ALNWICK HARRIERS

After an absence of three years, there are now only four weeks to go now until the 2022 Coastal Run! The race committee has been working hard behind the scenes and a race pack has now been prepared for athletes taking part. Please read the information provided (via the links below) carefully, to ensure a positive, enjoyable and safe racing experience. Note in particular this year’s changes to the first part of the route, also changes to water stations as part of Alnwick Harriers environmental policies.

Coastal Run Guidance Notes 2022

General Race Information 2022

Prize List 2022

Coastal Run 2022 Route Map 1

Coastal Run 2022 Route Map 2

Coastal Run 2022 Route Map 3

Coastal Run 2022 Route Map 4

Jim Allan used the June events to extend his lead at the top of the table, now with 541 points. Jennifer Knight has held on to the second place spot with 379 points, and its all change at the third spot with Tess Allan jumping up from fifth place. All of the top 3 have 7 scoring events.

There are still plenty of scoring events coming up so plenty of time to get your name on one of the top spots. Remember there are prizes and trophies for the top 12 places!

Events for July:Pastures or Druridge Bay Park Run on 2nd, Coquet Half Marathon on 3rd, Chopwell Woods 10K Trail on the 9th. As usual the full table is posted below:

On a hot sunny evening Linda, Jen and Diana took part in the relays each running 2.6miles over a multi terrain course with a slight incline thrown in for good measure! The trio came 86th out of 100 teams in a time of 1:04:32.

Following last year’s successful event, the Anne Allan Trail Run returns to the Ingram Valley for the second year running. The run is a charitable event in memory of Anne Allan, a popular and dedicated member of Alnwick Harriers. Anne was a passionate and competitive runner who always wore her Alnwick harriers vest with pride. She was an enthusiastic stalwart at the club, former club secretary for many years and heavily involved in the organisation of club events.

The senior run is approximately 9 Km and is an undulating circular route. It is held in the picturesque Ingram Valley over a mix of road and trail. There is also a junior fun run which is approximately 3 Km. This is also a circular route over a mix of road and trail.

Entry through the links below, all of your entry fee will go to the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association:-

https://www.theentrypoint.co.uk/events/anne-allan-trail-run-senior-Yn5bZ9gNx4VGlN2

https://www.theentrypoint.co.uk/events/anne-allan-junior-fun-run-j6d5P987R4qRADn

A beautiful balmy evening welcomed the 136 runners for the Wild Deer Alnwick Trail 10K in Hulne Park on Wednesday June 1st 2022, with a route that incorporated rarely run sections under the Peth and around the sawmill. The course was definitely a “Jekyll and Hyde” with the first 5K incorporating three challenging climbs, including a gruelling slog up the grassy bank to The Hulne Priory, which has a 23% gradient at its steepest. In contrast, the second half was a relatively flat(ish) jaunt back along to banks of the river Aln to finish in front of the castle.

Jim Allan was the only runner to finish under 40 mins (38:16), claiming the race victory for the Harriers. Next Harrier home was Nick Biggers (42:49, 6th) who romped up the Priory bank at an astonishing pace, recording the third fastest time ever (with only our very own Ross Wilson and Daniel Leng having run it faster, according to Strava.) Andy Bulman (48:07) and Mike Henry (51:40) completed the male Harriers contingent, with the latter comfortably winning the V70 age group.

Jennifer Knight finished fourth overall in the women’s race (52:15), just missing out on a podium place but leading home the V40 age-group. Jennifer was followed in by Linda Patterson (1:06:26) and Tess Allan (1:07:08), who also recorded strong runs on a challenging course.

Alnwick harriers enthusiastically lined up along The River Tyne whilst looking up at the iconic Tyne Bridge to await the start of the 40th running of The Blaydon Race.

Excellent and slightly cooler conditions prevailed after the earlier warm sunshine.

Well done to all the harriers who took part in the welcome return of this well established and extremely popular race where places go so quickly you have to wait in a queue of thousands online to try and bag an entry early in the year.

This year entries were rolled over from the last cancelled events due to Covid 19.

Runners were welcomed with a great atmosphere, closed roads and rewarded with a ham and pease pudding butty and a can of beer in their drawstring shoe bags at the finish in true Geordie style!

Well done to everyone who took part in this year’s slightly longer route which was a whisker short of a 10k.

Race report by Jo Powell

A stunning performance by the Alnwick Harriers women saw them monopolize the podium at the Druridge Bay 10k on the 29th of May 2022. Leading the way was Carole Page (46:46, F60) with yet another world class performance, closely followed by Rosie Davison (47:52, FSen) and Lisa Baston (48:28, F40). There were also strong performances from the remainder of the women’s team, including Rachel Davidson (51:09, FSen), Jennifer Knight (52:57, F40), Linda Patterson (59:14, F40), Tess Allan (1:06:53, F50) and Lorna Stephenson (1:22:33, F50), with all the runners pushing hard up the beach into a very spicy headwind!

The Alnwick Harriers men also posted strong runs with Steve Carragher (38:22, M40), Steve Patterson (39:12, M40), Liam McDonough (40:01, MU16) and Euan Friend (44:47, MSen) finishing third, fourth, sixth and thirteenth, respectively. Alnwick Harriers Masters made up the remainder of the team, with good runs from Paul Dellbridge (55:05, M50), Steve Cowell (55:48, M50), Ian Stephenson (57:52, M60) and George Williams (1:01:55, M60).

In the juniors 2.5K race, Alnwick Harriers Aimee McDonough (12:03, FU14) and Harry Knox (08:51, MU16) both posted very impressive runs to win the female and male races respectively.

Race report by Jim Allan

Great trip to Middlesborough for the NEYDL. Lots of pb’s. Big throw (10. 49m) by Lilia in the shot. Great first time appearances by Issy & Harriet. Nice day well done all

Alnwick Harriers turned out in force for the Run Nation Alnwick Castle 5K and 10K races in Hulne Park, with the majority opting for the longer more challenging 10K route incorporating the farm drive climb. First home was Rob Andrew in 38:30 finishing in 4th place, followed by Jo Powell (46:34) and Lisa Baston (46:44) finishing just seconds apart (6th and 7th females, respectively). Next home came Diana Weightman (49:34), Jo Clemmit (49:54) and George Williams (1:02:30), with all the Harriers finishing very strongly as they headed in towards the Alnwick Abbey. Jim Allan opted for the much less challenging 5K race and was first Harrier home (18:03), which (and let’s be honest) is not hard when you’re the only Harrier in the race.

Race report by Tess Allan

24th July 2022- Final Call for Transfers

The Coastal Run is fast approaching with our committee putting the final details in place to ensure you all have a safe and positive experience .  The cut off date for all transfers being the 29th May 2022 so please ensure they are all completed by that date as there is no extension available.

Please also note there are no options to rollover your place till the following year or to add to your order as transport and t-shirts have already been ordered.

If you have any further queries please get in touch via the following email address

ahcoastalrun2019@gmail.com

Laura McLean

Race Director