-mate Sarah Tunstall. The Cumbrian club took the bronze medals ahead of Chester-le-Street for whom Maxine Czarnecka had an excellent run in 16th place. Cumbria also gained gold in the Under-13s girls’ race with Hannah Bethwaite of Ellenborough a convincing winner. Tom Farrell of Border finished third in the Under-17s men’s race.

Host club Leeds City won the Senior Mens’ title for the fourth successive year and also provided race winner David Webb.

Meanwhile, the few competitors from the region performed well at yesterday’s Northern Athletics Indoor Championships at Sheffield.

Richard Hodgson smashed the record to take the Under-15s boys’ 60m title, Tim Parkin of Gateshead won the Under-17s men’s pole vault and Chloe Gill of Middlesbrough took the Under-17s women’s triple jump title.

Middlesbrough’s Ashleigh Wood was second in the Under-17s women’s 60m hurdles.