Six junior members of Darlington Harriers made the journey to York to take part in the last track meet of the season at the Huntington Stadium and came away with a handful of medals and personal best results.

New member Matthew Jones, his father an ex-Harrier, was second in the U15 boys long jump with a new personal best of 5.49 metres and 2nd also in the discus with 22.80 metres. He also set a new personal best in the 100 metres with an excellent time of 12.7 seconds. Dexter Bogle also had a good afternoon with second place in the 80 metres hurdles in a time of 12.9 seconds along with a distance if 4.81 metres in the long jump and a height of 1.55 metres to finish 4th in an exciting high jump competition. Bradley Woods was also busy with 4.05 metres in the long jump, 28.8 seconds in the 200 metres and 1.3 metres in the high jump.

The girls also had a full afternoon of competition with a second place in the U15 girls high jump for Tara Kennedy with a height of 1.35 metres. She ran 14.5 seconds in the 75 metres hurdles and leaped 4.41 metres in the long jump. Tara's young sister Leah ran a splendid time of 2 minutes 25.7 seconds in the U11 girls 600 metres, 12.4 seconds in the 75 metres and jumped 2.82 metres in the long jump. Lauren Peacock came to her first track meeting and came away with 3.89 metres in the long jump and 1.25 metres in the high jump.

In the Auckland Castle 10k on August 24 the senior athletes were out in force with some excellent results. Bernadette Taylor was in the prizes again with a very good 10th place in the women's race in a time of 38mins 04 seconds and Jo-Anne Short was the first F40 female in a time of 41mins 15 secs. New recruit Joe McCready was the first Harrier home in 37th place overall with a time of 35mins 12secs just cruising past Ben Wilson, 35mins 46secs, in the last yards of the race.

Other times: Ronnie Read 38.13, Paul Kelly 38.30, Jack Mason 39.43, Brian Hannah 42.26, Ian Barnes 43.10, Nigel Wilkinson 43.52, Harry Singh 47.01, John Brant 47.41, Harry Prince 49.46, Patsy Ryan 51.11, Steve Dauber 51.43, Annette Hubery 63.07.

At the New Marske autumn 5k on September 2, Martin Grainger ran to an extremely good 3rd place overall in a time of 15.59 and was the second veteran runner to finish. Ben Wilson closely followed Martin home in 11th position in a time of 17.03.

Another brilliant performance on the roads from Martin Grainger saw him come home in third place overall at the Ray Harrison Memorial 10k at Billingham on Sunday.

Once again Martin was the second veteran home in 33.39. The next Harrier home was triathlete Jo-Anne Short who led the women's team home to 2nd place in a time of 39.28 along side the ever improving Julie Peacock 48.18 and Marion Bynoe 50.59, in her first race for some time. Stephen Hutchinson who has been plagued by injury since the London Marathon ran 41.31 and is well on the way to regaining his form. Brian Hay made the long journey north to run a time of 42.09 but was just pipped by Brian Hannah 42.06. Ken Hudson 43.53, John Brant 46.35 and Harry Prince 48.24 completed the lineup.

Paul and Emma Clifford, two junior members went to the Border Classic track meeting at Carlisle on August 31 and came away with a handful of medals and some excellent performances.

Paul won his 150-metre race in 23.25secs and was second in the 600 metres in 2mins 03secs but got stuck in a slow heat for the 80metres and could only manage fifth in 10.03secs. His sister Emma was 3rd in her 800metres in 2mins 47secs, she then ran 5mins55secs in the 1500metres and leapt 1.25metres in the long jump.

The final NYSD track & Field meeting of the season was at Claireville Stadium on August 12. After a busy series with a hatful of PBs the women's team were 5th with 49 points and the men's were 4th with 48.5 points. Overall the club finished 4th with 97.5 points. The outstanding athlete from the meeting was Dexter Bogle who was 1st in the U15 boy's triple jump with 9.54 metres, high jump 1.50 metres and discus with 25.80 metres. Tara Kennedy, U15 girl also won her long jump with 4.28 metres.

Other results: U13 girls 100m: Sian Taylor 14.8, Faye Bowles 14.9, Stacey Gardiner 15.5.

U13 boys 100 metres: Liam Smith 15.7.

Snr Men 1500 metres: Ben Wilson 4.41.5, John Brant 6.02.07.

U13 girls long jump: Sian Taylor 3.89m.

U15 girls long jump: Lauren Peacock 4.07m.

U17 men triple jump: Robert Gibbon 10.67m.

* Harriers train at Eastbourne Stadium every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6pm, and are starting training sessions for the cross-country season. The first event will be the NYSD relays at Eastbourne stadium on the 12th October and any one who wants to keep fit over the winter months is welcome to come and have a go.