Athletics

Veteran North-East runner Kevin Archer is aiming for world and European honours this year after being ranked top in six events in the region last year.

Archer, 47, won a silver medal at the European Veterans championships at Finland last year when he came second in the men's 45-40 years 3000m steeplechase. This year he will again contest the Europeans in Bordeaux, Frane, in March and the World Veterans championships in Brisbane, Australia.

The world event is held every two years. In 1999 world championships in Gateshead, Archer was seventh in the final of the 1500m. Last year Archer won a 1500m silver in the Scottish veterans championships in Glasgow and he came fourth in the 1500m in the British veterans indoor championships in Birmingham.

Archer's achievements were highlighted at the annual meeting of the North-East branch of the Veterans Athletic Association in Gateshead last week. His six top ranking times came in four outdoor events, the 800m (2:3.57); 1500m (4:17.71); 3000 (9:16.6) and 1500 (4:19.6).

His 3000m steeplechase time is a new North-East veteran record for his age group.

Archer, community fitness manager for Wear Valley Council, lives in Bishop Auckland and runs for the Crook and District Club. His immediate target is the British Indoor championships in Cardiff next month.

"I joined the running boom in the 1980s and became a veteran in 1993," said Archer.

"I won my first race in 1994 and since then I haven't looked back."

l Bad weather did not prevent the club's veteran A team from performing well in the Durham Cathedral Relays. Kevin Archer ran an exceptional 9min. 52sec on leg one over 3000m. and Mike Mallen briefly took over the lead by running 10.39 but by the end , despite a fine 10.38 from Malcolm Ingram the final position was fifth. Two other teams competed, John Dennis 10.59, Geoff Hewitson 11.08, Martin Harbisher 11.14, Gerry Hehir 12.42, Allen Purdham 13.22 and Chris Foote-wood 13.50.

Shildon Running and AC

At the Durham County Schools Cross Country Championships held at King James Comprehensive, Bishop Auckland, on Saturday the club had four members qualify to run at the Schools Inter-Counties event to be run at Kirby Stephen on February 3 - Matthew Lomax, Natalie Owens, Paul Best and Stephen Brown.

Junior boys: 2 Matthew Lomax; 20th Adam Gibson; 54th Matthew Hewitson.

Junior girls: 45th Kelly Turnbull.

Inter-girls: 2 Natalie Owens.

Senior boys 2nd Paul Best; 8th Stephen Brown, 17th Adam Ingram.

The following day at the North of England Indoor championships at the Don Valley stadium, Sheffield, there was an excellent one-two for the Meite family. In the Under-17 girls 60m., Yasmine won her heat in 8.30 and was second in the semi final in 8.20 and her final time was 8.13, In the same age group Gemma Brown came fourth in her heat in 8.50.

In the U15 girls 60m Catherine Turner won her way the final finishing second in her heat in 8.46 and second in the A semi-final in 8.4 and just ran out of the medals in fourth in the final in 8.36.

Also in that age group, Gemma Morgan was fourth in here heat in a time of 8.46 and third in the A semi-final in 8.60; Melanie Robinson was fifth in heat in 9.3 and third in the B semi-final in 9.20.

In the Under-17 men 60m Tom Carroll was second in his heat in 7.40 and second in the semi-final in 7.78 and finished fifth in the final in 7.40. Adam Rogers was third in the heats in 7.80, second in the semi final in 7.42.

Finally, the club monthly handicap was held this week over 4.3 miles round the streets of Shildon. The men's winner was Scott Ellwood and lady winner Jacqui Robinson.

Results: 1 Stephen Brown 27.05; 2 Scott Ellwood 27.12; 3 John Hupin 29.41; 4 Natalie Owens 30.49; 5 Steve Preston 30.54; 6 John Hewitson 31.26; 7 Jacqui Robinson 33.20; 8 John Gray 35.55; 9 Ted Oswald 38.55; 10 Dorothy Borrowdale 41.07; 11 Barry Wilkinson 41.40; 12 Tracey Pickering 45.28; 13 Myra Menamin 45.41.

