Richmond and Zetland Harriers: The females from Richmond and Zetland Harriers pulled out all the stops in the NYSD Road Relays on Sunday, March 30 at Locke Park, Redcar. They placed second, fourth and first in their three races and won three out of six fastest lap awards. But there was disappointment, firstly with no boy's teams and subsequently when the Men were unable to raise a team to defend the Trophy won last year, leaving the Veterans as the only male team.

The club had two teams toe the line in the Under-13 Girls race - three laps of one mile on the paths winding around the boating lakes and play areas, a perfect location for competitors and spectators in fine spring weather. Scarborough AC added another good runner to their top two from the X-C season and, when Abbie Johnson ran the first lap in 5:30, the fastest time by category on the day, they had the race won. Scarlett Gray ran the opening leg for the RZH A team, handed over to twin sister Jessica on leg two and Jo Adams ran the third leg in 5:48, third fastest on the day and the team finished second. The B team of Katie Roberts, Francesca Fowden and Rosie Adams were sixth and first B team and Rosie's time of 5:58 (just ten seconds slower than big sister Jo) was equal fourth fastest.

Scarborough made it two wins out of two with victory in the Under 15 Girls race, set-up by Tori Wheatman's opening leg of 5:24. Although the RZH team of Georgina Zissler, Leah Jackson and Jessie Roberts finished "out of the medals" in fourth place, Jessie's chase on the last leg brought her a time of 5:22, the fastest time in the race.

There were more than 20 teams lined-up for the Men's race with each of the four-man team running the one mile lap twice. The Harriers fielded a scratch team in the Veteran's category with Paul Roberts the only regular M40 backed-up by Shane Gray (making a timely debut), Mike Brooks and Jim Robinson. There is still some confusion with times for the third and fourth leg runners but this didn't alter the race result; a win for NMH and ninth place for RZH, just three seconds behind Loftus AC, the winning Veterans team. Steve Hepples of Loftus ran the fastest Senior leg in 9:02 and Tony Livingstone of NMH was fastest M40 with 9:57 but the fastest M50 is not yet confirmed.

The Ladies race was the best of the day with the lead changing hands several times during the three times two mile race. Louise Jackson ran a perfect opening leg, fastest Senior with 11:25, to give Rachel Robinson a 30 second lead over Scarborough. Although Rachel was then overtaken by Rowntrees, M&C and Darlington, she is a competitor and didn't wilt and only 18 seconds separated the first four teams going into the last leg. The Harriers then had Andrea Woodvine home from Nottingham University and in sparkling form, running 11:05 for her two miles - the fastest by an Under-20 and the fastest female - to bring the team home in first place. The Ladies B team had two Under-17 girls - Sadie Potter and Amy Baines - around Club Coach, Fiona Hughes; they finished second B team, in seventh.

Meanwhile, this Sunday there are contrasting events for the Club with eight runners going south to run in the London Marathon and a sizeable contingent going north to Sunnybank Stadium, Shildon to compete in an Open T&F meeting.

There three running in the London Marathon - Mike Brooks, Ian Hepworth and Jon Orange - are running for the Sports Aid Foundation (Yorkshire and Humberside), the Charity which assists young sportspeople with grants towards their training.

The threesome have devised a sweepstake to help with their fundraising and are inviting Northern Echo readers to take part.

With the profits being split between charity Richmond and Zetland Harriers and the winner, for just £2 they want you to guess their combined times added to that of the winning runner in the marathon.

They're are hoping for around £1,000 to give to sender of the winning entry and the winner will be the person whose guess is closest to the total of the four finishing times, as printed in The Times newspaper the following week.

As a guideline, last year's London Marathon was won by Khalid Khannouchi of Morocco in a world record time of 2:05:38 and he is running again this year.

Also, recent form for the Richmond's runners sees Brooks clocking 39:09 for a 10K at Leeds, Hepworth he last year's London marathon in 3:29:36 while Orange has completed two marathons previously, both inside three hours.

All estimates and entry fees should be sent to: Mike Brooks, 6 Wathcote Close, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 7DX. Cash, postal orders and cheques, payable to RZH Marathon Sweep, all accepted.

l www.rzh.org.uk

Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

The final race in the Winter Fell series, the Guisborough Moors race, took place on Sunday on a cold dry afternoon. With all the recent dry weather, conditions underfoot were as good as they could be, but a course of 12 and a half miles which takes in Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook's Monument is always going to be hard.

Paul Lowe of Middlesbrough AC was the winner in a time of 81.18 minutes. Richard Hall came an excellent sixth in 86.52, Peter Wilkin 17th in 91.31, Angela Hayward 56th in 106.38, Alasdair Thorpe 80th in 113.41, Alan Wikeley 85th in 115.42, Pat Kirby 101st in 119.35 and Steve Harrison 122nd in 128.40. There were 137 finishers in the event.

Angela Hayward was the winner of the V1 category and the winner of the whole series of races in that age group. Pat Kirby also won her age group in that race and in the series. Alan Wikeley finished third place in his age group for the whole series.

The Summer Series begins shortly, with the Ossy Oiks race at Osmotherly on April 29.

Meanwhile the Wakefield City Hospice 10K Road Race was taking place on an altogether easier surface. This was a big event with over 1000 finishers, and the male and female races were again won by Kenyans. Pamela Sherlock finished in 906th place in 59.24 minutes and Marian Codling was 927th in 60.30. They were first and second respectively in their age group.

Durham City Harriers

Samantha Coleby of Durham City Harriers repeated last year's victory with another fine win in the Chester-le-Street road race over 2.5km.

Samantha went into the lead from the start and kept up a relentless pace to the end recording a good time of 9.36. Sophie Brown finished sixth in 10.44 and with Jo Kay 13th in 13.00 the Under-13 girls were first team with 20 points.

In the senior men's 10km road race Ian Crampton ran very well to finish fourth overall in a time of 32.32 but was first O40 veteran. He was followed by Graham Hunt 20th in 34.59, Andy Billett 47th in 40.15, Steve Walker 69th in 42.19 and Stephen Luke 78th in 47.46.

Kirsty Walker finished tenth in the Under-15 girls race over 3,000m in 13.59, while Daniel Garbutt finished 20th in the Under-15 boys in 12.15 with Jonathan Simkins 24th in 13.55 also over 3,000m.

* Members should note that the annual club presentation and social evening will take place on Friday, April 25 at the Salutation Inn, Framwellgate Moor. Tickets are available from Bryan Mackay on (0191) 3842039.