Harriers: Richmond's medal joy

There were signs of the old Nick Zissler showing with his second place in the under 17 men's race; Douglas Roberts was third in the under 13 boys race and won his second County X-C medal and the Senior Ladies finished just out of the medals in fourth, the identical place to last year. The Championships were at Nunroyd Park in 2003 but this year there was hardly any snow on the park and the going was mostly firm although the "path" through the woods provided one or two tricky moments.

The under-13 girls started the day's racing at 11.10am with one small lap and 3K in total. Rosie Adams was first home for the Club in 23rd place; Jane Thornton and Leanne Shaw finished in 57th and 58th places respectively and the three-to-score team were ninth.

All the boy's races are four-to-score, a legacy from the days when there were separate Championships, and the under-13 boys finished sixth with 108 points, just 11 points behind Leeds City AC who claimed third place and bronze team medals. Douglas Roberts ran in his customary dogged fashion despite a sore knee, determined not to miss out on a medal and a place in the Yorkshire team at the Inter-Counties Championships at Nottingham next month. Behind him, Tom Osborn was 20th, Rory Wadsworth 37th and Niall Scott 48th - a terrific showing from three first-year Harriers.

There was a big blow to the Club's fortunes in the under-15 girl's race when Jessie Roberts pulled-up injured, putting her Inter-Counties place in jeopardy but, more importantly with several youngsters missing, leaving the team one short. Jessie was up with the leaders in the opening stages of the large loop but looked uncomfortable and wisely called it a day and dropped-out before she did too much damage. Back in the pack, Jo Adams was having a tough afternoon but hung-in well and came good, finishing 35th with Katie Roberts enjoying her company and finishing two places behind.

Chris Andrade has become accustomed to being a lone Harrier in the under-15 boy's races this winter but enjoys the consolation of maximum support from his Club mates. Chris completed the 4.5K course in 46th place, happy to get all the way round after his dnf in 2003.

Moving-up in distance is never easy and Georgina Zissler, another single entry, this time in the under-17 girl's race, was similarly pleased with the result of her first-year Championship endeavours, finishing in 11th place.

Nick Zissler and Philip Fitzpatrick competed in the under 17 men's race and both were in the mix throughout the 6K. Nick and Alistair Brownlee of Bradford Grammar have run against each other many times in both School and Club competition since Nick won the Yorkshire under 13 boy's X-C Championships at Rotherham in 1999 but this time it was Alistair's day, relegating Nick to the runner-up place by just five seconds. Nick was happy to finish and be back in the medals after a topsy-turvy year with injuries and Philip voiced similar sentiments in the finishing funnel - 12th place out of 34 finishers in his first-year at the distance.

The Club had four Senior Lady runners toe the line; they too had 6K to run and all gave it their best shot in pursuit of the big city Clubs, well-enough to finish fourth with 59 points, behind Leeds, Wakefield and Holmfirth, but one point ahead of Bingley and Nestle Rowntree of York. Andrea Woodvine and Louise Jackson, half of the Yorkshire Junior Ladies team that won gold at the Inter-Counties two years ago, were always in the top 20 and went on to finish sixth and 16th respectively. Fiona Hughes knocked more than four minutes off last year's time to finish in 37th place and complete the scoring trio and Sarah Gregory, in her Championship debut, was 54th out of 82 finishers.

The Senior Men's team at County level is six-to-score and is a selection race for the Inter-Counties which in turn is used to select teams for the World Championships in which Junior Men are under 20 in the year of competition. Scott Wardman turned 20 in September and so ran as a Senior whereas he will run as a Junior in the Northern Championships at the end of this month. This was fortuitous as there were only six Harriers on the start line and all six finished - Ken Harker best again in 42nd place, Scott 51st, Brian McNabb 113th, Paul Roberts (not running as number 232 to avoid the terrorist threat) 117th, Mike Brooks 127th and second-last but never least, Neil Piper anchoring the four Vets team to a creditable 15th place.

On the same Saturday, Edd Richards opted to compete in the Great North X-C Run at Exhibition Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was 32nd out of hundreds in the Open Men's race.

This weekend's fixtures include North Yorkshire Schools X-C Championships at Raincliffe School, Scarborough on Saturday and on Sunday there is the Yorkshire Veterans X-C Championships at Graves Park, Sheffield, race six in the Reebok Challenge Series at Bute Park, Cardiff and the Eston Nab Nee Nocker Fell Race over 7 miles and countless feet, starting from Flatts Lane Car Park, Normanby at 11am.

