Regional athletics round-up

Mar 30 2009 The Journal

THE Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League held its final fixture of the season at Temple Park on Saturday with team and individual titles being decided.

Wallsend Harriers, third on the day, ended Sunderland’s 10-year reign as Division One champions, winning by five points from neighbours Heaton, with Sunderland in third place.

Victory on the day went to Elswick Harriers, led home by emphatic race winner Euan Ellis. Claremont’s Peter Newton clocked the fastest time finishing fourth from the fast pack, ahead of James Buis of Heaton who claimed the individual title.

British Masters champion, Stewart Bell of Chester-le-Street took the Veterans’ title. Low Fell, second overall on the day, won the Division Two title, with host club Jarrow and Hebburn taking the honours in Division Three.

There was an exciting finish to the senior women’s competition. Tynedale held a two-point lead over Heaton, but victory on the day for the Newcastle club, ahead of Chester-le-Street – who split the pair – saw them edge out their rivals.

Gemma Floyd of Morpeth returned claimed the individual victory. Gateshead’s Kim Simpson took second place from the fast pack, successfully defending her individual title.

Sunderland had some consolation taking the titles in the junior women, under-17 men and under-13 boys. Sarah Crosby won the junior race, while Jarrow’s Catlin Lloyd won the individual title. Tynedale also did well with Steph Bruce taking the under-15 title and Samuel Hearn the under-17 men’s award.

The Hexham club also won the under-15 title and provided the individual winner, Josh Brown. Birtley won the under-13 girls’ title and Sophie Forster won the individual award.

Gateshead took the honours in the under-15 girls’ section. Chris Peverley of Chester-le-Street won the under-13 boys’ individual title.

North Eastern champion Michael Grimes of Durham won the under-17 men’s race.

l NEW Marske’s Ricky Stevenson maintained his excellent form to win yesterday’s Elite mile at the Middlesbrough Road Race Festival. On the course which started at the Riverside Stadium and finished at the Town Hall, Stevenson representing the North Eastern Counties, kicked away in the final 200m with Scotland’s Bruce Raeside taking second place. Morpeth Harriers John Taylor and Nick McCormick finished fourth and fifth.

Scotland’s Susan Scott continued from her successful indoor season, to win the women’s mile holding off the late challenge of Kerry Harty.

The Tees Pride 5km attracted more than 1,000 runners. Morpeth’s Ian Hudspith held a slight lead after halfway, but pulled out with a hamstring injury. Loughborough student, Rob Whittle from Basingstoke, proved the strongest at the finish with a 12 seconds victory over Gateshead’s Chris Parr.