Alnwick Harriers

Wednesday 23rd May saw Harriers having the choice of 2 Grand Prix races, the undulating George Ogle Memorial Race and the fast Clive Cookson 10k.

As always there were some very good performances at both events with Ian SIMON finishing in the top 10 at the George Ogle in Swalwell. Adam SPILLER was a minute back in 11th, whilst Tim FALCONER was next improving on his time from last year. Angie EMBLETON was the first of our women, 4th female overall. Tracey SAMPLE was not far behind and Denise DRUMMOND was our 3rd female. Also of note Mary PLUMLEY was over 2 minutes faster over the 5.5 (ish) mile course than last year!

Results:

9-Ian SIMON 36.36

11-Adam SPILLER 37.36

27-Tim FALCONER 39.40

38-Jason DAWSON 40.51

53-Angie EMBLETON 43.12

59-Tracey SAMPLE 43.39

67-Denise DRUMMOND 44.44

75-Cris ATWELL 45.28

83-Ian STEPHENSON 46.55

117-Ruth DOCTOR 51.19

128-Robert STEPHENSON 52.35

129-Mary PLUMLEY 52.47

142-John ROSS 54.21

178-Lorna STEPHENSON 1.02.31

Meanwhile just the 3 Harriers took part in the North Shields Poly organised Clive Cookson 10k, a splendid 2 lap fast course. James WILLOUGHBY continued his fine form with a 10k pb of 36.54 to finish 30th of over 350 runners. Paul ROBINSON ran well once again to finish 181st in 46.38, and Phil LEE was 265th in 53.22.

Photos are of Angie EMBLETON, Jason DAWSON and Ruth DOCTOR in the George Ogle, whilst Paul ROBINSON is in the Clive Cookson. Grand Prix standings to follow asap…….

On Sunday 20th May 2 Harriers travelled to Merseyside to take part in the Liverpool Rock n Roll Marathon. Just a few weeks after their runs in the London Marathon they were back at the 26.2 mile distance. Running together Laura McLEAN Jr knocked a superb 15 minutes off last months time to clock 4.23.05, whilst partner John CUTHBERT was a second further back! The previous day they had warmed up for the marathon with the 5k leg of the race weekend. John was round in 21.30 and Laura 25.56.

Also across the Pennines that day John ROSS ran the Great Manchester Run Half Marathon where he finished in 2.12.50.

Finally for the day a group of Harriers took part in the latest Glen McWILLIAMS organised event, the Cheviot Bomber Trail Race. No results are out as yet but here’s our happy crew.

The previous morning there was a good debut for new Harrier Adam STOTT at the Druridge Bay Parkrun where he finished 12th overall and first for the club in 20.39. This was Adams 6th run at the course and was a pb. Neil HAMILTON was our next finisher followed by David BARNES who ran a course best. For the ladies Mel STEER was a superb 4th female finisher in 22.39, a pb and good enough to win the female 50 category. Not far behind her was Jo POWELL also in a course pb! Results:

12-Adam STOTT 20.39

19-Neil HAMILTON 21.27

20-David BARNES 21.36

28-Mel STEER 22.39 (74.03%)

31-Jo POWELL 23.08

81-John ROSS 27.41

108-Nell GAIR 29.48 (50.50%)

150-Mark HUME 34.55 (52.55%)

Down the coast at South Shields there was a good battle between Robert and Ian STEPHENSON, with Robert just pipping his dad. However the headline maker for us there was Lorna STEPHENSON. In her 23rd run there she smashed her previous best by over a minute! Elsewhere Kim BRONZE was 466th in a huge field at Sheffield Hallam in 29.15, whilst Richard EASTOE was 103rd at Workington in 28.33 and wife Gay was Tail Runner.

Photos are of Laura and John at Liverpool, our Cheviot Bomber runners and Mel STEER at Druridge Bay.

The combined Junior team of Alnwick Harriers & Blyth RC scored highly in their first North East Youth Development League match in April to finish second behind Gateshead Harriers, making an excellent start to their season. Match two took them to Monkton Stadium, Jarrow on Sunday 20th May where they were determined to hold or improve their position in the league.

