Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers: The latest event in this year's Club Championship was the White Horse Wander Fell Race, held on a windy day over about seven miles.

Rain over the previous few days had made conditions underfoot very muddy in places but a field of 88 gathered for the event. Paul Lowe of NYMAC was the winner in 43.29, and the first Thirsk and Sowerby runner was in-form Merv Burn in 3rd place in 46.24. Richard Hall finished 12th in 49.34, Noel Clough 14th in 51.16, Stephan Tomaszewski 15th in 51.25, David Granger 17th in 51.40, Ernie Huck 27th in 56.44, Alan Wikeley 28th in 56.46, Angela Hall 30th in 57.05, Alasdair Thorpe 36th in 57.40, closely followed by Caroline Pollard 37th in 57.43 and Chris Burn 38th in 57.44. David Read came 42nd in 58.00, Hywell Smith 44th in 59.23, Graham Banks 51st in 62.14, Nicola Thorpe 56th in 64.04, Steve Harrison 58th in 64.13, Pat Kirby 63rd in 65.30, Tom Thompson 69th in 68.10, only just ahead of Ian Codling 70th in 68.11, Maureen Gibbs 72nd in 69.18, Andrew Wilson 74th in 69.20, Cath Lumb 75th in 70.08, Fiona Wilson 77th in 70.23, Oliver Harrison, picking up an injury, 81st in 71.54, Pamela Sherlock 86th in 84.00 and Marian Codling 88th in 85.00.

With such a large number of entries, the teams virtually swept the board, the men's teams being placed 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th and the women's teams 1st, 2nd and 4th.

On the same day, under equally difficult conditions, 12-year-old Laurence Whiteley was taking part in the Yorkshire Region Biathlon event at Filey, in which competitors had to run 1000 metres and swim 100m. Competing against boys of 13 and 14 years, Laurence came an excellent second, in a field of 15, a result which augers well for the future.

The Redcar Half Marathon the previous week had 822 finishers, and Andrew Whiteley came 214th in 1.36.39, Martin Frith 268th in 1.39.51 and Peter Scanlon 502nd in 1.51.19.

Members should note that Club nights from now on, over the summer, will be held at Thirsk Athletic Club. Club nights are Wednesdays at 7pm, and new members are always welcome.

Chester-le-Street Road Races

Senior Men (10K): 1 S Bell (Chester-le-Street) 32.31; 2 S Potts (Sunderland) 33.00; 3 R Walker (North Shileds Poly) 33.19; 4 N Carr (Aurora) 34.19; 5 S Kelly (Wallsend) 34.30; 6 M Slesser (Jarrow & Hebburn) 34.38; 7 C McDonald (South Shields) 34.50; 8 G Dean (Border) 35.00; 9 M Jones (South Shields M40) 35.13; 10 D Cheshire (ClS) 35.45. M45 P Grey (Alnwick) 36.55; M50 M Walker (Gosforth) 39.30; M55 W Doidge (Low Fell) 43.04. Team: Chester-le-Street 29 pts.

Under-17/20 Men: 1 C Parr (Gateshead U20) 15.29; 2 P Martin (Sund U20) 15.42; 3 S Watson (Gates U17) 16.22; 4 R Stephenson (NSP U20) 16.28. 5 J Martin (Sund U17) 16.39. Team: Gateshead 10.

Under-15 Boys (3K): 1 J Pearson (Elswick) 10.51; 2 W Pike (Gates) 10.58; 3 B Knighton (Gates) 11.00; 4 J Gibson (Gates) 11.08; 5 J Cook (Gates) 11.16. Team: Gateshead 9.

Under-13 Boys (2K): 1 C Bell (ClS) 8.34; 2 R Murray (Gates) 8.42; 3 C Fairclough (Sund) 9.06; 4 M Crowe (Elswick) 9.16; 5 G Ritchie (J&H) 9.25. Team: Elswick 20.

Under-11 Boys (1.5K): 1 J Archer (Sund) 7.03; 2 G Ife (Walls) 7.16; 3 N Rosborough (Walls) 7.17; 4 N Newton (Gates) 7.18; 5 C Bunn (J&H) 7.24. Team: Chester-le-Street 26.

Senior/Under-17/20 Women: 1 O Walwyn (Durham Univ) 18.25; 2 M Holt (Sund U20) 18.42; 3 M Czarnecka (ClS) 18.59; 4 N Fifield (Dur Un) 19.16; 5 C Brennan (ClS) 19.44; 10 R Barnes (ClS U17) 22.48. W 35 Y Thiru (Gos) 20.19; W40 H patton (Gates) 20.32; W50 S Parr (ClS) 23.04. Team: Chester-le-Street 18.

Under-15 Girls (3K): 1 V Angus (Houghton& Peterlee) 12.20; 2 A Bell (ClS) 13.14; 3 L Dodsworth (Gates) 13.15; 4 A Foreman (Birtley) 13.52; 5 K Walker (Dur C) 14.05. Team: Houghton & Peterlee 14.

