ALNWICK HARRIERS

On a lovely summers evening one Alnwick Harrier made the trip down to Durham to take in the sights as they negotiated the river paths a loop of the track and through the cobbled streets and shopping mall and a brutal hill between 7-8k and another one thrown in at the end for good measure!

195 Diana Weightman 48.13

Six Harriers took on the Wild Deer Alnwick Castle 10K Trail race in Hulne Park on a very muggy overcast morning. The race started and finished on the river bank in front of the castle and included sections along Lady’s Well Drive and a climb up and around the priory, followed by a very precarious descent down the damp grassy bank on the other side. A slog up Iron Bridge Drive led to a rarely run section around the sawmill and a comfortable last mile downhill to the finish line.

First Harrier home was Jim Allan (40.49) in 7th overall closely followed by Lisa Baston (45.29) and Jo Powell (45.50) in 23rd and 25th, respectively (5th and 6th females). Lisa and Jo both posted sprint finishes to successfully hold off chasing runners. Next home was Louisa Scola (49.42) who finished 39th overall (11th female and 1st V60).

Perhaps the most impressive run of the entire 160 participants was from Georgina Tetley-Paul, who ran the entire course in full firefighting kit (a busman’s holiday for her) including boots, helmet and oxygen tank, altogether weighing over 20 kilograms to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity. Crew support was provided by Tess Allan, ensuring that Georgina had plenty of water.

Jim Allan; 40.49; 7th overall; 1st V5. Lisa Baston; 45.29; 23rd overall; 5th female; 3rd open. Jo Powell; 45.50; 25th overall, 6th female; 3rd V40. Louise Scola; 49.42; 39th overall; 11th female; 1st V60. Georgina Tetley-Paul; 1.45.57; 159th overall; 97th female. Tess Allan; 1.45.57; 160th overall; 98th female.

1500 runners set off in waves outside the Gateshead Stadium to closed roads cheered on by the crowds. The weather was warm and sunny and the route followed the River Tyne to the swing bridge before looping back over the river past the Sage and Baltic. The route then continued along the river, uphill to the aptly named ‘slog on the Tyne’ and with the weather now becoming much hotter the only brief shade was under bridges. With the supporting cheers and encouragement of the crowd the runners continued up towards the stadium, before turning onto the track and finally over the finish line to collect goodie bags, medal and T-shirts; a bit different this year with no audience to the encouragement of the commentator.

It was an excellent run, with four Alnwick Harriers finishing: Lee Hope finished 211th in a time of 46.05, Tony Jackson finished 264th in a time 47.31, Louise Scola finished in 338th with 49.36 and George Williams V70+ finished 656th with a time of 57.56

Stunning Druridge Bay played host to Wild Deer events 5k,10k and a half marathon on Sunday 27 th June. The early morning sunshine welcomed the runners arrival but thankfully temperatures remained comfortable after some much hotter days in the week leading up to the event.

First away was the half marathon which had a staggered start in place as did the 10k where runners were given a group start time based on their own predicted finish time. Seven Alnwick harriers made their way around the half marathon trail taking on laps of both lakes, a good stretch of beach bathed in sunshine, trail paths and lanes.

First back for Alnwick and a super 3rd placed female overall was Lisa Baston in an excellent time of 1:42.06. Tony Jackson was our first male home in a good time of 1:50.15. Running a half instead of a full marathon for a change, Cris Atwell crossed the line in 1:59.02 finishing a notable 2nd V60. Denise Drummond claimed 3rd V50 in 2:02.15 coming home one second ahead of Ian Atherton who finished 3rd V60. Paul Delbridge and Tess Allan were amongst the 103 runners who successfully completed the Half marathon trail distance. 

Three female Alnwick harriers opted for the 10k trail which provided 215 runners with a far reaching stretch of white sand down the beautiful Northumberland coastline as well as trail paths and lanes.  Third placed female overall and 1st V40 was Jo Powell in 47.07. Next for the club came Alice Tetley-Paul smiling broadly as she crossed the finish line in 55.38. Ellie Hulbert concluded our trio of ladies in 1:02.49.

