New Marske Harriers

On a cold, blustery day, 17 Harriers travelled to Pocklington for the Snake Lane ten miles road race. Tony Livingston was first counter in seventh place with a time of 54.43.

Other Harriers: 50th David Craggs (61.27), 75th John Rymer (63.56), 116th Dave Jones (66.49), 158th Doug Scott (68.41), 167th Ronnie Sherwood (69.13), 263rd Lynn Woods (3.55), 286th Sandra Jemson (74.59), 297th John R Smith (75.43), 306th Colin Slollay (76.13), 366th Lorner Sproates (78.43), 395th Pat Woods (80.08), 436th Lorraine Allanby (82.56), 437th Louise MacRae (82.56), 480th Keith Hennessey (86.06).

Tony Livingston was first Vet, David Craggs fifth Vet 2, Ronnie Sherwood 2nd Vet 5, Sandra Jemson 2nd Lady Vet 3, Lynn Woods 3rd Lady Vet 4, Lorraine Allanby 5th Lady Vet 4.

Both the ladies and men's teams finished fifth.

Ladies team: Lynn Woods, Lorna Spraits, Lorraine Allanby.

Men's team: Tony Livingston, David Craggs, John Rymer.

Elvet Striders

Mike Hall was the club's sole representative at the North-East vets cross-country champs at Hartlepool. He finished a brilliant first place in the 70-74 age group.

Hall ran the 5k course, which he described as very wet and muddy, in a time of 23:52.

At the Doctors Gate Fell race from Hamsterley Forest three runners from the club tackled the 5.5 mile course starting from the grove car park. This was the first in a series of six fell races organised by Quakers R & AC. The freezing conditions were soon forgotten as runners climbed up to doctors gate and onto the fell into bright winter sunshine. Paul Dunn from Elvet at this point was in second place chasing Ken Maynard of Quakers all the way to the gate where the route was retraced back to the grove.

Paul dug deep for the final climb back to the ford and finished in an excellent second position and first senior man.

Meanwhilem Jan Young was finding her legs again on the fells and came back to win first v40 and, like Paul, won a bottle of wine for her efforts. Jeff Watson declared himself happy with his race and his improved form and is looking forward to the next race in May.

Club members have been busy over the winter months, attending races up and down the country. One such race was the Pocklington 10 which is also known as the snake lane run. Vicky Kerr was the first lady back in this event, clocking 1:23.27 over the ten mile course, followed by Jean Bradley in 1:29.07, Jill Hall in 1:29.15, Kay Wilson 1:32:28 and Anne Robinson 1:45:44.

Durham City Harriers

Harriers Bryan Mackay and Brenda Elliott competed in the British Veteran Indoor Track championships at the University of Wales facilities at Cardiff and had mixed success.

First of all Mackay won his first ever British title by winning the (over 55) 1500m in a time of 5.12, this was followed with a bronze medal in 800m in 2.31.

Meanwhile, Elliott just failed in her bid to win another British title, losing in the (over 50) 200m final by 6/10 of a second having led until the last two metres, recording 29.21 after winning her heat comfortably in 29.42. Previously she had finished third picking up a bronze medal in the 60m final in 8.85.

At the Chester-le-Street 10km road race Robert Hand scored a comfortable victory in a very good time of 31.45 and with Ian Crampton close behind in sixth, (33.08).

Others: Graeme Armstrong (V40) 39, 41.01, and Joe Harker (55, 45.40, and first (over 60) the team finished third, and following in his father's footsteps young Matthew Hand had a fine run in the Under-11 race finishing third.

In the Signals Relays at Team Valley the senior men's A team finish eighth.

Results: Rob Hand (10.39), Ian Crampton (11.16), Steve Marshall (11.50), Billy Knox (11.42), Peter Coates (12.06), Steve Nesbitt (12.13).

An incomplete team included Francis Turner (12.18), Ian Whyatt (12.44), Stephen Clifford (12.50), David Adamson (13.56), and an incomplete ladies team with Adella Carter (14.29), and Jacqui Hodgeson (15.33).