NEHL Blaydon Report Nov 2011

NEHL Cross Country fixture at Blaydon – 26^th November

Blaydon was host at the weekend to the third fixture in this season’s North East Harrier League.  Hexham club Tynedale Harriers had their most successful Cross Country fixture so far this season, with excellent results for both seniors and juniors.  Thanks to recent relatively dry weather, the going was good at the largely flat course, leading to fast times all round.

The women’s team had a particularly good day, winning their race and beating 9 other teams in Division One.  Tynedale fielded a strong squad of 13 runners, who all played a part in securing the victory, but it was Cross Country first-timers Naomi Powell and Maria Armstrong, as well as Rachel Chinnery who were the three “counters” for the team.  Starting from the slow pack, Naomi finished in 5^th place overall resulting in her promotion to the medium pack for future races.  At the half way point in the season, Tynedale ladies are at the top of their Division, ahead of old rivals Heaton Harriers and North Shields Poly.

Tynedale’s men’s team also had an impressive turnout with 16 runners – a big improvement on last season when the team scored penalty points for not fielding a full squad.  After a particularly packed start, with over 400 runners taking part, Chris Baber was first Tynedale runner home, in 23^rd place overall.  He will be promoted to the medium pack for the next race.  Lea Stephenson was not far behind in 33^rd place.  Barry Jameson, Ian Bromley, Adam Pratt and Peter Hearn were the next four finishers to make up the 6 Tynedale counters.  At the half way point, Tynedale men are placed second in Division Two, which means there is a lot to play for over the final three races, as the top two teams at the end of the season will be promoted to Division One.

In the U13s’ boys’ race, Sam Myers was first Tynedale runner home, in 8^th place overall, meaning he is promoted to the fast pack to join his other fellow Tynedale athletes!  Max Pearson and Jonathan Anderson were the other two counters in this age group, with all three boys finishing in the top 15.  This gave them a deserved result of 3^rd team on the day which keeps them at the top of the U13 table.  In the U15 category, all the Tynedale athletes ran from the fast pack, and it was George Sanderson, Fergus Robinson and Toby Routledge (who all finished in the top half of the field) who counted towards the team competition.

In the U13 girls’ race, Antonia Harrison led the Tynedale team home finishing in 7^th place, resulting in promotion to the fast pack.  Francesca Harrison and Elena Bluck made up the counters for the team, but Rhianna Stoves was only one place and four seconds behind, having started from the fast pack.  Polly Byron and Annie Killen competed in the U15 race, putting in strong performances, but sadly not quite enough runners for a full team.

Following the introduction of their new Mini Membership, to allow U11s to compete in the Cross Country races, Tynedale fielded more young athletes than any other club in this age group, with 9 boys and girls taking part.  Out of 49 mixed runners, Patrick Lally was first boy home, and second overall, with Gabriel Morley and Jack Donaldson not far behind.  Phoebe Forster was first Tynedale girl, in 20^th place overall, with Alicia Armstrong and Zara Robson the next two Tynedale finishers.  Poppy Goldsmith, Mary Mapplebeck and Isabella Somogyi made up the rapidly growing youngest team.

The North East Harrier League has a break now until February, when the next fixture will be held at Wrekenton.

Photos from Balazs here

and Alan Currie here