All the runners were rewarded with an attractive wooden medal,tee shirt and choice of drink.  Well done everyone ! 

Results Half Marathon: 18. Lisa Baston 1:42.06; 36. Tony Jackson 1:50.15; 49. Cris Atwell 1.59,02; 55. Denise Drummond 2.02.15; 56. Ian Atherton 2:02.16; 92. Paul Dellbridge 2:25.15; 102. Tess Allan 2:43.05 

Results 10K : 18. Jo Powell 47.07; 60. Alice Tetley-Paul 55.38; 122. Ellie Hulbert 1:02.49

Seven Alnwick Harriers made the trip to the inaugural Gateshead half marathon on a warm and sunny May 30th 2021. A total of 788 runners took part in the road closed event, which took in the famous landmarks of Gateshead including Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Sage Gateshead, BALTIC, Tyne Bridge, Swing Bridge and finishing in the iconic Gateshead International Stadium.

The start line was within the stadium, with runners grouped into waves based on predicted finish times. The two loop course allowed for plenty of encouragement as runners passed each other several times on the route, and there was enthusiastic crowd support on the Quayside. First harrier home was Jim Allan in 1.27.42, followed by Tony Jackson in 1.51.37. First lady back was Denise Drummond 2.02.52, who ran with Ian Atherton 2.02.52. Jennifer Knight and Linda Patterson finished in 2.23.12, followed by Tess Allan who was running her first half and finished in 2.32.43.

Runners were rewarded with a large and colourful commemorative medal emblazoned with The Angel of the North. Well done to all the runners.

Jim Allan 1.27.42 (V50). Tony Jackson 1.51.37 (V50). Denise Drummond 2.02.52 (V55). Ian Atherton 2.02.52 (V65). Jennifer Knight 2.23.12 (V40). Linda Patterson 2.23.12 (V40). Tess Allan 2.32.43 (V50)

Temperatures soared on Northumberland’s beautiful coastline on Sunday 13 th June when seven Alnwick harriers were amongst the 315 runners taking part in the Run Nation Bamburgh 10k.

In line with Covid-19 procedures a staggered start ensured waves of runners started in well organised set groups based on predicted finish times. An earlier start time offered slightly cooler running conditions as the sun baked down and temperatures rose over the course of the morning.

Our fastest Alnwick harrier home in an excellent time of  44.14 was Jim Allan despite having to walk the last third of a mile admitting that after a fast start the heat got the better of him ! (Trust you don’t mind me referencing strava Jim!)

First lady back for the club and 8th female overall was Lisa Baston in a fantastic time of 45.33. Our second lady back was the hugely consistent Carole Page in a brilliant time of 46.16. Carole also claimed the V60 crown to add to her collection! Next came Jo Powell (2nd V45) in 46.34.

Cris Atwell always looking for opportunities to clock up those marathon training miles came home in 53.09 having already ran a few miles before he started the 10k! After Cris in the bright, baking sunshine came Paul Dellbridge and our fourth lady for the club Georgina Tetley-Paul. And not forgetting Tess Allan, who got missed off the Run Nation Results and ran in with Georgina.

Well done to all enduring such heat and energy sapping conditions!

Results:
59. Jim Allan 44.14 (3rd V50)
74. Lisa Baston 45.33 (3rd V35)
77. Carole Page 46.16 (1st V60)
80. Jo Powell 46.34 (2nd V45)
144. Cris Atwell 53.09 (6th V60)
207. Paul Dellbridge 59.04
306. Georgina Tetley-Paul 1:20.15 Tess Allan 1:20.15

Billed as a super fast 10k, eight Alnwick harriers took on four full laps of Eshott Airfield on Wednesday night the 9th June.

Battling against a forceful headwind all the way up one direction of the loop runners needed mental as well as physical strength to maintain a consistent pace.

Steve Carragher scorched round in an impressive 36.29 finishing a superb 7th place and 2nd V45. Joseph Godden made nothing of this tough track coming home in 11th place in 39.34. Next came James Carragher in a good time of 45.33 which concluded our trio of men.

