Durham City Harriers

Three athletes from the club represented the North-East Counties at the Inter-Counties Cross Country at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, which also incorporated the World Championship trials.

Firstly, Rosie Smith had an excellent run in the Under-17 women's 5k race despite not feeling 100 per cent, finishing ninth overall and second counter for the North-East Counties in a time of 20:23, which helped the team finish first.

Secondly, Joanne Ritson (15) also had superb run in the Under-20 junior women's race over 6k and as a first year junior did very well against much older opposition to finish 30th but was first counter for the North-East in a time of 26:14.

Thirdly, Jeni Page had a fine run in the Under-15 girls 4k race finishing 50th overall and was third counter for the North-East in 16.49.

Meanwhile, at the North-East Veterans cross country championships at Hartlepool, Val Hanock was first woman (Over-55) in the 5k race in 21.04. Caroline Ratcliffe was second in the women's (Over-30) race in 20.41 while Bill McNeil finished second in the men's (Over-70) race in 24.04. Joe Harker (Over-60) finished fifth in his age category over the longer distance of 11k in a time of 50.04 with Brian Brown (Over-50) finishing 12th in his age group with a time of 53.34.

Elswick Harriers

David Anderson, representing the club in Saturday's Reebok inter-counties cross country championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, in the senior men's short course trial over 4k. He returned a time of 13.13 to finish in 29th spot having been with the leaders in the early stages. At the same meeting Ryan McLeod representing the North-East was 29th in the Under-17 men's 6k event. In the Under-13 boys 3k race Lewis Nixon was 148th in ka time of 12.47 over the 3k course. In the Under-15 girls 4k event Samantha Crowe was 76th in 17.10.

Taking place last Saturday also at the Summerhill, Hartlepool, the North-East vets cross country championships were held. Elswick took the silver in the 40-50 group, Tony Hall first counter in 39.39 with Bob Wilson and Alan Hetherington making up the other members of the team. Harry Matthews was third Over-50 in 39.40. As this race was also the club championship Tony Hall is the new vets champion, a reward for all his hard work.