Athletics

Castle Eden Walkway was the venue for the first in the series of the Tees-Forest 5k trail races on Thursday, April 10. Seven Aycliffe runners competed unfortunately reigning women's champion Sue Milburn still not race fit was an absentee.

First back for the club was Peter Milburn in seventh in a time of 18.05. George Reid next in 11th place in 19.27. John Burnside, now racing again after an injury-plagued 2002 put on a fine performance to finish in 20th position in 20.56. Kevin Greenall in 26th place in 22.02.

Congratulations go to Pat Edwards who was not only the first lady home for the club but also first lady in the race, a super effort from Pat to finish in 24.38. Helen Wright in her first Tees-Forest race did well to finish in 43rd place in25.55. Margaret Greenall also proved her liking for trail racing by finishing in 44th place in 26.08.

Newton Aycliffe AC had four representatives at the Flora London Marathon on April 13. New club member Andy Gaskarth made his debut for the club and produced a superb performance. Ex local footballer Gaskarth was first back for the club in a remarkable 3 hours 12mins. Michael O' Sullivan also excelled in the capital to produce a personal best time of 3 hours 23mins. Not to be outdone Mick Beadle in only his second marathon had a marvellous race to finish in 3hours 34mins. Rob Nicholson's hard training paid off when he was rewarded with a time of 3hours 53mins.

Richmond and

Zetland Harriers

Full marks for Richmond and Zetland Harriers' marathon runners as eight out of eight completed the distance at the London Marathon on Sunday 13. There were light easterly winds and clear blue skies and the temperature had nudged into double figures by 9.30am when the mass started from Greenwich. Paula Radcliffe was nearing the six-mile marker by this time, having started in the Elite Women's race at 9am, on her way to a world best time of 2:15:25. Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia was at home in the summery conditions and won the Elite Men's race, sprinting clear of the Italian Stefano Baldini and three more, to win in 2:07:56.

Behind the Elite there were equally keen races amongst the Club athletes, none more so than in the M40 class. Jon Orange turned 40 last December and, with the $1,000 first prize in the Veteran's race as his target, had set his sights on a 2:25 finish. Sponsored by Peacocks of Richmond, he had been running up to 120 miles a week in training, had completed several tempo-runs up to 18 miles at race pace and three weeks beforehand had won the Yorkshire Veteran's Half Marathon Championships at Ackworth in an outstanding 69:24. Across the start-line in next to no time he settled into his stride and his pace was so consistent that his 10K splits varied by a mere 41 seconds. Unfortunately, his K pace was five seconds adrift of Mark Hargreaves of Bournemouth who won the M40 race in 2:26:42. Ronnie Adams of Portsmouth was second and earned $600, beating last year's winner, Dave Robertson of Sunderland, who in turn hung-on to third place and a $400 prize, just one place and 6 seconds ahead of a fast-finishing Jon Orange. Jon finished the race in 52nd place in a time of 2:29:51 and this gives Jon the RZH Veteran's record - but is still shy of Shaun Purkiss' Club record 2:27:11 set at Redcar in 1991. His summer plans include a full T&F season, the AAA 10,000m Championship at Watford in July, an attempt at the World Vets One Hour Track Record at Catterick Garrison Stadium in late summer and another marathon (possibly Berlin or Chicago, sponsorship or invitation permitting) in the autumn.

There is no prize money on offer for a Veteran runner outside the first three but there is always competition. Another good race between three M50s, Mike Brooks and Colin Sewell of RZH and Pete Wicks of Swaledale Road Runners, unfolded in the last mile when the two Harriers gave it one last push along Birdcage Walk and got away to win by seconds. Ian Hepworth was the Club's third M50 to cross the line, completing an unofficial fourth M50 team place behind Poole Runners, Great West Runners and the Road Runners Club of Great Britain!

Tony Hewson, chef at The Stable Door in Middleham, was fifth home running his first marathon and raising £1500 for the Tommys children's charity. Similarly, The Rev Ann Chapman, vicar of Askrigg, ran her first marathon and finished with fellow Harrier Judith Fowden, both full of emotion, only to be interviewed by the BBC's Hazel Irvine. Last-but-never-least, Sean Fowden (having urged Judith, his wife, to leave him at 12 miles, athletically speaking of course!) took 45 minutes of his previous best and hopes to raise £1700 for Macmillan nurses with his efforts.

