Members are reminded that club subs for 2023/24 must be paid in the next couple of weeks.
Subscriptions have been due since April 1 and need to be paid by June 19 to allow the club to register athletes for competition for the current track and field season and forthcoming winter season. Existing members can renew their subscriptions online here or by visiting the clubhouse during Monday night training sessions. Amble-based Jordan Scott was a winner at the Druridge Bay 10k Charity Run in aid of Hospice Care North Northumberland.
Jordan clocked up a 4th victory in the race, traditionally the property of the local Amble crew with Ian Harding and Karl Taylor all previous multiple winners, which Jordan won for the first time as far back as 2008, winning again in 2018 and 2019, in a time of 35:34. Club colleague Mark Snowball was 3rd in 39:38 with North Shields Polytechnic Harrier Darcey Tullis 10th and 1st Female finisher in 45:32. Numbers were markedly down on previous years however, with only some 129 finishers in total, maybe because entry prices were up and perhaps because the course now includes some longer stretches on the beach also. It has certainly been a busy time in the capital of Scotland, with Beyonce, Harry Styles and the Boss all in town and playing to capacity crowds at Murrayfield, while last weekend’s Edinburgh Marathon weekend saw some eleven different races over a range of distances and also incorporated many of the city’s historic landmarks en-route.
Sunday’s Marathon, which advertises itself as one of the country’s fastest and finishes on the coast at Musselburgh, was won by Alex Gladley of Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC in a time of 2 hours 21 minutes 34 seconds with Scottish Over 35 Jemima Farley first female finisher in 2:39:39. Rob Balmbra was first home for Morpeth in a time of 2:58:21 with four other finishers for the club. Anna Wright had an excellent run to finish 790th and 14th Over 40 in 3:24:07, with Jane Kirby not far behind in 3:29:29 for 1023rd and 10th 0/45, and Julie Vermaas 1548th and 17th 0/45 in 3:41:49. Mhairi Line was 5717th in 5:01:24. Congratulations to all four lasses who have certainly been putting the miles in. In the day’s Half Marathon race, won by Teesside based Kieran Walker in 1:05:24 with Basildon’s Emma Houchell setting a new female record in 1:14:48, Morpeth’s Finn Brodie had a fine run to finish agonisingly just outside the top three in 1:07:52 for 4th place. Long time member Mark Brown, now an Over 40, made a promising return to competitive action in the Half-Marathon where he was 297th and 38th O/40 in 1:25:24. Although the opening 800m event of the night for the Jimmy Hedley Cup was meant to be the showpiece at the second NEGP Meeting held at Jarrow’s Monkton Stadium, it was the first 3000m event which certainly caught the spectator’s eye, as 16 athletes battled it out over seven and a half laps, with the lead changing hands on many occasions.
Midway through the event, on the evening of 24 May, Richmond and Zetland’s Charlie Stephenson went to the front, a lead that he held onto for almost two laps. Gateshead’s Josh Blevins who had been prominent in the early stages slipped back slightly, as the pace heated up, courtesy of Stephenson, Houghton’s Chris Coulson, Newcastle University’s Sean Barry, and Birtley’s Chris Perkins, who was the event favourite. It was truly anybody’s race at the bell, and in fact the race lead changed hands no less than five times over the final lap. Morpeth Harriers' hopes rose with 200m remaining, as their Under 20 athletes James Tilley and Will De Vere-Owen mounted a two-pronged attack on Perkins as the finish line beckoned. Entering the finish straight Tilley was out in front and looked to be on the verge of a superb victory. That was until Perkins struck again, just before the finish line in the final strides, to claim his win in a brand new personal best time of 8m31.94s, taking almost six seconds off his previous figures. For Tilley, who finished second in 8m32.31s, and De Vere-Owen who finished third in 8m32.84s, there was undoubted elation in consolation by the fact that they had bettered previous figures by a mammoth sixteen and twelve seconds respectively. Another Morpeth Harriers performer of note was Connor Marshall, who gallantly battled through to finish fifth in 8m33.93s, bettering his previous figures by ten seconds. William Cork finished in eighth place, posting a season’s best of 8m36.69s. Other Morpeth Harriers in action in the 3000m were Alistair Douglass (11th) 8m47.15s, a new personal best by seven seconds, Joe Dixon (12th) 8m47.29s, taking 16 seconds off previous figures, Elliot Kelso (13th) 8m48.32s, a new personal best by 26 seconds, and Liam Roche (14th) 8m49.48s, a whole 43-second improvement here. Twelve athletes faced the starter in the opening heat of ten 800m events, where the first event winner was presented with the Jimmy Hedley Cup, in honour of the late former Jarrow and Hebburn