FORMER Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mark Hudspith was the fifth Briton home at Sunday's London Marathon, only 75 seconds outside the Olympic Games qualifying time, after battling bravely against illness and injury in his winter build-up to the event, writes Frank Johnson.

But his younger brother Ian was forced to give up after 15 miles, when he felt he was "going backwards", and with reigning North-East cross country champion Neil Wilkinson also being obliged to drop out on his marathon debut, Morpeth Harriers' hopes of carrying off the four-man team prize were dashed.

Mark, 35, was left to wonder what might have been if he had been better prepared for his first test over the 26.2-mile distance since being forced to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games marathon in Manchester two years ago with breathing problems.

This time he finished without experiencing any chest troubles, but his lack of training over the winter months probably cost him his chance of Olympic Games selection.

Nevertheless the Tyneside-based accountant could feel satisfied with his run after staying with top Briton Jon Brown (2:13:39) for most of the first half of the race and then finishing strongly to overtake Salford Harrier Billy Burns near the line and finish in 2 hours 16 mins 15 secs, his best time for several years.

Shaftsbury Barnet's Dominic Bannister, who has settled in the North-East after graduating in physiotherapy at Teesside University, finished 32nd in a disappointing 2:19:10 on his second marathon attempt, while Morpeth's Terry Wall had been hoping for a better time than the 2:30:19 which earned him 74th place.

Durham City's Ian Crampton was the next North-East finisher in 77th place (2:30:54), while Richmond and Zetland Harrier Jon Orange was two places behind with a time of 2:31:05.

In the women's race Quakers' Dawn Richardson was 20th Briton home in 41st place, clocking 2:57:13.

Shildon

Shildon's first open track and field event of the season was held at Shildon Athletic Stadium on Sunday, April 18. Despite early rain there was a good turn out of athletics from all over the North-East. The home club competed well and gained first place in four of the events.

Jordan Roberts won the Under-13 boys long jump with a leap of 3.75m. Khalil Thompson, in the U15 800m, produced a PB to win in 2mins12.9. Sam Stanislaus took the Under-17 boys shot put by over a metre with a throw of 11.61m and Natalie Owens produced a PB to win the Ladies 800m in a time of 2mins 25.8secs.

RESULTS

U11 Boys: 60m: Scott Thornton 7th 9.9secs

600m: Scott Thornton 2nd 1min55.2 secs

LJ: Scott Redfearne 4th 3.38m

UNDER-11 Girls: 60m: Elizabeth Wood 5th 11.00secs; Becky Redfern 6th 11.40 secs

600m: Elizabeth Wood 5th 2min 38.6secs; Becky Redfern 7th 3min00.7 secs

LJ: E. Wood 2nd 2.3m B. Redfern 5th 2.15m

UNDER-13 Boys: 100m: Jordan Roberts 3rd 14.8 secs, 200m Jordan Roberts 5th 31.3 secs, Jonathan Griffith 7th 33.2secs

800m: Jonathan Griffith 5th 3min06.8secs

LJ: Jordan Roberts 1st 3.75m.

Under-13 Girls: 800m: Laura Hewitson 2nd 2.42.0 PB

UNDER-15 Boys: 800m: Khalil Thompson 1st 2min12.9secs

Shot: Put Edward Thompson 3rd 6.07m

Under-15 Girls: 100m: Kate Ross 4th 13.9 secs, Elizabeth Caine 10th 14.8 secs

200m: Kate Ross 4th 29.4 secs

800m: Abby Suffield 4th 2min35.6 secs, Natasha Heslop 12th 2min51.7secs.

UNDER-17 Boys: 100m: Alex Todd 2nd 11.8secs

800m: David Dodds 9th 2 min36.5secs

3000m: Mathrew Hewitson 4th 10min07.0secs

LJ: Sam Stanislaus 2nd 5.61mtrs

Shot: Sam Stanislaus 1st 11.61mtrs 200m Alex Todd 2nd 24.2secs

200m: John Burns 3rd 24.2 secs

400m: John Burns 3rd 54.8secs Sam Stanislaus 4th 54.9secs.

Under-17 Girls: 100m: Natalie Cross 5th 14.8 secs

800m: Natalie Cross 3rd 2min43.9secs.

