Young Drew is king od the Castle 10K

The young Harrier crossed the line in 35 minutes 11 seconds, despite having to stop three times because of cramp. Drew, who is enjoying his first season of road racing, also won the Fountains 10k earlier this summer but Sunday's victory in Bishop Auckland carries the greater prestige.

The race has attracted a host of top international athletes over the years and is one of the biggest on the North-East calendar.

Drew actually prefers cross-country, but has the talent and speed to be a major challenger to the more established names on the roads.

On a good day for Harriers, Paul Kelly finished an excellent fifth with one of his fastest times of the year. The veteran clocked an impressive 36 mins 58 secs on what is by no means an easy circuit.

Shirley Gibson was also in the prizes, winning a F55 veterans' award, and club-mate Linda Gibson was sixth lady in a time of 44 mins 20 secs. Graham Bell was second M50 in 39:46.

Harriers' junior athletes have also been performing impressively lately. They finished third in their North Yorkshire South Durham track and field meeting. Felix Pearson won the Under-15s boys 200m in 26.6 secs, with Andrew Jones and Darren Swankie second and third. Chris Craigs was victorious over the same distance at Under-17s level (25.3 secs).

Robert Fox won the Under-15s boys' long jump with 5.14m and Leah Kennedy won the Under-15s girls' event with 1.45m. Rosie Clark was second. Beth Ward had a successful meeting, winning the Under-13s girls' high jump in 1.10m and finishing second in the 800m in 2mins 41 secs. Emma Shakeshaft won the Under-17s ladies' high jump with 1.40m.

The Under-15s girls' shot was a three-way Harriers battle won by Nicole Marsh with 7.40m. Rosie Clarke was second and Leah Kennedy third. Joe Kibirge was third in the Under-15s boys' 800m and Verity Pratt seventh in the Under-17s ladies' 200m.

Andrew Jones was second in the Under-15s boys' long jump, with Sean Simpson, Darren Swankie, Andrew Jordan and Josh Phillips also contesting the event.

l Harriers train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Eastbourne Sports Complex, Darlington, at 6.15pm when new members of all ages are always welcome.

* www.darlingtonharriers.co.uk

Swaledale Road Runners

ON July 23 members of the Swaledale Road runners took part in two different 10K races.

Tony Lambert had an excellent run at Burton Leonard, finishing 2nd in 36.39. This secured him second place overall in the Black Sheep series, behind Gary Dunn of Thirsk. Stuart Clarkson was 68th in 48.23, while Eric and Glenys Nutter finished in 54.33 and 74.43 respectively.

Both Eric and Glenys finished top in their age groups in the series. Meanwhile Martin Luxton chose the Victorian 10K in Marske, which he finished in 46.29.

On Tuesday, July 25 three runners tackled the Roseberry Topping fell race, which involves a 720ft climb to the trig point followed by a fast descent.

Tony Ward was first home for the club in 15.41, followed by Dave Atkinson in 17.04 and Pete Richardson in 20.51.

On Sunday, July 30 no fewer than 30 club runners tackled the James Herriot Trail run at Castle Bolton. This is a tough nine mile course, but the runners' efforts were rewarded by wonderful scenery.

Tony Lambert was in great form again and finished third in 56.35. Richard Johnson was 8th in 59.53 and Tony Ward won the over 50s prize, coming in 14th overall in 61.59.

Other results: Matt Holt 64.47, Dave Atkinson 65.07, Stuart Smith 69.12, Keith Richardson 72.34, Demetrios Robson 74.16, Martin Luxton 76.13, Karen Saward 76.49, Melissa Hepburn 77.30, John Hunter 82.56, Sharon Morrison 86.11, Linda Turnbull 86.18, Ann Luxmoore 89.04, Norman Bell 90.10, Bob Jones 90.12, Eric Nutter 91.53, Angie Went 92.53, Julia Spittle 93.13, Sally Rutherford 94.57, Mandy Black 95.06, Kath Sunter 96.53, Rachael Iveson 96.54, Jo Richardson 97.19, Helen Smith 100.39, Sandra Sanderson 104.00, Janet McKay 104.14, Glenys Nutter 111.49, Alex Sutcliffe 112.00.