* www.rzh.org.uk

Newton Aycliffe Harriers

Harriers were out in force at two venues over the weekend, at Morpeth for the hundredth running of the Morpeth to Newcastle road race. Originally run on New Years day, now a new date on the athletics calendar attracted a field of over 1,000 runners.

Over the half marathon distance of 13.1 miles in very windy conditions Andy Gaskarth was the pick of the Harriers producing his best run to date for the club with a personal best time of 1hour 22mins 58 seconds for 65th position.

Mick O'Sullivan was next home for the harriers in 86th position in a time of 1hour 25minutes 2 seconds. Julie Atkinson had a tremendous run to finish 17th lady and just missed out on receiving a medal in the over 35 age group with fourth place with a time of 1hour 35minutes 2 seconds. Other club members to finish out of the 1020 runners were, Patrick Robson in 299th place in a time of 1hour 37 minutes 13 seconds, Dave Macenzie 549th place in 1hour 46minutes 33seconds and Linda Connely in position 632 (81st lady) in a time of 1hour 49minutes 33seconds.

Aycliffe Harriers cross country runners were at Whitby for the fourth fixture in the North Yorkshire and South Durham league, in the under-17 boys race Adam Gibson produced an excellent run to finish second to Allan Pigford of Hartlepool in a time of 23minutes 37seconds, and now it seems a two-man race for the season's individual title.

Chris Kerr, getting back to full fitness, finished 3rd in 24minutes 47seconds to keep the Harriers' dominance going over the last two years in this age group.

in the under-13 boys race James Askew recovering from injury finished a creditable 9th in 12minutes 10 seconds.

In the senior mens race Malcolm Ingram once again held off son Adam Ingram to finish in 52nd place in a time 35minutes 51seconds to Adam's 36minutes 22seconds for 61st place. Then it was two of the Harriers runners recovering from injury, George Reid in 64th place in a time of 36minutes 31 seconds and Peter Milburn in 69th place in a time of 36minutes 50seconds closely followed by Colin Gibson in 72nd place in a time of 37minutes. Followed by the fast improving Tony Brewer making him the sixth counter for the team in 85th position in a time of 38minutes 39seconds. backing up the team were Mick Beadle in 88th position in a time of 39minutes 21seconds, Kevin Greenhall in 113th position in a time of 43minutes 39seconds, Dave McDonald 126th position in a time of 45minutes 11seconds.

In the senior ladies Sue Milburn produced her usual consistent race to finish 25th position but first vet in her category in a time of 22minutes 8seconds. the fast improving Tracy Barker produced an excellent run to finish 36th position in a time of 24minutes 19seconds.

Harriers members, family and friends please note the presentation night is the Navy Club, Newton Aycliffe, Saturday February 7 at 7pm.

Thirsk and

Sowerby Harriers

The first day of the year saw members gathered for Race 7 of the Fell Race Series, Captain Cook's, and runners were relieved to find less snow at Great Ayton than when they left Thirsk. In fact, running conditions were good and 152 runners completed the course. The event was won by Rickie Wilson of Scarborough in a time of 33.52 minutes, closely followed by Charles Stead, one-time Thirsk and Sowerby runner, in 33.57. Stewart Mechie finished 20th in 38.18, Caroline Pollard 36th in 41.03, Ernie Huck 66th in 43.57, Alan Wikeley 74th in 44.58, Steve Pollared 75th in 45.05, Alan Harman 105th in 48.25, Kaye Mechie 132nd in 54.08, and Maureen Gibbs 135th in 54.34. The men's team finished in 8th place and the women came an excellent 2nd behind New Marske A.

John Yates, enjoying some cooler temperatures after the heat of Bruneii, competed in the Poole Park Round the Lake 10k on Boxing Day, and finished 25th in a time of 37.36 minutes. On New Year's Day he entered the Broadstone Quarter Marathon and came 12th in 40.01.

Also out of area, David Shorrocks ran in the Ribble Valley 10k and finished in 224th place out of 563 runners, in a personal best time of 44 minutes.

Several members took part in the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Guiseley, and in the U15 boys' race, William Hayward finished 54th in 21.54 minutes and Stewart McLoughlin 59th in 22.57.

