Our Under 11 boys and girls teams did extremely well in the annual competition for schools and clubs organised by Jarrow and Hebburn at Temple Park.

In a field of eight teams, the girls won a silver medal finishing ahead of a strong Durham Schools Partnership team and only losing out to the defending champions, St Aloysius School.

The boys were just edged into bronze medal position by the Durham team with St Aloysius once again proving to be the strongest.

There were some outstanding individual performances in the field events while on the track the relay teams combined together very well.

Congratulations to both teams for their performances, sportsmanship and support for one another.

Girls: Megan Darwood, Kate Lievesley, Jennifer Jasper, Olivia Katory, Anna Gillespie, Grace Chapman, Lucy Collins, Esme Douglas, Robyn Harvey.

Boys: Jack McLean-Knaggs, Harry Fletcher, George Darwood, Isaac Carter, Jamie Reed-Embleton, Daniel Hall, Aidan Francis, James Gorringe.

On Saturday was the annual running of the Northern Athletics Cross Country Championships. This year held at Pontefract Racecourse. It was a heavy course in parts and testing. No major hills of note but a good tester for future cross countries this season. It was a good turnout from the club and excellent performances. Even before we left Heaton picked up Kelly Dodds from the Parkrun to ensure her monumental Parkrun streak continued. Doing two races in a day is quite remarkable.

In the senior men’s race, Rob Salter was first home in a position of 234th in a time of 47:24 closely followed by Wayne Fuller in a time of 48:08 finishing 267th. The lads finished 35th team overall. Cracking effort all round fellas.

Meanwhile in the senior ladies race, Nina Cameron was first home in a splendid time of 36:21 (108th Position). Next home was Fiona Robins with a time of 37:23 (130th Position). The ladies finished 19th team overall. Well done ladies.

In the junior races, Thomas Green finished 169th overall in the U15 Boys race and Holly Matheson finished 51st overall in the U15 Girls race. Sterling performances by both.

I feel a special mention is in order. A truly epic and legendary effort was witnessed in the Senior Mens race. I think we may have a Kenyan on our hands. Danny Routledge, after one shoe went by the way side 3 miles into the race care of the boggy conditions, chucked the other shoe is the river. Thus results running the remainder of the race with no shoes. Cries of hero and sign him up, were heard from the stands. Top effort sir. See the picture for the aftermath……

Roll on the harrier league where a big turn out is required.. Next stop for Heaton Harriers on tour is London……and the NATIONALS.

For full results of the senior races see below:-

15NorthernXC-SeniorMensChampionship

NXC15 Senior Women

Today was the 33rd running of the Brass Monkey Half Marathon run by Knavesmere Harriers. It was icy conditions from miles 5 to 7. Other than that, it was really good racing conditions. It was a really good day for the club. A well organised race and was a credit to the host club. Please find our club results below:-

Saturday 17th January is Heaton Cross Country championships on the Wallsend burn course. Juniors and Seniors, free to enter.

Registration, changing, toilets and collect numbers at Willington Quay & Howdon Boys Club, Shaftoe Street /Archer Street, Rosehill, Wallsend, Tyne Wear NE28 7AB

PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON BUS ROUTE main roads.

Parking available behind Boys Club and in Car Park at bottom of Church Bank end of Wallsend High Street East near the course. Two junior races at 12.45pm and 1.00 pm . Seniors start at 1.15pm. Marshalls meet 1215 at Boys club

Brass Monkey Half Marathon:-

Times are:-

Leaving Blue Flame at 6.30am

Leaving York Racecourse at 1pm

Budget just less that 2 hours to return.

Northern Cross Country Championships (Pontefract):-

Times are:-

Leaving Blue Flame at 9am. Bus will be there for 8.45am

Leaving Pontefract at approx. 4.30pm

Budget approx. 2 hours 30 mins to return. (Taking into account service station stops).

On both buses you are reminded that no glass bottles are allowed on board. Any questions please let me know asap.

A big congratulations is in order to our honorable membership secretary who yesterday completed 242 parkruns and 600 days consecutive running. An amazing achievement and is richly deserved. Well done sir.