Timmins enjoys a winning beginning
Jan 3 2011 The Journal
MORPETH Harrier Lewis Timmins was a runaway winner of his club’s New Year’s Day Road Race.
Although most of the course was clear of snow, the treacherous underfoot conditions beside the river meant the race finished inside the gates of Carlisle Park.
That shortened the advertised distance of 11km, a similar adjustment having taken place in 2006.
In the bright. sunny conditions, Timmins – on vacation from his American university – soon headed the depleted field of 84 runners, holding a 20-second lead over the chasing group after two miles.
The gap was extended to 76 seconds at the finish line, with Northumberland-based Bingley Harrier Matt Whitfield breaking away from the rest of the pursuers at the halfway point to be second.
Another Morpeth Harrier Ross Floyd finished third ensuring his club retained the team title.
Guy Bracken of North Shields Poly was the leading veteran in 10th position.
Clare McKittrick from Charnwood, visiting relatives for the New Year in North Northumberland, easily won the women’s race, coming home in 17th position.
McKittrick was also the leading veteran. Lucy Robinson of North Shields Poly took second place with Hilary Ross (55) finishing in a creditable third position. Tynedale took the team honours.
James Buis of Heaton repeated his 2010 victory in Saturday’s Resolution Run around the Town Moor. Buis came home well ahead of clubmate Mark Likeman, with Gareth Huxley of Northumberland Fell Runners the leading veteran in third place.
Sarah Lemon of Heaton won the women’s race from veterans Mandy Herworth of Claremont and Nina Cameron of Heaton.
Some 84 runners took part in the event, raising money for St Oswald’s Hospice and Water Aid.
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SEBASTIAN Coe has effectively thrown his weight behind West Ham’s bid to move to the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
West Ham and Tottenham are vying for the right to move into the stadium, but the Hammers would keep the running track while Spurs would not – they would instead develop an alternative athletics legacy, possibly at Crystal Palace.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) are due to make a decision before March and Coe, chairman of the London organising committee, made little secret of where his sympathies lie.
Coe said: “We made a commitment to track and field to be a part of the legacy of the stadium so, as vice-president of the IAAF, it is not going to come as a huge shock that I am going to defend my sport.
“West Ham are happy to play football within a track and Tottenham are not. Conclude from that what you want.”