Richmond and Zetland Harriers

THE evening of Tuesday, July 25 saw the annual running of the Roseberry Topping Fell Race; one of the shorter distances in the fell race calendar, but equally as challenging with 715 feet of ascent over just a mile and a half of running.

There were some impressive times at the sharp end - the winner crossing the line in just over 11 minutes. Paul Goad had another good, strong run, finishing in 68th position overall in a time of 20.45.

Staying off-road with the popular James Herriot Trail Run, which took place on Sunday, July 30 at Castle Bolton, which has now replaced the former Half Marathon distance.

The current race covers 14K (approximately nine miles) of moorland tracks and paths, taking in scenic views of the area, making the race all the more rewarding.

Two Richmond and Zetland athletes took part in this local race, with Jim Robinson coming home in a time of 68.55, which earned him 50th position and second place in the Male Vet 60 category, beaten to the title by on 11 seconds. Ian Hepworth was also in great shape, finishing strongly in 74.14 and taking a pleasing 83rd place from a field of 211 runners.

On the same day, two Richmond and Zetland junior athletes were in action on the track again at Gateshead Stadium, competing in the North of England County Championships, where over ten counties competed for honours.

Leanne Shaw and Ruth Hill represented Yorkshire in the sprints and once again, performed to their full potential, both having had excellent results throughout the season so far. Leanne placed second in the Under-17s Ladies 200m in a fantastic time of 26.41, showing that she can compete more than favourably with her peers.

Ruth Hill also looked in fine form, taking third place in the Under-15s Girl's 200m race, with another excellent time of 26.67, demonstrating that she also has much to offer in this, her favoured sprint event.

Fixtures: Saturday, August 12: Arncliffe Fete Fell Race, Arncliffe, Wharfedale

Sunday, August 13: Darlington 10K Road Race & Fun Run & Askern 10 Mile Road Race, Askern, Doncaster

* www.rzh.org.uk

Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

THE James Herriot nine mile Country Trail Race takes place through the beautiful countryside around Castle Bolton.

Gary Dunn completed this testing course in a record time of 54.50 minutes. Dunn just seems to get better and better each time he turns out.

Dusan Svoboda is having a good season, and he finished 23rd in 64.17. Stephan Tomaszeski came 31st in 65.11, Alan Harman 80th in 74.25, Alan Wikeley 120th in 78.28, Steve Harrison 132nd in 81.02, Pat Kirby 148th in 84.26, Cath Lumb 169th in 91.25, Cheryl Kirby 179th in 94.31, Karen Hudson 180th in 94.44 and Maggie Allison 211th in 112.50.

The two-lap Harrogate Town Centre 10k on the same day was more predictable but still fairly testing, and Alan Somers came 100th in 45.06 with Elizabeth Pointon 363rd out of 431 finishers, in 61.03. An Australian international, running for Thames Hare and Hounds Club, won the race in 30.34 minutes.

Sedgefield Harriers

FOLLOWING 24 hours of heavy rain the sky cleared to allow the sun to shine on Sedgefield Harriers' first summer handicap race.

A respectable field turned out on the evening of August 3 to take on a scenic and undulating 6.5 miles around Fishburn and Bishop Middleham.

The course was full of surprises over little known tracks taking in the old railway route from Fishburn, tracks beside local lakes, the old track from Mainsforth passed Middleham Castle and a part of Bishop Middleham itself.

Off road trail races are growing more popular because of just such variation and runners had to negotiate gates and styles along the way.

First home was Andrew Lowes, an unattached guest runner from South Shields with a handicap time of 44:44 (own time 39:44). The handicap was age category based and Andrew

overcame a five minute penalty over the first veteran starters.

Sedgefield Harrier Mike Leakey, 47:04 (own time 44:04 + 3 min handicap) a V45 runner was 2nd back with Roger Whitehills in 3rd place (own time 43:02 + 5 min handicap). John Haycock of Sedgefield harriers was 4th and David Connolly of Durham Fell Runners 5th.

For the ladies Gail Bell of Sedgefield Harriers ran well to finish a clear first in 50:28 (own time 47:28 + 3 min handicap).

Christine Hearmon was 2nd in 56:53 (55:53 + 1 min) and Jeanette Ives 3rd in 57:39 (56:39 + 1 min). The course will be run again as a winter handicap and other clubs will be invited to take part.

The date will be on www.sedgefieldharriers.com when it is available.