Coach, who was also the mentor for international legends Steve Cram and David Sharpe. Henry Johnson of Houghton Harriers received the winner’s trophy from Jimmy’s daughter Dianne Holmes, after achieving his victory in 1m51.41s, holding off the late challenge from Birtley AC’s Adrian Bailes, who posted a new personal best of 1m52.62s. Amongst the 12-strong field in the race were four Morpeth Harriers. The quartet were headed by Under 17 Man Joseph Close, who finished ninth, and improving his personal best by four seconds, when posting a finishing time of 1m55.61s. Behind Close came Morpeth club colleagues Peter Smallcombe (10th) 1m56.28s, a new personal best by four and a half seconds, Matthew Waterfield (11th) 1m57.15s, an improvement of marginally under two seconds, and Bertie Marr (12th) 1m59.31s, a new personal best by five seconds. In race two, Mark Banks finished third out of ten in the field, posting a season’s best of 1m59.85s. Oliver Tomlinson of Morpeth Harriers finished fifth in the third fastest heat of the 800m, posting a time of 2m10.31s, which was a two second improvement on previous figures. In heat five, Morpeth’s Caitlin Flanagan posted a season’s best of 2m26.66s, when finishing tenth. Morpeth’s Daniel Burrow very nearly pulled off a win for himself in the sixth heat of the 800m, when he took the lead from the break point after 100m. He led untilthe final strides, as he finished second to Durham City’s Cian Rynne, posting a time of 2m20.45s, in his first competitive 800m. Morpeth’s Under 13 Boy Ewan Line finished ninth in this race, posting a new personal best of 2m29.99s, taking two seconds off his previous figures. In the seventh race of the ten, Morpeth’s Emma Tomlinson improved on her 800m time by two and a half seconds, when clocking 2m34.09s for tenth place. Brother and Sister Thomas and Molly Roche, younger siblings of Under 20 Man Liam, lined up in direct opposition to each other in the eighth race of the 800m. Both posted respective new personal bests, of 2m35.40s, and 2m39.0s, taking four and a half and two seconds, as they finished second and sixth, so it was a happy drive home that night for the pair of them. In heat nine, Morpeth’s Charlotte Marshall, younger sister of Connor, produced a season’s best of 2m53.54s, as she finished eighth. Rounding off the Morpeth 800m performances was Under 13 Girl Zoe Tomlinson, younger sister of Ollie and Emma, who took eight seconds off her best time, when posting 2m58.96s, when finishing fifth in the final heat. Again, Daniel Burrow of Morpeth Harriers employed front running tactics from the gun, however on this occasion, he managed to claim victory, as in heat five of the 200m, he posted a first-time effort of 27.55s. Ellie Wickens of Morpeth Harriers finished fifth in heat four of the 200m, posting a season’s best of 28.90s. Under 13 Boy Ewan Line finished seventh in heat six of the 200m in 31.87s. Morpeth’s Edward Gardiner was the club's only Field Event athlete in action on the night. He won a close contest with Gateshead’s Ryan Cook in the Under 20 Men’s Discus, managing a best throw of 36.77m, to Cook’s 34.35m. Morpeth Harriers' Young Athletes squad achieved a much better result in their second round NEYDL Division 2 Match held at Shildon 2000 Stadium on Sunday 21 May.
In their first fixture at Jarrow’s Monkton Stadium, a weakened squad had finished sixth of eight, however on this occasion, they not only improved by two team places to fourth, they also amassed a grand total of 576 team points, an improvement by 163, which can still be further improved upon with two matches remaining. Only 33 points divided Morpeth, and third-placed combined squad Houghton/Derwentside, and Tyne Bridge. Calls for more participation across the three age groups and two genders by Team Managers David Swinburne (Male), and Julie Roche and Judith Nutt (Female), had obviously not fallen on deaf ears, and a greater turnout had brought a vast improvement. There was great improvement from the Under 13 Boys, who had five athletes in action. Ewan Line secured an excellent win in the 1500m, posting a time of 5m10.14s, and Jacob Thompson finished second in the B race in 5m45.08s. Ewan also finished second in the A race of the 800m in 2m32.0s, being backed up in the B race by newcomer Josh Storey, who finished fourth in 2m49.19s. Line also contributed well in the 200m B race, finishing second in 31.3s, backing up Daniel Vermass’s 31.2s in the A race, which saw him finish sixth. Vermass showed his strength in the Field events, by clearing 1.34m to win the High Jump competition, and he was a very close second in the Long Jump, when he produced a best of 3.67m. Morpeth’s Jamie Ellis finished third in the Discus with 10.5m. The Under 13 Boys Day was well rounded off, by a victory in the 4 x 100m Relay, posting a time of 60.9s. Morpeth also had five Under 13 Girls in action on the day. Their best result came courtesy of Abi Potrac and Faye Heatley. It was achieved in the Long