ATHLETICS

THE club hosted the 25th annual Thirsk 10 Road Race in which there were 411 finishers. The course is fast and flat , but conditions were rather warm for running. The winner of the event was Dominic Bannister of Shaftesbury Harriers in 50.12 minutes. Peter Wragg was the first Thirsk and Sowerby runner to finish, in 15th place, in 58.43. Peter was 2nd in the M40 age group.

Others: John Yates 31st 61.11, Mervin Burn 46th 63.00, Stewart Mechie 48th 63.25, Cameron Choules 52nd 63.54, Ernie Huck 104th 68.39 (Ernie 2nd in M55), Geoff Bullock 113th 69.03, David Granger 115th 69.12, Alan Somers 154th 72.08, Richard Stratton 161st 72.40, Hywel Smith 163rd 72.53, Alan Wikeley 177th 74.03, Fiona Holden (first Harrier lady to finish) 181st 74.37, Nigel Morgan 222nd 78.19, Jill Soper 229th 79.03, Pat Kirby 264th 81.41, Steve Harrison 274th 82.36, Karen Hudson 305th 86.45, Louise Savory 318th 88.00, Catherine Lumb 334th 89.51, Kaye Mechie 347th 91.12, Ian Codling 348th 91.24, Heather Foxall 358th 92.44.

Runners received a T shirt and a bottle of specially brewed and labelled 25th Anniversary beer.

Knavesmire Harrier won the Men's Team event, with Horsforth 2nd, Burn Road 3rd, and Thirsk and Sowerby 4th. The Ladies Team event was won by Knavesmire Harriers, Horsforth were 2nd and Knavesmire B 3rd. Thirsk and Sowerby were in fifth place.

In the Wheelchair event there were nine competitors and the winner was Ian Thompson of New Marske Harriers in 43.58 minutes. The 1st lady was Tanni Grey Thompson of New Marske Harriers in 49.55.

Before the main event there was a 5k Fun Run which attracted 102 competitors.

It was won by Philip Fitzpatrick of Richmond and Zetland in 14.51. Neil Mechie was first finisher for Thirsk and Sowerby in seventh place. William Hayward was in 12th place and Rebecca Mechie, running with a pot on her arm did well in the F11 group. The other Thirsk and Sowerby runner was Angela Hudson.

Newton Aycliffe

Brent Morfoot has had his best month ever for the running club with a number of outstanding performances. In the Coxhoe 10k road race Brent had his best placing ever to record eighth place overall in a time of 43.13. Mike O'Sullivan ran really well for 12th place in 44.17, with Mick Beadle going well for 18th in 45.57.

Morfoot also featured in the Tees Forest 5k, on the Castle Eden walkway where he managed an excellent 11th place in 19.37, with Peter Milburn third only a minute ahead. Mike O'Sullivan 15th, John Burnside 18th and Sue Milburn 19th all managed a 20 minute time, with Kevin Greenall 20th and Richard Harvey 22nd running 21 mins, Georgette Reid 34th in 26 mins and Margaret Greenall 36th in 28 mins.

The Saltwell 10k race saw Peter Milburn as 3rd vet in 36.30, ahead of Sue Milburn also a third vet for the ladies in 42.55. In the Blyth ten mile road race Peter Milburn had a magnificent run for 19th place and 56 mins, with Sue Milburn as 2nd lady in 66 mina and Dave McKenzie weighing in with another P.B. for his very god 73 mins.

The first White Horse handicap saw eight runners in from Aycliffe, Sue Milburn back first in fifth place (37.40), ahead of Adam Gibson in his course debut managing sixth fastest time on the night for 17th (35.35), Peter Milburn 21st (33.04), John Burnside 26th (38.23), Dave Thompson 30th (48.07), Colin Gibson 32nd (35.48), Mike O'Sullivan 36th (38.04) and Ian Williams 47th (47.07).

Evenwood

At the Leeds 3km and half marathon road races Nathan Nicholson and Paul Todd both finished in the top ten after both having fantastic runs in 7.37 pb and 7.54. Zoe Bailey, Sarah Douthwaite, Debi Douthwaite and Amy Coatsworth all produced pbs in 8.30, 9.12, 10.30 and 11.05. Harry Welsh completed the 3km run with Liam Shirley in 11.15, with William Coatesworth and sister Emily finishing in 12.21 and 12.41 from 1,800 runners.

Three personal bests were earned by the seniors in the 13.1-mile event. Gary Atkinson claimed the first in 1.24:57 + 5 for 60th position overall. Tony Hindmarch just kept Darren Fairclough at bay in 1.31:22 148th and 1.31:43 and 1.14pb 151st. Andrew Laybourn followed in 1.32:02 for 160th with Neil Douthwaite 190th 1.33:30pb +1.29.

James Sowerby suffered from cramp and claimed a personal worse in 1.58:00. Lesley Collinson and Kenny Sams both crossed the line in 2.08 with Alan Dickinson closing in fast for 2.12. Dawn Ord and Julie Gallagher had 2.30