Richard Hall was 75th in the Senior Men's race in 42.45, David Granger 122nd, Ernie Huck 178th in 51.58, Alasdair Thorpe 182nd in 52.13 and Alan Wikeley 194th in 54.45.

In the Senior Women's race, Angela Hall came 39th in 26.27, Pat Kirby 68th in 30.04, Nicola Thorpe 73rd in 31.22 and Kaye Mechie 76th in 32.02. It is good to see Club Members competing in these prestigious events.

Quakers RC

OSunday, December 28, four Quakers travelled to Ripon to compete in the Jolly Holly Jog six mile trail race. First home for the club was Sue Boyle, to finish 230th out of 270 competitors in a time of 1:01:04, beating husband Brendan Boyle who finished 233rd in 1:01:13. Next home was Vanessa Treston, 249th, 1:03:34 and Wendy Glasper, 269th, 1:15:46.

Darlington Harriers

The fourth NYSD cross country fixture was held at Caedmon School, Whitby on Sunday, January 11.

RESULTS: Under-13 boys: Michael Parry eighth in 12.05.

Under-14 girls: Verity Pratt 12th, 11.55.

Senior ladies: Susie Rutherford third, 18.32.

Senior men: Nigel Orr 14th, 32.07; Joe McCreedy 17th, 32.19; Martin Grainger 18th, 32.29; Ron Read 32nd, 34.34; Ben Wilson 45th, 35.08; Paul Smith 83rd, 38.02; Steve Hutchinson 91st, 39.26; Brian Hannah 95th, 40.14; Ian Barnes 98th 40.32; Kevin Grainger 103rd, 41.03.

A total of 133 finished a tough hilly course. Senior men finished fourth team. The Harriers will be well represented at the London Marathon on April 18. Jack Mason qualifies through his Vet 40 time. Also Ronnie Read, Ken Hudson, Steve Hutchinson, Nigel Wilkinson. From the Wednesday's women groups, Emma Morley, Harry Singh and making their debuts at the classic distance will be Simon Rutherford, Jez Shaw, Paul Smith and club secretary John Brant.

* The Harriers train at Eastbourne Sports Complex, Hundens Lane on Tuesday and Thursday from 6.15pm. Contact John Brant on (01325) 257672 for further details.

Middlesbrough AC

The club's teenage spring stars were in brilliant form in the North East Counties Indoor Championships at Jarrow. Pride of place goes to Usif Aliu who smashed the championship record with 7.2 seconds for 60m and this is the fastest time recorded nationally in the U-15 age group. Richard Kilty who finished second also broke the old record as did bronze medallist Adam Allison. Joe Corrigan who was fourth was just outside the record.

Ben Wilson the U-15 champion two years ago was an easy winner in the U-17 age group and his time of 7.1 seconds was just 0.1 off the record set by Danny Angus six years ago. Chris Jones stepped down from 400m and 200m to win the 60m in 7.2 seconds, taking a break from playing in the wing for Middlesbrough Colts XV thus following in the footsteps of Francis O'Connor and Rory Underwood who starred at both sports. John Baines improved on last year's fourth place to claim bronze.

Suote Nyanango was runner-up in the senior 60m Hurdles but did beat the previous record and was also second in the 'B' 60m. Adam Ali and David Smith were third and fourth in the A final.

Faye Winspens equalled the U-17 record in the semi-final with 7.9 seconds but was a tenth closer in the final gaining the bronze.

Heidi Kilty also claimed bronze in the U-15 age group.

Most of the youngsters will again be in action in the North of England Championships at the E15 in Sheffield next week.

N E Counties Indoor Championships: Senior Men, 60m A: 3 A Ali Tees U 7.1, 4 D Smith Midd AC 7.2; B: 2 S Nyanango Midd AC 7.4 (7.3 SF). 60m Hurdles A: 2 S Nyanango Midd AC 8.5. U-20 Men 60m A: 1 C Jones Midd AC 7.3, 3 J Baines Midd AC 7.5; B: 1 S Lince Midd AC 7.5. U-17 Men 60m A: 1 B Wilson Midd AC 7.1. U-15 Boys 60m A: 1 Y Aliu Midd AC 7.2, 2 R Kilty Midd AC 7.4, 3 A Allison Midd AC 7.4. 4 J Corrigan Midd AC 7.8. U-17 Girls 60m A: 3 F Winspens Midd AC 8.0 (7.9 SF). U-13 Girls 60m A: 3 H Kilty Midd AC 9.1.