It was a busy day for the junior athletes from Darlington Harriers at the recent Tartan Games at Gateshead International Stadium.

Nine athletes took part in the competition and recorded a string of personal best performances and Daniel Purdie ran a very exciting race to win the silver medal in a closely fought 800metres for Under-15 boys. Martin Sturgeon, another Under-15 boy, had a very busy day with three personal bests in the 100 and 200m and the long jump. Shaun Marshall, Faye Bowles, Jessica Brown, Claire Stubbings and Richard Woodward all at their first major meeting all produced some excellent performances.

The following week at the Borders Classic Open Meeting at Carlisle, Daniel Purdie produced another personal best in an 800m race where the lead kept changing hands throughout the race and was won in the last 100m. Natasha Springett also ran in Carlisle and produced a personal best in the Under-15 girls 1500m despite an injured leg.

This was the last track meeting of the season and the focus now changes to cross-country racing. The first event in the North Yorkshire South Durham League season is the relay meeting to be held this year in Darlington, venue to decided. Some of the other fixtures are in doubt due to the current foot-and-mouth situation, but hopefully the season will not be too badly disrupted. The Harriers have a very strong senior women's team who have had two excellent results on the roads, with a second place at the Darlington 10k and a first place at the Bishop Auckland 10k and with the men always giving their all, and with some up and coming juniors it should be a very exciting season.

Results - Tartan Games: Under-11 Boys 60 metres: Shaun Marshal 11.00, Richard Woodward12.90.

Cricket Ball: Shaun Marshall 34.98mPB, Richard Woodward 32.87m PB.

Under-11 Girls 60 metres: Faye Bowles 11.40PB, Jessica Brown 13.10PB, Claire Stubbings12.50PB.

Cricket Ball: Faye Bowles 15.75m.

Under-15 Boys 800 metres: Daniel Purdie 2.08.81 PB (silver medal).

100m: Martin Sturgeon 12.40 PB

200m : Martin Sturgeon 26.10 PB

Long Jump: Martin Sturgeon 5.00m PB

Under-17 Girls 200 metres: Kelly Woodward 30.38.

Long Jump: Kelly Woodward 3.53m

Borders Classic meeting: Under-15 Boys 800m: Daniel Purdie 2.08.78 PB (gold medal)

Under-15 Girls 1500m: Natasha Springett 5.46.76 PB.

l The club trains at Eastbourne Stadium on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.30pm and during the season also trains off road at the weekends. All are welcome, ring Robin Rutherford on (01325) 252834 for details.

Thornaby Show 10k Road Race

The first annual race was staged on Sunday, starting and finishing at the Harold Wilson sports field. The first event was the wheel chair race which attracted Olympic Champion, Tanni Grey-Thompson. Tanni and husband Ian are expecting their first child in February so Tanni was taking this event easier than normal. Sarah Loughran, winner of the 2001 junior London event proved to be the top female on the day, coming home in a time of 36.52 in windy conditions. The men's wheelchair race was won comfortably by Newcastle-based Mark Rostron in 32.55.

The open man's race was another comfortable win for Thornaby's own Alan Stimpson New Marske Harriers, a former race cyclist Alan has won six of his last seven races. On this occasion he lead from start to finish in a time of 31.48. Darlington Harrier Martin Grainger (34.31) got the better of unattached Nathaniel Williams (34.49) with Billingham Marsh House runner, Rob Simpson fourth in 34.54.

The ladies race was another easy victory for Houghton and Peterlee's prolific winner, Sheila Allen in 37.28 from Elizabeth Dasey Middlesbrough and Cleveland and ultra runner Sharon Gayter, New Marske Harriers third.