The team was slightly smaller than last months combined total of nearly fifty athletes but they covered the age categories well. There was a conscious effort by all the athletes to choose events that best represented the team and not just personal preference. In doing so many were focusing on weaker events with a goal of achieving team success over individual glory!

After a record breaking start to the season in April it didn’t seem likely that club records would be broken this month however there were several outstanding performances.
The throwers had an excellent day starting with a new club record from Maddy HALL in the hammer (3kg) throw. Maddy came second overall with a good throw of 17.80m. Finlay TELFER in the boys hammer (4kg) managed a personal best of 17.34m to come third. Next throwing record to be taken was by Talia THOMPSON who beat her own personal best in the Shot Put managing 8.51m to finish in second place. Jude HALL managed the biggest improvement on a club record winning the U15B javelin with a great throw of 26.45m. There were also wins for Talia THOMPSON in the discus and Antje HALL in the Javelin. The U13 girls were well represented in the Shot with an excellent debut appearance by Olivia TEMPLE who came in third place.

The team had four U13 girls in the high jump with Ellie PRICE jumping 1.20m to finish in overall third place. Joseph GODDEN was the only boy to compete in the high jump managing 1.30m. In the long jump Katie Lou FRIEND jumped furthest of the U13 girls.
On the track Ollie TELFER extended his club record in the 800m with a good time of 2min 12s to take second place. Anna Grace HARVEY and Lauren BROWN ran the U15 girls 800m. Lauren managed 2min 30s to establish a new club record. In the 300m sprint Lauren and Sam POTTS had a good race with Lauren came out on top this time extending Sam’s previous club record to 46.3s. There were good runs in the 1500m by both Ben and Max MURRAY JOHN. They both were placed second with Max (U13) in 5min 8s and Ben (U17) in 4min 48s. The U13 girls were well represented in both the 800m and 1500m, Lilia PURVIS quickest for the club in the first race and Beth CARRAGHER in the second. Evie GODDEN ran a good 1500m too.

In the sprints the U13 girls once again filled most of the lanes in the 100 and 200m races! Ami & Katie KNIGHT, Tilly HALL and Sophie BURN all ran well. In the U13 boys races Oscar CHISHOLM and Harris HALL ran good races. Thomas DAVISON had a good day being Alnwick’s fastest runner over both 100 and 200m.

To conclude the day Alnwick’s army of U13 girls managed to field two 4x100m relay teams and the club alongside their Blyth team mates managed to compete in four other categories.

The success in the relay and the ability of the athletes to cover so many events finally helped secure second overall place in the team competition. Another fantastic achievement by an enthusiastic willing team.
Final results:

Gateshead Harriers 699
Blyth RC/Alnwick Harriers549
Tynedale Harriers535
Wallsend Harriers/Gosforth Harriers 411
Jarrow & Hebburn AC 338
South Shields Harriers/Elswick Harriers 264

The race is long since sold out and the bus is now booked for the Blaydon race on Saturday 9th June! Many thanks to John CUTHBERT for sorting the online booking system where Harriers can bag a seat for a measly £5 return! Non Harriers are also welcome to buy a seat. Its a 33 seater so get on board asap! All details are here:

https://www.sportsentrysolutions.com/product_page_preview.php?recordID=200799.

As always many thanks to John ROSS and John CUTHBERT for sorting the 2018 Grand Prix standings after the Sunderland City Half Marathon recently. We have a new leader in the shape of mens team captain Dominic HARRIS! Thanks to his superb showing on Wearside he is now the clear leader over Tracey SAMPLE. Mike HENRY has dropped to 3rd and David HINDMARSH is up into 4th place. Mel STEER is now into 5th followed by John CUTHBERT and Allan FOGGON. Neil HAMILTON is down to 9th, with the remaining trophy slots currently held by Laura McLEAN Jr, Dave RICHARDSON and Jason DAWSON. Here’s the latest standings:

Alnwick Harriers Grand Prix 2018 Standings After Sunderland City Half Marathon

The next races come thick and fast with a choice of 2 events next Wednesday. There’s the fast and flat Clive Cookson 10k hosted by North Shields Poly or the undulating George Ogle Memorial Race at Swalwell. Entries are here http://nspoly.org/clive-cookson-10k-2018/ and here https://derwentvalleyrunningclub.co.uk/georgeogle/. Remember that the Clive Cookson will be in the “upto 10k” category and George Ogle in the “0ff road” category.

