Sedgefield Harriers

SEDGEFIELD Harriers had 12 runners in this years increasingly popular Pier to Pier Run last Sunday.

The only blemish on a pleasant Sunday morning was the brisk wind which hindered runners particularly in the closing stages on Seaburn and Roker beaches.

In his first running of the event Gary Hetherington finished impressively 5th for the Harriers in a time of 41:58 over the 7.5 mile course. Graeme Addison was 2nd male Harrier in 47:42 for an overall 52nd in the field of 650. Scott Hydon (49:26), Ean Parsons (52:25), Jonathan Wallace (53:03), John Tomlinson (67:58) and Fred Wright (66:28) followed for the men. For the women Rosie Sims was first Sedgefield Harrier in 56:39, Anne Hydon was second Harrier in 58:25; Marie Walker (60:35), Jo James (64:12) and Jeanette Ives (68:00) followed. The same day Matthew Jones completed the Windemere Marathon in a time of 3:34 in his first attempt at the 26.2 miles distance.

In the Darlington Triathlon Barry Clare of Sedgefield Harriers finished in 61st place with an overall time of 1:29:44 and Clare Westwood finshed 74th in 1:34:15.

English Schools Athletics Cup

Cleveland Finals

Junior Boys: Nunthorpe 337; Kings Academy 281; Macmillan 260; OLSB 239; High Tunstall 224; Manor 225; English Marts 206; Hallgarth 104.

Intermediate Boys: High Turnbull 364; Laurence Jackson 347; OLSB 347; MacMillan 304; Manor 235; Kings Academy 216; Hallgarth 07.

Junior Girls: Nunthorpe 266; Yarm 251, MacMillan 245; Kings Academy 210; English Martys 206; High Tunstall 190; Manor 175; Hallgarth 48.

Intermediate Girls: Laurence Jackson 280; Nunthorpe 248; MacMillan 209; Manor 208; Kings Academy 177; Yarm 167; High Turnbull 161; Hallgarth 28.

Best Individual Performance: JB Mark Shaw (Nunthorpe), 1500m, 25pts; JG Holly Fielding (Nunthorpe) 100m, 24pts; IB Harry Harris (High Tunstall), 100m, 28pts; IG Jess Kennedy (LJS), 100m, 28pts.

* The leading schools now go on to compete in the North-East Finals at Clairville Stadium with the top performing schools from this event will be going on to the National Final in July at Chelmford.

Crook and District AC

AS a beautiful day dawned over Lake Windermere there was little chance for marathon runners to feel in tourist mode as the resurrected Windermere Marathon resurfaced after a 20-year absence.

The temperatures and undulating course resulted in generally slower times with Julia Steele recording 3.49.23 and John Kelly ducking under his predicted 4 hours by 30 seconds on his first attempt at the distance.

Over on the East coast the Pier-to-Pier 7 mile race at South Shields - had a big field of 700 runners.

First home was the ever reliable Geoff Hewitson in 39th place with a time of 46.33, Jamie Steel 47.43, Phil Carter 50.53, Ian Bainbridge 51.01, Graham Laverick 51.52, Paul "Pooly" Smith 57.38 and Stuart McNulty 58.15.

At the Manchester 10km some 28,000 runners turned out and included Dennis Brown, who continued his celebrity chaperoning duties for Nova/BBC by ensuring an injured Eric Pollard (Emmerdale) got round safely in a time of 61 mins.

Newton Aycliffe

ON Sunday, May 12 Newton Aycliffe runners turned out for the annual Pier to Pier race. This is an event that takes runners from South Shields pier to the pier at Roker, taking in sand dunes and cliff top paths in between.

It is approximately 7.5 miles, depending on the route chosen. There were 650 competitors taking part and the weather was pleasant, but with a persistent head wind.

Results: 42nd Martin Randall 46:56; 55th Dave Caygill 47:48; 86th Julia Atkinson 49:44 (1st Female Vet); 160th Janet Raper 53:29; 188th Ian Wade 54:29; 207th Keith Atkinson 55:27; 223rd Janet McRae 56:16; 259th Chris Forster 57:36; 345th Dave McDonald 60:16; 390th Angela Wade 62:29; 395th Francine Vollans 62:39; 609th Paul Musgrave 76:50.

Darlington Harriers

HARRIERS' juniors collected an impressive medal haul from the North-East counties track and field championships at Gateshead international stadium.

Josh Phillips was particularly successful, winning two gold medals, plus a silver and a bronze following a hectic round of heats and finals in the two-day event attended by some of the finest athletes in the region.

Josh, competing at Under-15s level, claimed victory in the 1500m in 4 mins 30.8 secs and followed up with a second win in the 800m, where he recorded 2 mins 5 secs. He collected silver in the 3000m (10:10.52) and bronze in the triple jump (10.24m).

Matthew Smith won gold in the Under-20s men's 110m hurdles, clocking 16.20 secs, and Harriers struck another sprint gold in the Under-15s girls' 100m, where Lorna Goldsmith recorded 13.08 secs. Silver medal winners were Lewis Moses in the senior men's 1500m (3:57.63), Faye Bowles in the Under-17s women's 200m (25.9 secs) and 100m (12.90 secs), Leah Kennedy in the Under-15s girls' high jump (1.45m), Kate Blaylock in the Under-17s women's 300m hurdles (48.3 secs), Abby Wilson in the Under-20s women's 1500m (4:50.7), Paul Clifford in the Under-15s boys' 800m (2:11.71) and Bethan Bowles in the Under-13s girls' shot (6.14m).

Bronze winners were Kate Blaylock in the Under-17s women's 90m hurdles (12.88 secs), Paul Clifford in the Under-15s boys' 400m (59.69 secs), Joe Kiribige in the U-20 men's 100m (11.05 secs), Verity Pratt in the U-17 women's 300m hurdles, Lewis Moses in the senior men's 800m (1:54.87) and Emma Clifford in the U-20 women's high jump (1.45m).

Other good performances outside the medals came from Chris Gaffney (sixth, U-17 men's 1500m, 4:30.25; sixth, 800m, 2:08.73), Paul Jefferson (seventh, U-17 men's 100m, 11.8 secs), Chris Craigs (fifth, U-20 men's 100m, 11.59 secs, Charlotte McGarry (ninth, U-17 women's 1500m, 5:38.2), Emma Clifford (sixth, U-20 women's 400m, 64.4 secs), Andrew Jones (fifth, U-17 men's long jump, 5.17m), Leah Kennedy (fourth, U-15 girls' long jump, 4.40m) and Kate Blaylock (fifth, U-17 women's triple jump, 9.40m).

* Harriers train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Eastbourne sports complex when new members of all ages are always welcome.

* www.darlingtonharriers.co.uk