Results: 1 A Stimpson (NMH) senior men 31.48; 2 M Rostron (British Wheelchair) 32.55; 3 M Grainger (Darlington Harriers) senior men 34.31; 4 N Williams (unattached) L senior men 34.49; 5 R Simpson (Billingham Marsh House) Male Vet 34.54; 6 P Lewis (Mandale Harriers) senior men 35.01; 7 C Raffertey (Mandale Harriers) L Senior men 35.32; G Gammelin (Scarborough AC) L senior men 35.44; 9 A Harland (Mandale Harriers) senior men 35.48; 10 Ben Wilson (Darlington Harriers) senior men 35.55; 11 A McDowall (Mandale Harriers) L male vet 36.14; 12 M Walker (Gosforth Harrier) male O50 36.28; 13 J Desmond (Knowsley Challenge) 36.41; 14 S Loughran (British Wheelchair) 36.52; 15 S Allen (Houghton and Peterlee) female O40 37.28; 16 M Clements (Bill Marsh House) senior men 37.32; 17 S Soulsby (unattached) L senior men 37.41; 18 J Mason (Darlington Harriers) male vet 37.44; 19 John Best (Darlington Harriers) L male vet 38.11; 20 M Mason (NMH) L senior men 38.25; 21 J Robinson (Roadrunners Club) male O50 38.26; 22 J Skidmore (Eden Runners) L senior men 38.41; 23 Ian Marshall (Durham City) male vet 39.17; 24 P Cronsberry (NMH) L senior men 39.47; 25 P Wright-Bellany (Mandale Harriers) L male vet 40.05; 26 P Christon (Durham Triathletes) senior men 40.18; 27 R Read (Darlington Harriers) senior men 40.58; 28 M Eady (unattached) senior men 41.03; 29 W Gayter (NMH) senior men 41.13; 30 P Watson (Sunderland Strollers) L senior men 41.15; 31 C Hockney (Bill Marsh House) M O50 41.30; 32 G Dixon (Mandale Harriers) L male O50 41.32; 33 S Edwards (NMH) male O50 41.35; 34 N Sawdon (unattached) senior men 41.45; 35 J Tierney (unattached) L male vet 41.50; 36 R Harrison (unattached) L senior men 41.52; 37 C Jones (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) L male vet 42.01; 38 G Morrison (unattached) L senior men 42.26; 39 A Morrison (unattached) L senior men 42.44; 40 E Dasey (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) F O40 42.58; 41 M Shaw (Mandale Harriers) L male O50 42.59; 42 David Nichol (unattached) male vet 43.04; 43 M Mahon (Mandale Harriers) M O50 43.55; 44 D Tunstall (Teesdale AC) F vet 44.17; 45 T Grey-Thompson (British Wheelchair) senior lady 44.43.

Female competitors: 1 S Loughran (British Wheelchair) 36.52; 2 S Allen (Houghton and Peterlee) F O40 37.28; 3 E Dasey (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) F O40 42.58; 4 D Tunstall (Teesdale AC) F vet 44.17; 5 T Grey-Thompsonn (British Wheelchair) senior lady 44.43; 6 H Desmond (Knowsley Challenge) 44.58; 7 S Gayter (NMH) F vet 45.32; 8 L Jackson (Houghton and Peterlee) L F vet 48.35; 9 C Mulhearn (Knavesmire Harrier) L senior lady 52.15; 10 A Hartas (Northumbria Police) senior lady 53.12; 11 L Openshaw (unattached) F O40 54.49; 12 L Downes (unattached) senior lady 57.45; 13 K Larking-Bramley (Elvet Strikers) F O40 59.27; 14 B Perry (Cleveland Police) F O40 1:05.18; 15 Y Evans (Bill Marsh House) L F O40 1:16.39; 16 A Bishop (Bill Marsh House) F O40 1:16.39.

Prize winners: 1 overall Alan Stimpson (NMH) 31.48; 2 M Grainger (Darlington Harriers) 34.31; 3 R Simpson (Marsh House) 34.54; 4 P Lewis (Mandale Harriers) 35.01; 5 A Harland (Mandale Harriers) 35.48; 6 B Wilson (Darlington Harriers) 35.55. First male vet 40 M Walker (Gosforth Harriers) 36.28; 2 J Mason (Darlington Harriers) 37.44; 3 I Marshall (Durham City) 39.17. First male vet 50 J Robinson (Roadrunners Club) 38.26; 2 Chris Hockney (Marsh House) 41.30. First female S Allen (Houghton and Peterlee) 37.28; 2 E Dasey (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) 42.58; 3 D Tunstall (Teesdale AC) 44.17; 4 S Gayter (NMH) 45.32. First female vet 35 L Openshaw (unattached) 54.49; 2 B Perry (Cleveland Police) 65.18. First female vet 40 K Larking-Bramley (Elvet Striders) 55.27; 2 A Bishop (Marsh House) 76.39.

Wheelchairs: first male M Royston (British Wheelchair) 32.55; 2 J Desmond (Knowsley Challenge) 36.41. First female S Loughran (British Wheelchair) 36.52; 2 T Grey-Thompson (British Wheelchair) 44.53; 3 H Desmond (Knowsley Challenge) 44.58.

Newton Aycliffe

Aycliffe had cause for a triple celebration this week with Matthew Bell taking the first prize of a mountain bike for winning the Shildon fun-run in emphatic style. Runner-up on the day was Michael Turnbull who received a watch for his endeavours. A third success came in the Darlington Five-Arch flier fun run with Steve Turnbull winning by ten metres over the 2k course.

Other entrants to the Five Arch race included Colin Gibson with an excellent fifth place, ahead of Mike O'Sullivan sixth and Adam Gibson in seventh place.

The Auckland Castle 10k race saw a good turnout from the club, with many athletes participating over the undulating course. First runner home in the top class field was Peter Milburn in 35 mins, ahead of Graham Whitchurch 39 mins, Sue Milburn 41 mins as 3rd vet 0-40, Mike O'Sullivan and Brent Morfoot 41 mins, John Burnside 43 mins, Pat Edwards 49 mins and Rachel Scholey 53 mins.

l Training will commence for junior athletes on Tuesday September 12th at Greenfield School 6pm old or new members welcome - for details ring Peter on 321963