Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

More than 300 runners turned up at Ripon on December 28 for the annual Jolly Holly Jog, a distance of about 10k over roads, fields and muddy hillsides. Much of it was through Studley Park so if runners found the going tough they could always enjoy the view!

Darren Bilton of Leeds City AC was the winner in a time of 33.29 with Martin Grainger of Darlington 2nd in 34.51 and another Leeds runner, Trevor Willis, 3rd in 35.34. Gary Dunn of Thirsk and Sowerby scooped an excellent 4th place in 35.52 with Alasdair Thorpe 75th in 44.58, Ken Evitt 120th in 48.34, Nigel Morgan 133rd in 49.16, Nicola Thorpe 142nd in 49.45, Ian Codling 205th in 56.09, Nik Sutton-Haigh 233rd in 59.02, Lydia Evitt 251st in 60.52, Marian Codling 254th in 61.18, Jo Famebly 289th in 65.51 along with Chris McAleenan 290th in 65.52.

The next event on the Club calendar is the latest Cross Country fixture, at Whitby, on Sunday, January 9.

Tees Valley Sportshall Athletics Championship

There were some fine performances in the Tees Valley Sportshall Athletics championships staged at Thornaby Pavilion.

In the U15 boys section Russell Best was in outstanding form with individual victories in the two lap and four lap races as well as the standing long jump and shot putt and he rounded off the day by winning the parlauf relay with Elliott Jackson.

Verity Pratt was even more successful in the girls sections winning both her races over two and four laps and also claiming the standing long jump, vertical jump and speed bounce titles before teaming up with Emma Clifford to win the parlauf.

Andrew Jones notched up a hat trick of wins in the U13 boys events winning three jumping events (SLJ, STJ and VJ) while Ashleigh Wrigglesworth, Chloe Baggs and Lauren Spoors each claimed a pair of victories as U13s.

The North of England final will be staged at Thornaby Pavilion in February and if Tees Valley are able to arrange coaching sessions one or more of the squads could qualify for the National final in Birmingham.

It is 20-years since Duncan Swinhoe was the first national champion from Teesside, Allison Curbishley was also a national winner before going on to Commonwealth, World and Olympic events, while Alan Jobson and Anthony Bibby set British records in the standing long jump and speed bounce respectfully.

Bibby as also the British multi-event champion as well as a schools international at both athletics and rugby union.

Two lap: U13B Christian Carson 25.7; U13G Lauren Spoors 25.9 U15B Russell Best 24.8 U15G Verity Pratt 26.5.

Four lap: U13B John Robson 58.8; U15G Ashleigh Wrigglesworth 56.3; U15B Russell Best 53.3; U15G Verity Pratt 57.3.

Five lap: U14G Rebecca Noble 1.32.8; U13B Paul Clifford 1.31.9.

SLJ: U13B Andrew Jones 2.22; U13G Chloe Baggs 2.16; U15B Russell Best 2.40; U15G Verity Pratt 2.20.

SP: U13B Jack Mellor 9.60; U13G Gemma Craddy 8.35; U13B Russell Best 9.79; U13G Tara Kennedy 7.58.

HJ: U13B Josh Phillips 1.10; U13G Leah Kennedy 1.15.

S Bounce: U15B Elliott Jackson 48; U15G Verity Pratt 44.

STJ: U13B Andrew Jones 6.54; U13G Amy Roberts 6.26; U15B Ben Iddoh 7.45.

VJ: U13B Andrew Jones 50; U13G Chloe Baggs 56; U15G Verity Pratt 47.

Parlauf Relay: U13B Josh Phillips/Paul Clifford 1.59.9; U13G Lauren Spoors/Ashleigh Wrigglesworth 1.55.9; U15B Russell Best/Elliott Jackson 1.46.7; U25G Emma Clifford/Verity Pratt 1.57.0.

Darlington Harriers

There was a healthy pre-Christmas turn-out from the club in the popular annual Poultry Run at Loftus. Joe McCready had an outstanding run to finish fourth, with a time of 44 mins 44 secs for the undulating seven-and-a-half mile course containing off-road sections. Jack Mason was also well up, finishing 27th in 49 mins 28 secs.

Other Harriers finishers: 53rd Graham Bell 52:52; 165th Martin Randall 60:29; 179th Paul Hesleton 60:59; 257th John Brant 65:08; 276th Dave Wardman 66:09; 281st Brendan Boyle 66:29; 290th Patsy Ryan 66:51; 332nd Patrick Ryan 70:07; 339th Steve Dauber 70:20; 355th Lee Puchala 71:46; 378th Dawn Carter 74:41; 404th Jeremy Shaw 78:26; 440th John Philips 87:29.

Martin Grainger was second in the Jolly Holly 10k at Ripon, shortly after Christmas. He finished first veteran over 40 in 34 mins 51 secs on the off-road course. Paul Kelly was 25th in 40:21, Nigel Wilkinson 53rd in 43:13, Ian Barnes 72nd in 44:49, Shirley Gibson 150th in 50:16 and Emma Morley 164th in 51:22.

On the fells, Paul Kelly finished 16th in the Guisborough Wood Race on December 27 with a time of 44 mins 46 secs.

l Harriers train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Eastbourne, starting at 6.15pm. New members are always welcome.

* www.darlingtonharriers.co.uk