Senior Men: 400m: Chris Stoppard 4th 53.4secs

3000m: Paul Best 2nd 9min32.0secs, Robert Tobin 3rd 9min46.7secs.

Senior Ladies: 800m: Natalie Owens 1st 2.25.8.

Whilst these athletes competed at home, Warren Roberts, Alex Snook, Kate Avery and Dan Burnage were representing the North-East in the Mini Marathon in London. They all had good runs in their respective age groups with Warren 12th, Alex 45th, Kate 8th and Dan 49th.

Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

Six members made their way down to London for this year's London Marathon, several of them running a marathon for the first time. Ernie Huck was the first Harrier to finish, in a magnificent time of 3 hours 9 minutes, an improvement of eight minutes on last year's previous best time. Congratulations are due to Ernie, who was the third Britain in his age group to finish, and fifth overall in that group. His time earned him an automatic place in next year's race.

William Barker, in his first marathon, was very pleased with his time of 3h 20 as was another first time runner, Graham Banks, in 3h.50. Cameron Choules and Andrew Whiteley both took around 3h 33min, and Ian Codling, also in his first marathon, finished in 4h 44min. The wet, cold conditions were not ideal for either runners or spectators, but all the Harriers enjoyed the event and received tremendous support form the large and enthusiastic crowds.

Richmond and Zetland Harriers

Most of Richmond and Zetland Harriers athletes opted to train rather than compete over the Easter weekend, despite the great variety of fixtures, however two chose to stretch their legs and put the results of their winter work to the test.

Barry Stephenson of Blackheath was the first winner of the weekend, winning the New Marske H Bydales 10 mile Road Race on Good Friday with a time of 52:20, almost four minutes ahead of runner-up Mark Armstrong of Hartlepool, with Denise Dean of Horsforth finishing 1st Woman, 39th overall in 68:44. On the same day, Morpeth Harriers dominated the Elswick H Road Relays over the newish route at Newburn Riverside Park with their A and B teams finishing 1st and 2nd, the A team setting a course record and Ian Hudspith running the day's fastest time, 10:27 for 2.1 miles, and also setting a new record. Bernadette Taylor of Darlington continued her winning ways in the Women's race, finishing half a minute clear of the field in 12:39.

Sophie Broadway was the first Harrier to race, in the MAC (Mandale H) Cyril Elliott Memorial Open T&F Meet at Clairville, Middlesbrough on Easter Saturday, and had a double first. In the Under-15 Girls sprints, Sophie clocked 13.2 for 100m and 27.6 for 200m and both times were PBs, just reward for all her winter training and X-C racing and similarly pleasing for her Coaches and for the Club.

The Guiseley Gallop 10K, on Easter Sunday, had a decent field with 481 finishers although many of Yorkshire's best were resting with the London Marathon in mind. James Henry of Bingley was 1st in 36:16 and Dawn Gibbs of York Acorn was 51st overall and first Woman in 43:21.

The second Harrier to compete was Dan Brooks, putting his football boots to one side and running in the Hartlepool Burn Road H&AC Easter Egg 5K on Easter Monday. Dan's winter training has been more than 90 per cent soccer, short sprints and more short sprints; he set off too fast for the distance and ended-up 25th in 19:38, a long way behind his best but a great incentive for the summer! Mark Armstrong ended a busy weekend on a winning note; having finished second over ten miles on Good Friday, four days later he went one better and won the 5K in 15:57. M Holt of Sunderland was 12th overall and 1st Woman in 18:14, ten seconds ahead of Johanna Jackson of New Marske.

The Fixtures List for the next seven days is equally busy and varied, starting on Saturday 24 with the AAA Women's Six Stage & Men's 12 Stage Road Relays at Sutton Park, Birmingham. On Sunday 25 there is a choice of the Gateshead H&AC Open T&F Meet at Monkton Stadium, Jarrow, the Blyth Valley 10 mile Road Race or the Kirkbymoorside 10K. The Northern Runner/Cleveland Midweek Fell Race Series kicks off on Tuesday 27 with the Fox & Hounds Chase Fell Race (over nine miles and 1550 feet) at Ainthorpe near Castleton; on Wednesday 28 there is the NMH Spring Coast Road 5K from Redcar Rugby Club at 7.15pm and the Hambleton & Richmondshire Schools T&F Trials are scheduled for Friday 30.

* www.rzh.org.uk