Athletics

Bell on limited training showed once he gets back into full training he can be a force to be reckoned with. Peter Milburn produced his usual consistent run to finnish 5th in 17 mins 27 secs.

Sue Milburn finished 2nd lady but 1st vet in a time of 20 mins 29 secs. Out of the 84 runners taking part other Aycliffe finishers were 12th George Reid in 18.42, Brent Morfoot in 21st place in a time of 19.50, in 23rd place was Tony Brewer 19.52, Kevin Greenhall was next finishing 31st in a time 20.53 followed by Richard Harvey 41st in 21.55, Pat Edwards 53rd in 23.38 just ahead of Ray Todd in 56th clocking 24.03 and then in 68th place Margret Greenhall in 26.47.

At the Gateshead open medal meeting held at Jarrow on 25th April James Askew competed in the under 15 boys 800m and finnished in 9th place in a time of 2mins 51 secs. Amy fleming also competed in the under 15 girls shot put finishing 3rd with 8 metres 4cm and then 4th in the high jump producing 1 metre 40 cm.

Darlington Harriers

At the annual Darlington Harriers presentation evening the prizes were presented to the athletes by International Athlete, Dominic Bannister, who has represented his country on numerous occasions both at cross-country and marathon. Of the many prizes awarded two of the most notable were to Martin Grainger and Tara Kennedy. Martin once again won the Richardson Trophy for his performance at the North East cross-country championships and Tara again won the Barbera Auld trophy, which is awarded to the most improved young female athlete. Martin has had a string of excellent performances on the roads this year and Tara has continued to set new personal best performances at the Long Jump and High jump. Club secretary, John Brant, received the Athletes Foot Award for his unstinting service to the club and its members.

The recent Shildon Open Track & Field meeting saw a contingent of junior athletes have a great day of exciting competition and some excellent results. New member Paul Jefferson won the U13 boys 100m in 14.30 and was 2nd in the 200m in 29.60. Robert Fox in the same events was 3rd in the 100m with 15.30 and ran 31.60 for 200m and was third in the long jump with 3.60m. Michael Parry, U13 boy ran an excellent 2.40.6 in his first 800m race. The Clifford family were busy with Paul 1st in the U11 boys 600m in 1.54.8 and 3rd in the 60m with 9.50 and he jumped 3.31m in the long jump. Brother Andrew was 3rd in the U15 boys 400m with 77.00 whilst big sister Emma ran the U15 girls 100m in 14.70, the 200m in 30.30 and the 800m in 2.50.70. Bethany Heard, U15 girl, ran 14.10 for the 100m and was 3rd in the long jump with an excellent 14.10m. The ever improving Tara Kennedy set a new PB of 4.31 in the long jump to come 2nd and ran 2.51.5 in the 800m and finished the day with a 5.81m in the shot. Verity Pratt just did the long jump and got a creditable 4.04m.

The first NYSD Track and Field meeting was held at Darlington on April 20 and after a string of terrific performances saw the club complete the comptition in joint 1st place overall. In the U13 Girls 100m Faye Bowles ran an excellent 15.1s, Leah Kennedy - 15.8s and Chloe Griffith - 15.9s. In the boys event Paul Jefferson had another excellent race to win in 14.2s, Robert Fox ran 14.8s, Andrew Jones 15.3s and Paul Clifford 15.6s. In the U15 girls race Bethany Heard was 3rd in 14.1s, Tara Kennedy ran 14.3s, Sian Taylor 14.6s and Emma Clifford 14.7s. James Moohan ran 15.2 in the U15 boys race, Daniel Ghundoo ran 12.6s in the U17 mens race and Robert Gibbon in his first event as a senior ran 12.3s. The U13 girls dominated the 600m with Rebecca Noble winning in 1.57.3s and Chloe Griffiths 2nd in 2.11.7. In the U13 boys 600m, Paul Clifford showed the class that won the Jarrow indoor League this winter and ran 1.55.6 to come 2nd in front of some much older boys, Michael Parry was 3rd, 1.57.3s, Robert Fox 4th 1.58.9s and Andrew Jones 7th with 2.09.2s. in the U13 boys long jump Andrew Jones leapt ot 2nd place with 3.69m Robert Fox was 3rd with 3.66m and Paul Clifford 4th with 3.44m. In the U17 LJ, Daniel Ghundoo was 1st with 5.40m and Matthew Jones 2nd with 5.29m. Robert Gibbon showed his strength with 5.41m to come 2nd in the mens event. In the high jump Leah Kennedy won the U13 girls with 1.25m and Tara Kennedy won the U15 girls event with a PB of 1.45m and Bethany Heard was 4th with 1.20m. Judith Grant won the U15 girls javelin with 18m. In the U15 girls 600m, Emma Clifford ran 1.55.0 and Verity Pratt 1.57.3. The 3000m races were all run together and Bernadette Taylor was the 1st Lady home in 10.11.5s. Jamie Rutherford was 2 U15 boy in 11.10.5s and Ian Smirthwaite was 3rd in 11.38.7s. In the senior mens race Ben Wilson was 4th in 9.59.7s and veteran Ian Barnes ran 11.22.4s. after this first meeting Darlington Harriers have a total of 20 league points to share first place overall with Middlesbrough & Cleveland and Billingham Marsh House. The men are lying 2nd and the ladies 4th. The Next event is on May the 18th and again is at Darlington.