ATHLETICS: Richmond and Zetland Harriers / Shildon / Newton Aycliffe / Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers /

The Summer League has ten clubs competing in five midweek races with individual and team trophies for those successful. Race one was hosted by Harrogate AC; a hilly one-lap course from Harlow Carr Gardens, past the Army Foundation College, down and up Pot Bank and back to the Gardens.

With Ian Fisher out injured and Alan Stimpson retired hurt, the red and white Peacocks of Richmond vest of Jon Orange was relatively untroubled. He led the record 223 strong field from the start, improving last year's time by a massive 55 seconds, to win and take maximum points on four counts - the individual Trophy plus the Open, Veteran Men's and Elite Team's Trophies.

The Elite Team result is the sum of times of each club's first three runners across the line and, with Scott Wardman finishing 9th and Shaun Purkiss 11th, the team posted a 58 second lead over second place Ilkley Harriers to stand as early favourites.

Nick Zissler was fourth home for the Club in 17th place and at that point RZH led the Open (ten-to-score) Team race but then the absence of several key runners showed. Jim Robinson and Mike Brooks were 2nd and 3rd M50s in 38th and 46th places respectively, split by Louise Jackson in 40th place and 2nd lady, just 14 seconds behind the evergreen Cathy Wright of Harrogate AC. That made it seven but Ilkley had their ten counters home in 42 places scoring 2019 points; Harrogate and Ripon followed with 1950 and 1905 points before Taff Rogers, Colin Sewell and Neil Piper in 103rd place completed the Harriers team, 4th with 1821 points.

The Veteran Men's Team race is five-to-score and they also finished in 4th place - despite the massive 101 point start from Jon Orange. The premature "retirement" of the RZH Vet of the Year plus another working in Cumbria, both regular top ten finishers in 2002, along with injuries, other work commitments etc, meant an entire team was missing and the over 50s gang made up most of the 402 point total, 66 points behind leaders Harrogate AC. Ian Hepworth was 11th Harrier home, making the effort despite London Marathon legs!

RZH results: 1st Jon Orange 28:19, 9th Scott Wardman 29:33, 11th Shaun Purkiss 29:52, 17th Nick Zissler 30:42, 38th Jim Robinson 32:57, 40th Louise Jackson 33:01, 46th Mike Brooks 33:33, 66th Taff Rogers 34:59, 88th Colin Sewell 36:12, 103rd Neil Piper 37:53 & 107th Ian Hepworth 38:08.

* www.rzh.org.uk

Shildon

Shildon held their Annual Open Track and Field meeting on Sunday, April 13 in memory of promising young athlete Anne Marie Readshaw who tragically died a couple of years ago. Almost 450 junior and senior competitors came from Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northumberland, Humberside and Durham.

Kathy Conroy, Anne Marie's grandma and former mayoress of Sedgefield Borough Council made a special presentation to the winners of the Under-15 Boys and Girls 100m, which was Anne Marie's favourite event, the winner in the girls was Lauren Arthur of Gateshead Harriers and in the boys event Richard Kilty of Middlesbrough AC.

The Shildon Athletic Club would like to thank the main sponsor of the event Linpac Filmco of Sedgefield and all other sponsors including Durham Precision Engineering, Coresspec Ltd, Reliance Converting Ltd, TW Steam Cleaning Services Ltd, Shildon Town Council, Durham County Council and Sedgefield Borough Council without their support the event could not have taken place.

Newton Aycliffe

Two of the club's young athletes had good reason to be pleased with themselves. Firstly Lewis Moses took part in the London mini marathon, with over 3000 runners taking part Lewis had a fine run and came back in an excellent 19th position.

James Askew had a fantastic first place in the 800m Under-13 track event at Jarrow. James winning time of 2minutes 47seconds was also a personal best performance.

For the seniors David McKenzie has competed in three races over the last couple of weeks, at the New Marske 5k spring coast race David came home in 84th place in 22.42.David was back at Marske again for the Good Friday Bydale 10 mile road race, the three lap race on the very windy sea front saw David do well to finish in 93rd position in a time of 1hr 18 minutes.

Kirbymoorside was David's next destination as he competed with a full field of runners on the tough 10k course, David once again pulled off a fine performance to record a time of 47minutes 50 seconds.

The second race of the Tees-Forest 5k series took place at Summerhill in Hartlepool on Thursday, May 1, Peter Milburn had a very fast time of 17.50 that earned him second place in the race, and George Reid also produced a good time of 18.45. Sue Milburn who is slowly regaining her fitness after an injury plagued start to 2003; Sue came back as second lady in the race with a time of 21.03. John Burnside also ran well to finish in 21.23; other finishes Kevin Greenall 21.45, Helen Wright 24.30, Georgette Reid 25.10, Margaret Greenall 25.20.