Jump, where Potrac managed a best of 3.41m, which saw her finish third in the A String, whilst Heatley’s 3.40m, saw her win the B String. Potrac also performed well on the track, finishing second in the 200m A race in 31.7s, and EmilyVermass, sister of Daniel, who was fourth in the B race in 35.8s. Faye Heatley and Zoe Tomlinson teamed up in the 1500m. Heatley finished fifth in the A race in 5m46.63s, and Tomlinson was second in the B race in 6m07.68s. Anna Archibald finished seventh in the 100m A race in 16.4s, and fifth in the 800m A race in 3m05.72s. Zoe Tomlinson worked hard in the Field events, finishing fifth in the Javelin with 6.42m, and also fifth in the Shot Putt with a best of 2.64m Morpeth’s Under 13 Girls 4 x 100m Relay squad were fifth in 64.9s. It was particularly pleasing to see William Hodgson back in action for Morpeth’s Under 15 Boys, after a spell of Rugby activity, and the sprinter announced his return with an excellent third in the 100m with 12.9s, and also a good second in the 200m in 25.8s. Thomas Roche finished second in the 200m B race in 30.7s. Unfortunately, Hodgson was only one of three Under 15 Boys who turned out, because in addition to the also aforementioned Thomas Roche, Daniel Scott was the only other Morpeth athlete who showed. Scott finished third in the 800m A race in 2m30.11, Roche finished third in the B race in 2m40.06s. The pair took on some Field activity, where Roche finished third in the A String Shot Putt with a best of 5.24m, Scott taking the B String with 5.23m. Scott was third in the Long Jump, with his best effort of 3.87m. On to Morpeth Harriers Under 15 Girls performances, where William Hodgson’s twin sister Alexandria was outstanding, producing A String victories in the Discus and Hammer events. The North East Champion was well ahead of the opposition on both counts, producing respective throws of 19.3m and 42m. Molly Roche produced a best of 10.8m for third place in the B String Discus. Roche also partnered Emma Tomlinson in the Javelin. Tomlinson secured fifth place in the A String, with a best of 9.71m, whilst Roche threw 6.09m for fourth place in the B String. Staying with the Under 15 Girls throwing events, Megan Potrac Putted 6.42m for fourth place in the A String Shot, whilst Charlotte Marshall Putted 4.97m for third in the B String. Abigail Kahn was Morpeth’s only Jump representative in the Under 15 Girls events. She produced a best of 3.9m for fourth in the A String Long Jump. Meanwhile in the Under 15 Girls Track events, Megan Potrac finished second in the A String 800m in 2m43.99s, and Charlotte Marshall was fourth in the B String in 2m59.69s. Emma Tomlinson finished third in the A String 1500m in 5m20.82s, and Molly Roche won the B race in 5m36.26s. Tomlinson also finished fifth in the 300m A race in 52.6s. Abigail Kahn finished seventh in the 100m in 14.4s, sixth in the 200m in 30.4s. Morpeth Harriers Under 15 Girls 4 x 100m squad finished fifth in 61.4s. The clubs five Under 17 Men who turned out managed to put a set of respectable results together, to add to the progressing tally on a hot day. Elliot Kelso won the 1500m in 4m20.27s, from fellow club colleague Oliver Tomlinson, who took the B race in 4m25.84s, thus confirming a Morpeth double win. Also competing for the club in the 1500m was Harry Armstrong, who with his time of 5m06.31s, was fifth fastest in the three- and three-quarter lap event. Harrison Scott and Conner Phillips were the Morpeth partners in the 100m and 200m events. Scott for his part, was third in the A String 100m in 12.3s, and second in the 200m in 24.3s. Meanwhile, Phillips finished second in the B String 100m in 12.5s, and also second in the 200m in 24.9s. Oliver Tomlinson also worked hard in the Field, pulling off an excellent win in the Discus, with a best of 18.2m, and finished second in the Javelin with 19.4m. There were some excellent results produced by the six Morpeth Under 17 Women who turned out on the day. Particularly in the sprints, where Freya Caygill and Amy Longstaff dominated, with two double wins in both the 100m and 200m. Caygill convincingly took both A races in respective times of 13.1s and 26.8s, whilst Longstaff took both B races in 13.5s and 27.8s. Amelia Hamlin finished second in the A race of the 300m in 44.1s, and newcomer Anya Kelly did well when finishing fourth in the B race in 47.2s. In the 800m, Morpeth’s Kate Kennedy finished second in 2m32.97s. Victoria Hodgson, older sister of William and Alexandria won the 300m Hurdles in a modest 49.6s and was a very close second to Blyth/Alnwick’s Sadie Parker in the earlier run 80m Hurdles, posting a time of 12.6s. FINAL MATCH RESULT 1st Birtley/Jarrow & H/Phoenix 769pts, 2nd Blyth/Alnwick 637.5pts, 3rd Houghton/Derwentside/Tyne Bridge 599.5pts, 4th Morpeth 576pts, 5th Chester Le Street/Durham 558pts, 6th Blaydon/Wallsend/Gosforth 368pts, 7th Middlesbrough AC 343pts, 8th Tynedale/Prudhoe 286pts. |
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