RZH results: 52nd (& 4th M40) Jon Orange 2:29:51, 2782nd (& 64th M55) Mike Brooks 3:22:11, 2830th Colin Sewell 3:22:37, 4463rd Ian Hepworth 3:35:24, 7116th Tony Hewson 3:51:39, Ann Chapman 4:44:42, Judith Fowden 4:47:11 and Sean Fowden 5:31:41.

This Sunday there are Trail Races at Leyburn and Kilhope Mine and Road Races at Kirbymoorside and Blyth Valley for some Harriers and next Tuesday is the opening T&F fixture in the NYSD League at Clairville Stadium, Middlesbrough.

* www.rzh.org.uk

Middlesbrough Harriers

Chris Jones was the star of the Shildon Open meeting with three wins in the 100m, 200m and long jump in the Under-17 age group.

Peter Vickers, still a junior, won both the 100m and 200m although the strong wind and cool temperatures prevented fast times being set.

Richard Kilty won the Under-15 100m and Joe Corrigan the Under-13 100m to complete a clean sweep of the sprint events.

In the girls events Emma Payne won the 200m and Tara Caster-Betts won the shot putt. Stephen Gill turned in the top senior performance of the day clocking 49.8 for the one lap race at Preston.

In the Under-18 coaching match Dean Daniel, who is only an Under-17 won the 150 in 16.7.

Leslie Richards, the English Schools and North of England discus champion, won with 44.23 and his teammate Gavin Hill, who is an Under-17, finished fourth with 38.24.

Senior men: 100m 1 P Vickers 11.5; 200m P Vickers 25.5, 3 P Stockton 26.3; 400m 1 S Gill (M and C) 49.8; shot 2 D Jordan 8.48m.

Under-17 men: 100m 1 C Jones 12.00, 2 B Wilson 12.01; 200m 1 C Jones 24.8, 3 J Grant 25.7; long jump 1 C Jones 5.87. U15 boys, 100m 1 R Kilty 12.8; long jump 3 C Horner 3.87m. U13 boys, 100m 1 J Corrigan 14.1.

Senior ladies: 200m, 2 M Barclay 27.8. U17, 200m 1 E Payne 28.1; shot putt 1 T Caster-Betts 5.01.

North of England Coaching match Under-18: 150m 1 D Daniel 16.7; discus 1 L Richards 44.35.

Evenwood Road Runners

Scenic Cumbria has been the hunting ground of late where Neil Douthwaite recorded 1:31.35 for 60th place at the testing Haweswater half-marathon. Darren Million, the club's recent member, enjoyed his run for 1:45.17 in 189th, Kenny Sams recorded another good time of 1:51.07 for 241st.

Training hard for her marathon debut, Donna Douthwaite being the only female club member to tackle this demanding course was delighted with 1:59.36 for 293rd. Alas marathon bound Glynn Frith completed the event in 2:03.13 for 306th while Vet O60 Alan Thompson finished in an excellent 2:16.50 for 336th from a field of 343 runners.

The monsoons made the Dentdale 14 miles wet and cold for three brave members along with 403 other runners. In 300th position and first for the club was Steven Coatsworth for 2:12.12 with Donna and Neil Douthwaite 18 and 19 places later in 2:14.24 and 2:14.25. Donna also finished 51st from 101 lasses.

Better weather at Coniston 14 where eight members turned out. Gary Atkinson was soon here again in 72nd for 1:29.55; 1:38.11 was shared between Neil Douthwaite 217th, Tony Hindmarch 218th as they raced from start to finish.

Following in were Andrew Laybourn 1:42.59 344th and ten minutes 18 seconds was Kenny Sams for 674th. Donna Douthwaite used the race for her marathon training programme and assisted Alan Thompson to a fine 2:20.03 for 1322nd and 1323rd. Holding in with knee problems was Alan Dickinson for 2:49.01 and finished in a creditable 1448 from a large field of 1454.