The Championship, held at Birmingham's Coften Park, were to prove a stern test as most of the course was covered in mud and actually had to be altered slightly to avoid a particularly dangerous part.
Racing against the Country's top athletes is always a daunting prospect but at the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships the North East's top athletes pit their wits against the best and came away with a stack of medals and some great performances.
The Championship, held at Birmingham's Coften Park, were to prove a stern test as most of the course was covered in mud and actually had to be altered slightly to avoid a particularly dangerous part.
0 Comments
It's not often that the National Cross Country Championships are held in the North East . We often find that we have to travel hundreds of miles to the south of the country in order to compete. This can involve an overnight stop and can put many of our local clubs off taking part. So it was great that the 2013 venue was right on our doorstep as Herrington Park, Sunderland played host to the event for the first time in 6 years. picture courtesy of Brian Waites of Elswick Harriers The annual Royal Signals Relays / NECAA Road Relays Championships provided a great day's racing around the tough Hetton Lyons course with victories going to Jarrow & Hebburn, Durham City, North Shields Poly, Elswick and Morpeth Harriers. This year saw the introduction of a veteran mens V50 event which took place at the same time as the ladies 4 stage event meaning that two races took place for the first time in many years. The North East Harrier League entered the second half of the season on Saturday as Saltwell Harriers organised the fixture around the tough Wrekenton course. The fixture clashed with the Inter County Schools which were taking place at Guisborough which meant that the age group races suffered with regards to numbers but the races were just as competitive as they normally are. Harrier League organisers subsequently made the Junior races non scoring events in order to give everyone a chance and not punish those who were on County duty. Durham City Harriers hosted the first cross country event of 2013 as the ever popular and prestigious Cathedral Relays took place around the flat, fast Racecourse with victories in the three races going to North Shields Poly, Durham City and Morpeth. Athletes were met by cold but very fine and bright conditions around the 2 lap course which was measured by most at around 1.7 miles. The 107th running of the North East Cross Country Championships not only provided us with some top quality competition but there was also mud. And lots of it! The start and finish area was on a large playing field but most of the action was to take place in and around the grounds of Summehill Country Park. The course was quite narroiw but it only added to the difficulty and the challenge of it all. There didn't seem to be any complaints on the day. Marc Elliot and Morag Stead were the victors in the traditional Norman Woodcock 5 mile, organised by Elswick Harriers. Like many of our road races these days, the course has had to be changed on a number of occasions over the years due to traffic restrictions and road closures but the course around Gosforth Park Racecourse is now starting to establish itself as a popular one amongst runners. Blaydon Harriers played host to the second North East Harrier League series around their Shibdon Pond course with victories for Durham City's Ben Douglas and Birtley's Tracy Millmore. Fastest times in the two senior races went to Morpeth's Peter Newton and Ashley Gibson as the cross country season gets into full swing. |
Race ReportsHere are North East Runner we try to attend as many local races as possible to report on the action. Archives
March 2013
Categories
All
|