Many thanks to all involved in making the 2018 Les Allcorn 10k and Junior Fun Run a superb success once again. Gareth BREESE did a fantastic job as race organiser and he was helped out by many committee members, Harriers, as well as their friends and family. Gareth would like to thank in particular Sue SKIRROW, Brenda MALLEN, Geoff CAMPBELL and Mark DOCTOR for their help. Also thanks to His Grace The Duke of Northumberland, Rapid Reaction and everyone else who made the race possible.

On a gorgeous night in Hulne Park an above average 152 Seniors tackled the 10k, whilst 61 Juniors most of whom were from Alnwick Harriers tackled the “Fun Run”. Congratulations to the Senior race winners who were Kurt HERON of Ashington Hirst RC and Jane HODGSON of Morpeth Harriers who won for the 2nd year running! For the Juniors the winners were both from Alnwick Harriers, Ollie TELFER and Lauren BROWN. Lauren completed a hat-trick of wins in the Junior race! There were also age category wins from Max MURRAY JOHN, Jack PRICE and Molly JOHNSTON amongst others.

Here are the results:

2018 Les Allcorn 10k Results

2018 Les Allcorn Junior Fun Run Results

In the Senior 10k race there was one of the closest battles for some time in the event with Ashington Hirst RCs Kurt HERON and Darrell HASTIE of Gala Harriers going hammer and tongs, with Kurt outsprinting Darrell at the end to win by 3 seconds in 32.47. Third home and 1st of our runners was David MILNE, one place down on last year though in a quicker time. As with last year David was backed up by 4th placed Dan LENG and 6th placed James WILLOUGHBY to win the male team prize! Age category winners were Andrew HEPPELL (male 40) of Gosforth Harriers, Andrew HUSSEY (male 50) of Cheltenham Harriers and John JAMES of Heaton Harriers (male 60). For the ladies there was a 3rd victory in the race for Jane HODGSON of Morpeth Harriers, retaining the trophy she won last year. Jane was almost a minute faster than in 2017 and was a whopping 5 minutes ahead of 2nd female Michelle BARTLETT of Banbury Harriers. 3rd finisher was Jesmond Joggers Laura CHEETHAM. Jesmond sent up a decent number of athletes which helped them to comfortably win the female team prizes courtesy of Laura, Kate ROBSON and Ella FOREMAN. Other winners were Leanne HERRON of Blyth RC (female 35), Karen KELLY of Alnwick Harriers (female 45) and Jenny FRIEND of Heaton Harriers (female 55).

Elsewhere for the host club Steve CARRAGHER was 10th overall, with Allan FOGGON and Jon ARCHER also in the top 25. For the ladies Jo POWELL impressed once again as 2nd Harrier home, whilst Eve BUDDLE was next. It was great to see youngsters Eve, Robert STEPHENSON and Sophie ENSER taking part.

Here’s all our performances:

3-David MILNE 34.05

4-Dan LENG 35.05

9-James WILLOUGHBY 37.37

10-Steve CARRAGHER 38.19

19-Allan FOGGON 40.28

24-Jon ARCHER 41.39

26-John CUTHBERT 42.15

34-Karl McEWAN 43.17

58-Karen KELLY 46.05

59-David HENDERSON 46.16

62-Graham CROW 46.50

65-Paul ROBINSON 47.21

70-Jo POWELL 47.53

89-Ian STEPHENSON 51.25

93-Eve BUDDLE 52.09

107-Robert STEPHENSON 54.50

108-Emma McGEE 55.22

113-Sophie ENSER 56.20

114-Kim BRONZE 56.51

116-Helen PATTERSON 57.32

120-Katie BLACKBURN 58.15

121-Mary PLUMLEY 58.15

135-Alison HUTCHINGS 1.02.50

144-Lorna STEPHENSON 1.08.26

Many thanks to Cameron PRENTICE for the photos! Action shots are of Katie Lou FRIEND/Finlay TELFER in the Junior Fun Run, Allan FOGGON/Jon ARCHER and Sophie ENSER. Also pictured are our victorious mens team of MILNE, WILLOUGHBY and LENG!

The 2019 Les Allcorn 10k and Junior Fun Run is provisionally set for Tuesday, 14th May!

On Sunday 13th May 3 Harriers took part in the Sunderland City Half Marathon. First home in an amazing 12th place overall was Dominic HARRIS in a superb personal best at the distance, 1.20.43! Another Harrier to celebrate a pb at the half marathon distance was Laura McLEAN Jr in 1.55.40, whilst Jayne McKENNA was home in 2.19.15. Well done to all 3!

Further down the country another 3 of the club took part in the Leeds Half Marathon. Annabel LILLICO ran with her dad Jim and crossed the line in a splendid 1.45.48, the same time as Jim. John ROSS also ran, finishing in 2.13.27.

The day before at Druridge Bay a number of Harriers were in action in the 5k parkrun. In 5th overall in a personal best of over 40 seconds was Allan FOGGON, clocking a brilliant 19.36. Next home in 11th and winner of the male 55 category was Tim FALCONER, whilst Jason DAWSON was back in action finishing 21st and David BARNES and Harry ELLABY ran course pbs. For our ladies Alice TETLEY-PAUL was 2nd finisher just outside her course best, whilst Carole PAGE won the 55 category, Jo POWELL ran a pb and Lorna STEPHENSON knocked another huge chunk off her course best!

Results:

5-Allan FOGGON 19.36 (65.82%)

11-Tim FALCONER 20.45 (74.06%)

21-Jason DAWSON 21.40

22-David BARNES 21.42

24-Neil HAMILTON 21.46

30-Alice TETLEY-PAUL 22.17

38-Jo POWELL 23.26

45-Harry ELLABY 23.43

46-Chris FRIEND 23.44

47-Carole PAGE 23.59

52-Euan FRIEND 24.18

56-Ian STEPHENSON 24.27 (63.94%)

77-John ROSS 26.16

84-Robert STEPHENSON 26.28

101-Kim BRONZE 27.55

108-Eleanor HEELEY 28.18 (58.78%)

113-John CUTHBERT 28.33

151-Lorna STEPHENSON 31.03 (52.71%)

180-Mark HUME 34.40 (52.93%)

Also that morning Jim and Annabel LILLICO warmed up for the half marathon the following day at the Woodhouse Moor Parkrun in Leeds. They ran together with Annabel finishing 105th in 22.58. Jim was 1 place and 1 second further back.

Finally for the day Rachelle FALLOON took part in the North East Counties Athletics Association 5000m event at the Middlesbrough Sports Village. Rachelle was winner of the silver medal in a splendid 19.07!

Photos are of Dominic HARRIS after Sunderland, the LILLICOs at Leeds and Allan FOGGON en route to a huge course pb at Druridge Bay.

Four Alnwick Junior athletes competed this weekend at the North East Track and Field Championships at Middlesbrough Sports Village. The athletes are all in the first year of their age groups so were aiming for good performances rather than medals.

Ollie TELFER raced first in the U17 men’s 800m finishing 5th in a personal best time of 2min 15s, a new club record. Lauren BROWN competed next in the 1500m running an excellent race finishing strongly in 6th place. This improved on her own club record with an excellent time of 5min 0s. Later in the day Lauren also ran a personal best time of 46.95s in the 300m

Finlay TELFER had a slow start in the hammer with two no throws, however, he held his composure and managed a super personal best of 16m 93cm in round six to win the bronze medal. A fantastic achievement.