Under-13 Girls (2K): 1 S Crowell (J&H) 9.37; 2 H Nagel (Birt) 9.47; 3 D Pickavance (Blackhill) 9.56; 4 E Murray (J&H) 10.02; 5 Z Dixon (Birt) 10.07. Team: Jarrow & Hebburn 17.

Under-11 Girls (1.5K): 1 E Robson (H&P) 7.38; 2 S Gordon (J&H) 7.45; 3 A Watt (ClS) 7.54; 4 J Bunn (J&H) 7.59; 5 S Robinson (Birt) 8.06. Team: Houghton & Peterlee 18.

Middlesbrough AC

The Middlesbrough AC (Mandale) open athletics meeting will be staged at the Clairville Stadium, Middlesbrough, on Saturday, April 10 starting at 11am.

There are a range of events for all age group from U11 to senior for both male and female competitors.

This is likely to be the only meeting at Clairville Stadium this season as the stadium is due to be upgraded in May to ensure that it conforms to the latest UK standards.

The meeting will give youngsters aiming to qualify for the English Schools meeting later in the year at Gateshead and those hoping to compete for their clubs in league competitions, their only chance to compete on their home track before being faced with long journeys to gain competition and the event secretary (01642) 531684 has agreed to hold the entries open until this weekend.

Richmond and

Zetland Harriers

Saturday, March 20 saw the end of the 2003-04 Cross-Country season for Richmond and Zetland Harriers with the BMAF X-C Championships at Maiden Castle near Durham. Local organisers from NE Vets and Durham University had considered cancelling the event the previous day because strong winds prevented work on the course. Saturday's weather was kinder and more than 500 runners converged on the sports complex to contest the three races on a course laid-out by the master - Max Coleby, the only Richmond lad to earn a GB vest for athletics. This was as boggy a as you could find, more uphill than down and always into the wind, and proved a test for competitors and officials alike.

The Women were first to test the course, along with the over 70 Men, over two laps totalling 5.2K. Sue Ridley of Edinburgh Southern H was first home in 20:24 and Gerry Spink of Bingley H was first Man in 25:00.

The second race was over four laps, 10.2K for Men 50 to 69, and Nigel Gates of Brighton was a clear winner of the over 50s, finishing in 37:03, more than three minutes clear of second place. Charlie Dickinson of Belgrave H was first of the over 55s in 40:15, Martin Ford of Cheltenham won the over 60s category in a time of 42:48 and Steve James of Southport Waterloo finished in 44:31 to take the over 65s title. A little way behind, Mike Brooks of RZH was having one race too many (nine races in 11 weeks since the New Year) and struggled round in 45:47 to finish 23rd in the over 55s. Mike noted from the results that he finished behind six MVO60s and said: "That shows just how good a Harrier Bill Atkinson was when he won these Championships a few years ago."

The third and last race was for over 40 Men and was keenly contested by local lad Brian Rushworth of Sunderland H&AC and Guy Amos of Norwich. The race was again over four laps and by now the bog had become a morass. Rushworth was the stronger and smarter runner, moving wide to find a firmer footing - a move which led to a protest from Amos which the officials rejected - and won in 36:11. Amos was second, Rob Hand of Durham City H was third and D. Neill of Staffordshire Moorland won the over 45s.

With a little more than two weeks before the London Marathon, the six remaining Harriers are putting the finishing touches to their preparations. Jon Orange continues to churn-out hundred mile plus weeks with renewed vigour having continued sponsorship from Peacocks of Richmond. He is reluctant to forecast a win in the MVO40 section of the race despite being in better shape than last year when his 2:29:51 finishing time saw him miss third place by just six seconds. Mike Brooks is now easing down after an epic racing programme, the highlight of which was his 85:18 clocking at the Redcar Half Marathon, and thinks - maybe the magic three-hour mark isn't just a dream. Tony Hewson ran a PB 90:00 in the same race and looks set to make a major revision to his 3:51:39 marathon PB. Mark Mullin is the dark horse; having just left the Army after nine years to pursue a career in security and with a new baby in the house, it is anybody's guess as to how fast he'll run on the day. The Harriers have two Ladies competing and both are enjoying a structured build-up to the marathon. Sarah Gregory's first run over the distance last year produced a 4:15 clocking but, with advice-a-plenty whilst training and a half marathon PB 1:37:37 set this year, another drastic revision is on the cards. Conversely, Grete Buck has mixed skiing, cycling, swimming and long runs with her dog in her training programme and the net result should see her wind the clock back and run a time which will put her back into the Vets good for their age category.

This weekend, the Harriers have their second Flying Squad Coaching Day, this time for pole vault and javelin, at - Eastbourne Sports Complex, Darlington, 11.30am-2pm.

Other fixtures start on Saturday with the Wensleydale Wander Trail Race, over 22 miles & 1500 feet, starting 9am from Grove Square, Leyburn and continue with the NoEAA Women's 6 Stage & Men's 12 Stage Road Relays at Lister Park, Bradford. Sunday starts with the Bells Stores/Gisborough Moors Fell Race, 12 miles & 2300 feet from Guisborough Rugby Club at 11am, the AAA Young Athletes Road Relays are at Sutton Park, Birmingham from 11.30 and there is a quality 10K at Wallsend.

* www.rzh.org.u