JARROW’S Graeme Taylor comfortably won yesterday’s 29th Redcar Half Marathon.

In a field of nearly 1200 runners, Taylor came home over a minute clear of Alnwick’s David Kirkland.

Carolyn Summersgill of Middlesbrough and Cleveland easily won the women’s race, although there was an eye-catching run in second place from newcomer Gemma Frost of Blackhill Bounders.

The wet and blustery conditions at the International Stadium affected performances at the Northumberland Schools Championships.

Only two records were set, both in throwing events. Newcastle’s Terry Morgan bettered the previous record set in 1994 by a massive 5.39m to win the intermediate javelin.

Rebecca Simpson (North Tyneside) added 11cms to the previous figures in the senior girls’ hammer, set by former international Shirley Webb in 2000. Jack Roach (East Northumberland) was only 1cm short of the 1996 record in the Intermediate High Jump.

The weather also affected performances at the Durham Schools Championships at Jarrow. Wearside’s Michael Wilson clocked a fast time to win the Intermediate 800m, while Scott Lincoln of Darlington, fourth in last year’s English Schools Championship, was an impressive winner of the senior shot.

There were two records set at Saturday’s local Park Run events.

Blaydon race winner Justina Heslop took 30 seconds off her old figures to win at Newcastle’s Town Moor, while North East 5000m champion, Matthew Hynes took over 20seconds off the previous course best to win the Middlesbrough event at Albert Park.