Evenwood Road Runners

THE conclusion of the Durham fell challenge proved fruitful for four members after the Stanhope Common 10-mile positions were stregnthened as Tony Hindmarch and Andrew Laybourn returned in 1:27.46 and 1:28.03. Hindmarch held fourth O-40 with Laybourn still leading the O-50. Neil Douthwaite kept the pressure on in the senior male category with a 1:35.03 time, also holding fourth position.

Fell debuts from Martin, Paul and John Alexander produced results of 1:38.59, 27th s/m and 1:43.30, 20th s/m. John finished in 49th O-40 in 1:43.49.

Kimberley Crowther, another debut-maker, 2:04.24, James Sowerby, Donna Douthwaite and Kenny Sams 2:04.27 all ran in together with three seconds separating them. Douthwaite did enough to hold third while Crowther came in sixth senior lady.

Alan Dickinson made progress for third O-50 with a fine2:35.22 time.

At the Alan Lamb Memorial 14-mile the do or die final race of an exciting series at a freezing Hamsterley Forest, saw Kimberley Crowther finish first in 2:00.33 for the club, but was later discounted for skipping the best part! Tony Hindmarch and Andrew Laybourn ran in together for 2:02.01. Hindmarch's hard work gave him a well-deserved third O-40 trophy and Laybourn with four wins and two seconds took the O-50 trophy with maximum points.

Donna Douthwaite's excellent performances throughout the series earned her the third senior ladies trophy finishing in great style in 3:05.22 with Crowther having to settle for sixth position.

Kenny Sams rounded off his series in 3:05.33 for 11th O-40. Alan Dickinson also returned victories for third O-50 after a truly sportmanship series in 4:16.50. Neil Douthwaite pulled up halfway through and settled for an unlucky fourth senior male. Martin and Paul did the same for 27th and 29th s/m. James Sowerby and John Alexander finished 22nd and 54th in the O-40 category. For their hard work the veterans of the club came home third from seven team in the series.

Durham City Harriers

Rosie Smith, representing Durham Central in the Durham Schools cross country at Bishop Auckland, retained her title in convincing style, winning the intermediate girls (3.7km) championship in an excellent time of 15.19.

Other Harrier members representing Durham Central in the inter-girls were: Joanne Ritson 3rd in 17.09; Jen Page fifth in 17.15; Emma Bowes 13 and Aida Geragusian 15h; first team.

Harrier Sarah Davison (DC) also ran wlel in the junior girls (3km) race finishing third in 12.42.

In the senior boys race over 5.7km Alex Mirley did well finishing fifth in a good time of 21.40. All will take part in the inter-counties cross country in two weeks time.

Two other members ran well in the inter-boys (5km) race, Tom Coffield and Gary Anderson, but missed out on the qualification process.

At the Durham Cathedral cross country relays over 1.9 miles which Durham City hosted in conjunction with Durham City Council the Harriers were represented by the following teams:

Senior men A team: Bill Knoc 21st in 10.08; Graham Hunt 21st in 10.44; Michael Mason 16th in 10.29; team 16th.

Senior men B team: Keith Greenwell 34th, 11.28; Steve Nesbitt 29th, 10.45; Frances Turner 25th, 11.11; team 25th.

Senior men C team (incomplete): Ian Crampton 22nd, 10.09; Alistair Davidson 22nd, 11.07.

Veteran men A: Steve Marshall sixth, 10.14; Jeff Price 17th, 11.59; Geoff Davis 17th, 11.28; team 17th.

Veterans B: Malcolm Heslop 23rd, 11.16; Elwyn Baldwin 21st, 11.21; Alan Rowell 19th, 11.30; team 19th.

Veterans C: B Mackay 35th, 12.19; John Hampson 33rd, 13.9; Brian Brown 33rd, 14.31; team 33rd.

Michael O'Donovan (M50) finished 36th in 12.28 as the incomplete C team. In the senior and veteran women's race Caroline Ratcliffe (W35) was second fastest veteran in 11.24 with Val Hancock recording 12.24 for the fastest (W55)time in an incomplete team.