Shildon R and AC

Three junior club athletes were on County duty when they made the 500-mile round-trip to the English Schools Cross Country Championships at Hylands Park Chelmsford, Essex.

Natalie Owens was first to go in the Intermediate Girls. Natalie finished in 151st place in 17.11 out of 335 finishers, the winner was Rachel Nathan of Lincolnshire in a time of 14. 50. Next to go was Kevin Russell who was running his first ESAA in the Intermediate Boys race. Kevin had a fine run to finish 157th in a time of 23.59, out of a 312 finishers the winner was Michael Stuart of Middlesex in 21.14, the Durham overall performance rewarded them with the silver medal.

Last to go was Stephen Brown in the Senior Boys race, this race was delayed for 30 minutes due to the gale force conditions blowing down a marquee and injuring several spectators, competitors and officials.

However the race did get underway and Stephen finished in 175th place in a time of 30.43 out of 301 finishers. The winner was Thomas Sharland of Suffolk, once again some fine running from the Durham boys rewarded them with the team title.

On Saturday, March 9 Khalil and Jalal Thompson competed at the Jack Russell road races held at Brents Park South Shields. First to go was Khalil in the Under-13 Boys event and he had an excellent run to finish first in a time of 5.49, older brother Jalal finished eighth in the Under-15 Boys race in a time of 5.58, the winner was J McCreay of Sunderland Harriers in 5.27.

Chris Griffith completed two races and 34 miles in two days when completing the Dentdale 14 in 34th place in a time of 1.35 and the following day ran the East Hull 20 finishing in 110th position in a time of 2.32.34.

Other club runners to finish were Bob Davison 70th in 2.22. 04, Ray Halton in a time of 2.58 and Myra McMenamin in a time of 3.03.

The winner of the men's race was Ian Fisher of Otley AC in a time of 1.52. 29, the ladies winner was Julie Harrison of Knavesmire Harriers in 2. 11.32.

* For any runner or spectator travelling to London for the London Marathon a coach will pick up in various points in the North-East, the coach will leave late afternoon on Friday, April 13 for two nights in a hotel in Finchley, transport to the London Marathon Exhibition on the Saturday morning for registration and transport to the start in Greenwich Park on Sunday morning. The coach returns after the race late Sunday afternoon, anyone interested please call Jeff Rippon on (0191) 4134986.