Prudhoe Harrier League - 24th March 2012
The dreaded hill at Prudhoe
The final event of the Harrier League series produced drama and excitement as individual and team matters were settled at the toughest venue of them all.
For quite possibly the first time in the races' history, bright sunshine and hot conditions met the athletes as all the pre race talk was about 'the hill'
The battle for the Division One title was very close as big guns Gateshead and Morpeth battled it out to see who would win the famous Sisterton Cup. It was to be Gateshead that took the honours, led home by youngster Keiran Flannery in second place they won the team event and pipped Morpeth to the title by a single point.
The race was won by Durham's Dan Garbutt. Taking the lead early on, his victory was never in doubt, the only question was whether he would also get the fastest time of the day. It was all eyes to the watches at the finish as Heaton's James Buis, running from the fast pack and weaving his way in and out of runners for most of the course, bettered Garbutt's time by just 5 seconds.
Garbutt's win together with the great run of Michael Grimes who raced into the top 10 from the medium pack ensured a Division Two victory for Durham, they will be joined in the top division next season by Low Fell.
Tyne Bridge Harriers continued their dominance of Division Three with another victory. With promotion already secured they didn't rest on their laurels and won the division with an unprecedented 6 points from the 6 league races. Division Two will also see Houghton AC next season.
For quite possibly the first time in the races' history, bright sunshine and hot conditions met the athletes as all the pre race talk was about 'the hill'
The battle for the Division One title was very close as big guns Gateshead and Morpeth battled it out to see who would win the famous Sisterton Cup. It was to be Gateshead that took the honours, led home by youngster Keiran Flannery in second place they won the team event and pipped Morpeth to the title by a single point.
The race was won by Durham's Dan Garbutt. Taking the lead early on, his victory was never in doubt, the only question was whether he would also get the fastest time of the day. It was all eyes to the watches at the finish as Heaton's James Buis, running from the fast pack and weaving his way in and out of runners for most of the course, bettered Garbutt's time by just 5 seconds.
Garbutt's win together with the great run of Michael Grimes who raced into the top 10 from the medium pack ensured a Division Two victory for Durham, they will be joined in the top division next season by Low Fell.
Tyne Bridge Harriers continued their dominance of Division Three with another victory. With promotion already secured they didn't rest on their laurels and won the division with an unprecedented 6 points from the 6 league races. Division Two will also see Houghton AC next season.
Rosie Smith
There was more individual success for Durham in the ladies races as Rosie Smith won from the medium pack.
Giving the slow pack runners a 2 minute start and having 2 minutes start on the fast pack runners, International Smith forged into the lead halfway round the tough circuit and was never headed.
Overall Harrier League Grand Prix winner Jane Hodgson, running from the fast pack also overtook all the slow pack runners, indeed all bar one of the medium pack runners as well! Finishing in 2nd place, the gap behind Smith was 2.06 which meant Smith was also fastest of the day by just 6 seconds.
The Division One Championship title went to hosts Tynedale Harriers. They already had a healthy lead going into the final event and on a day when runners would have had to be sacrificed for marshaling duties, the Northumberland outfit still managed to win on the day to push last year's champions Heaton, into the second place.
Gatshead Harriers took the Division Two title and Tyne Bridge showed that anything their men's team can do, they could also do as they gained promotion to the top division in second place.
It was a great end to a tough season. A huge thanks must not just go to the Harrier League team for all their hard work in the admin behind the scenes and production of results so efficiently after every race, but also to the 6 clubs that hosted the events this season.
For men's results, click here.
For men's divisions, click here
For ladies results, click here
For ladies division, click here
Please see below for a couple of video clips of the day and if you want to share your favourite Harrier League moment then let us know through the Contact Us page and we will share them next week
Giving the slow pack runners a 2 minute start and having 2 minutes start on the fast pack runners, International Smith forged into the lead halfway round the tough circuit and was never headed.
Overall Harrier League Grand Prix winner Jane Hodgson, running from the fast pack also overtook all the slow pack runners, indeed all bar one of the medium pack runners as well! Finishing in 2nd place, the gap behind Smith was 2.06 which meant Smith was also fastest of the day by just 6 seconds.
The Division One Championship title went to hosts Tynedale Harriers. They already had a healthy lead going into the final event and on a day when runners would have had to be sacrificed for marshaling duties, the Northumberland outfit still managed to win on the day to push last year's champions Heaton, into the second place.
Gatshead Harriers took the Division Two title and Tyne Bridge showed that anything their men's team can do, they could also do as they gained promotion to the top division in second place.
It was a great end to a tough season. A huge thanks must not just go to the Harrier League team for all their hard work in the admin behind the scenes and production of results so efficiently after every race, but also to the 6 clubs that hosted the events this season.
For men's results, click here.
For men's divisions, click here
For ladies results, click here
For ladies division, click here
Please see below for a couple of video clips of the day and if you want to share your favourite Harrier League moment then let us know through the Contact Us page and we will share them next week