Talia THOMPSON continued her excellent season by throwing 8.35m in the shot put just short of her own club record. Talia finished in 4th place. The Junior Harriers had an excellent day competing at the highest level, they are sure to continue to improve through the season.

On Wednesday 9th May 9 Harriers travelled down to the Silverlink to take part in the Wallsend Harriers organised Gordon Smith Memorial Relays. We sent out 2 mens and 1 ladies team with each runner tackling a very fast 2 mile course. Well done to all the runners and a massive thank you to Jocelyn BOLAM who was a late replacement!

The ladies race was first up with Bev BLYTHE going out on the first leg. She handed over to Jocelyn BOLAM, with Angie EMBLETON on the final leg. The team performed admirably finishing 40th of the 70 teams:

40-Ladies “A” Team-Bev BLYTHE 15.18, Jocelyn BOLAM 16.55 and Angie EMBLETON 13.53. Overall 46.06.

For the mens teams the first leg runners were Jon DUFFY and Denis KERR, with the B teamer Denis finishing his leg ahead of Jon. However Shaun LAND quickly overtook Mark DOCTOR on the 2nd leg meaning that the A team were quite rightly ahead. The final leggers were Dominic HARRIS and Jon ARCHER, both running well to give our teams decent final positions on the night out of the 83 teams:

34-Mens “A” Team-Jon DUFFY 13.00, Shaun LAND 11.55 and Dominic HARRIS 11.09. Overall 36.04.

47-Mens “B” Team-Denis KERR 12.31, Mark DOCTOR 13.22 and Jon ARCHER 11.58. Overall 37.51.

There is 1 relay to go, the Weetslade Relay organised by Claremont Road Runners. More details will be announced soon……..

Photos are of Jocelyn in action as well as Mark, Jocelyn, Angie, Jon D, Dominic, Jon A and Shaun after the race.

A big number of Harriers were in action on Saturday 5th May at the Druridge Bay Parkrun, where almost 250 runners turned out no doubt partly due to the glorious weather. First Harrier home in 21.00 and 1st in the male 50 category was Tim FALCONER. He was 30 seconds ahead of Neil HAMILTON who was a minute ahead of John CUTHBERT. Also for the lads there were course personal bests for Chris STEWART and Junior Harrier Harry ELLABY.  For the ladies Jo POWELL continues to get faster as she bagged another pb as well as the 3rd placed female slot.

Results:

13-Tim FALCONER 21.00 (72.54%)

17-Neil HAMILTON 21.30 (63.95%)

27-John CUTHBERT 22.37 (57.33%)

39-Andy SQUIRES 23.23

43-Jo POWELL 23.35

48-Chris STEWART 24.00 (56.46%)

60-Cris ATWELL 24.41 (63.34%)

63-Harry ELLABY 24.47 (55.28%)

65-Chris FRIEND 24.59

75-Hannah TAYLOR 25.54

116-David HINDMARSH 28.39

120-Eleanor HEELEY 28.49 (57.72%)

126-Colin McLEAN 29.04

137-Alison HUTCHINGS 29.54

144-Nell GAIR 30.23

153-Linda PATTERSON 30.50

201-Mark HUME 36.01

In other events that morning Ian and Lorna STEPHENSON were in action at the Rising Sun Parkrun, where Ian clocked 24.51 and Lorna 32.35. Finally over the 5k distance Kim BRONZE and John ROSS were at the Sheffield Hallam Parkrun, with Kim finishing in 26.17 and John 29.01.

Also that day Adam SPILLER took part in the latest of the superb Lakeland Trails races, the 17k Staveley Trail Race. Adam was 97th finisher in 1.42.43.

The following day Mel STEER was also over in the Lakes tackling the tough Keswick Half Marathon. Mel put in her usual good shift to finish 141st in 1.49.55.

Photos are of Harry ELLABY and Eleanor HEELEY at Druridge Bay, and Adam SPILLER at Staveley.