A note for all local runners diary's The Newton Aycliffe 3M 10K road race and fun run take's place on Sunday, June 15, entry forms are available from local leisure centres, or you can phone Peter Milburn on (01325) 321963 for more details.

Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

The Fell Race enthusiasts in the Club headed for Osmotherley for the first race in the Northern Summer Series, the Ossy Oik. Brian Roberts of Middlesbrough AC was the winner of the event in a time of 55.05, with Richard Hall of Thirsk and Sowerby in an excellent ssecond place in 56.01.

Ernie Huck was next in 41st place in 66.02 closely followed by Caroline Pollard in 66.15 and Angela Hayward in 66.20. Hywell Smith was 65th in 70.49, Alan Wikeley 67th in 71.15 and Pat Kirby 82nd in 76.20. Altogether 95 runners completed the run.

The Men's team finished in 6th place and the Ladies in 1st place.

Six club members took part in an altogether flatter race, the Wiggington 10k, on a fine morning for running.

Shaun Richardson of Holmfirth won the event in 31.51 minutes and Lisa Guscott Trout of Knavesmire was the first lady, in 37.19. Alan Harman finished in 110th place in 42.29, Geoff Bullock 122nd in 43.25, Nicola Thorpe 228th in 50.00, Sarah Somers 258th in 53.46, Pamela Sherlock 292nd in 58.33 and Marian Codling 303rd in 59.37. There were 330 finishers in this friendly, well-organised event in which all received a beautiful pottery mug.

Quakers RC

OSunday, June 1, the annual Hamsterley Forest 10K race will be held in conjunction with Butterwick Hospice. Further details will also be issued shortly.

Results from Cronkley Fell held last Sunday will be issued next week. The second Quakers Durham Fell race will be Chapelfell Top on Sunday, June 15. The partially marked course consists of 4 miles over 1322 feet. Register on the day at the Golden Lion Pub, St Johns Chapel, Weardale. GR886379. Start time 11am. Parking will be limited, so please share vehicles where possible. A two-mile junior fell race for the Under-16s will commence at 10.30am.

* The Quakers Running Club train on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings, 6.30pm from Hummersknott School, Darlington. All abilities welcome. For further details see www.quakersrunningclub.co.uk.

Darlington Harriers

At the Bydales ten-mile road race Marske on April 18 won by Great Britain international Mike Openshaw, Martin Grainger finished a creditable sixth in a time of 56.29 still recovering from illness.

Ben Wilson finished 10in 59.46, Dave Weston 60th l.11.21, John Brant 95th 1.18.31. Steve Dauber dropped out through injury.

At the first NYSD summer league meeting held at Clairville Stadium on April 20 the younger athletes represented the club. Tara Kennedy won the Under-13 High Jump with 1m.39, and also ran the 200m. Emma Clifford ran the 800m and also the High Jump with a height of 1m.25. Sian Taylor ran the Under-13 Girls 200m. Robert Gibbon ran the Under-17 Boys, 200m Robert Fox and Paul Richardson both did the Under-13 Boys 200m and 800m.

The club has been out and about on the roads in Yorkshire. On May 5 eight took part in the Wigginton 10km race near York.

On a fast flat course in a field of 330 Martin Grainger finished sixth in 33.40, Ben Wilson 18th 35,43, Paul Kelly 26th 36,54, Alison Raw 48th, 38.43 (fourth female), Brian Hannah 91st, 41.44, John Brant 183rd, 47.20, Emma Morley 214th, 49.16 and Steve Dauber 253rd, 53.01, a personal best. Martin, Ben and Paul took the third male team place.

Steve Dauber also ran the Kirkbymoorside 10km in 56.45. The Blyth Valley 10-mile road race saw Jack Mason run 62.37 while Ronnie Read finished in 63.33.

* The Harriers train at Eastbourne Sports Complex from 6.15pm Tuesday and Thursday. The annual Pitstop 10km race and fun run will be held on Wednesday, July 9. Contact John Brant on (01325) 2576572 or 07751 181934 for further details.

* The Harriers supported by Cleveland Bridge UK will be holding their fourth Pitstop 10km race at Croft Circuit on July 9, including a wheelchair race and 2km fun run. Training is at Eastbourne Sports Complex Tuesday and Thursday 6.15pm contact John Brant (01325) 257672 for details.