Alnwick harriers ladies made their mark on this flat but mentally challenging course by claiming the winning club team prize! This great result included Jo Powell (3rd female overall and 1st V45), Rosie Davison (4th female overall) and Louisa Scola (7th female overall and 2nd V60). Two rewarding 10k PB’s followed for our next two ladies Kathy McConnachie and Karen Leeson.

A total of 48 runners took part in what Kathy described perfectly as a mentally brutal race! Well done everyone!

Results: 7th Steve Carragher 36.29 (2nd V45); 11th Joseph Godden 39.34; 27th James Carragher 45.33; 28th Jo Powell 45.55 (1st V45); 29th Rosie Davison 46.24: 33rd Louisa Scola 50.15 (2nd V60); 36th Kathy McConnachie 51.28; 38th Karen Leeson 52.16

Hulne Park in Alnwick was the venue for Run Nations, run Northumberland Alnwick Castle trail 5k and 10k, which took place on the 23rd May. The course was through the grounds of the park over a mixture of paths and tarmac road.

Five harriers ran the 5k and all finished in the top six. Steve Carragher led them home in 17.15 followed in 2nd place by Max Murray John, 17.57, 3rd placed Rob Andrew, 18.25 and James Carragher in 6th place, 20.42. Well done to them all.

Thirteen harriers tackled the 10k and had the long hill to contend with half way through, but at least we knew there would be a down hill towards the end! First harrier home and in 14th place was Jim Allan 40.14 next and first female for Alnwick was Lisa Baston in 44th place 45.53. The rest of us trooped in behind – 43rd Geoff Givens 45.37, 55th Diana Weightman 46.45, 60th Tony Jackson 47.26, 109th Louisa Scola 52.17, 114th Karen Mather and 115th Phil Lee both on 52.55, 141st Ian Stephenson 55.48, 169th George Williams 58.54, Linda Patterson 198th in 1.01.10, 221st Tess Allan 1.06.04 and 236th Lorna Stephenson 1.18.27. Age category wins for Jim, Lisa and Diana. Well done to all who took part.

Back in July 2019 Alnwick Harrier Juniors along side Blyth running Club gained promotion to the first division of the North East Youth Development league. Last Sunday was their first opportunity to compete at this level and travelled to Middlesbrough MSV for the first fixture against Harrogate, Darlington, Gateshead & Morpeth Harriers.

The heavy rain made conditions difficult, but the small team of both new emerging talent & old hands made a great start. In the Shot put Lilia Purvis threw 8.24m in the pouring rain to win the U15 girls category and Finlay Telfer 9.08m finish 4th in the U17 men’s competition. Finlay also managed an excellent 2nd place in the high jump managing 1.60M.

In the 800m Liam McDonogh (U15) raced well to finish 2nd in his heat & Farren Henderson had a good first run for the Club finishing strongly in the U13G race. In the 1500m both Lilia & Xara Purvis raced in the U15 category. In the sprints Mary Fentiman (U13) raced her first 100 & 200m on the track showing great potential for the future.

Although finishing in 6th place it was an encouraging first match and the athletes worked hard to form a new team. The next two fixtures in the June & July will be held in Morpeth and Middlesbrough.

Alnwick Harriers submitted one men’s team and two women’s teams for the recent virtual Gordon Smith Relays, where teams of three each run a two mile leg and each team has to include at least one veteran athlete.

The men’s team consisting of veterans Ian Stephenson, Andy Squires and Tony Jackson finished a creditable 36th out of 49 teams, with a combined time of 43:13.

The women’s team of veterans Karen Kelly, Jo Gascoigne-Owens, Diana Weightman finished an excellent 9th out of 48 teams with a combined time of 39:50. Not far behind in 13th position, veterans Jo Powell and Alice Tetley-Paul and senior Rosie Davison ran a combined 41:55.

Full results at http://www.wallsendharriers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-Virtual-Gordon-Smith-Relays-Provional-Results.xlsx