News From Elswick Harriers

Elswick News in Brief

SPRING NEWS 2008

Apologies to members and visitors to the NEWS site over the last few weeks as due to technical difficulties we have been unable to keep the site updated.

Transped Blyth Valley 10k

The Transped Blyth Valley 10k. took place on an overcast morning on Sunday 27TH April with the club having a successful day, the Senior Men taking second team prize and there were also several fine individual performances. Pride of place to PAUL TURNER who finished in 5th spot in 34:16. KEVIN STEPHENSON had an outstanding run to claim 8TH place in a P.B. of 35.03 with PAUL DIXON 14TH in 35:56.There was a huge turn out of members in this popular race and it was good to see so many competing.

Other club placing’s were as follows:

STEVE WHITE - 30TH - 37:40

YAM THIRU - 41ST - 38:40

ANDREW HARTLEY - 45TH - 38:53

STEVE KYTE - 77TH - 41:03

LEE COULSON - 104TH - 42:09

STEVE CURRY - 132ND - 43:24

GILLIAN MOULD - 142ND - 43:59 (A.P.B!)

KIM MATTHEWS - 150TH - 44:39

ANDY MIDDLETON - 166TH - 45:31

PETER BANNISTER - 222ND - 47:46

DAVID REAY - 224TH - 48:02

CAROLINE DUFFY - 226TH - 48:06

CHRISTINE LEE - 245TH - 49:02

DANIEL MONK - 249TH - 49:13.

As mentioned an excellent turn out of members in the 397 strong field.

Jesmond Dene Handicap
The first Jesmond Dene Handicap races took place on Monday 5TH May organised by Heaton Harriers with MARTIN CONNELLY, JUDITH NUTT, CHRISTINE LEE , GARY RUTHERFORD and STEVE GREY turning out for the club.

Gordon Smith Memorial Relays
The Gordon Smith Memorial Relays organised by Wallsend Harriers were held on a beautiful Wednesday evening on the banks of the Tyne with a record number of teams taking part - 51. Elswick A team of PAUL TURNER, KEVIN STEPHENSON and GRAHAM BELL were narrowly pipped for third spot by Sunderland Harriers with an aggregate time of 31:03 for the two mile course. Our B team of PAUL DIXON, MARK KETLEY and IAN FENWICK in an aggregate time of 32:56 were 9TH overall. The third team of STEVE GREY, HARRY MATTHEWS and STEVE WHITE finished 15th in a time of 33:38. KEVIN STEPHENSON posted a fine leg of 10:09 to claim the fastest Veteran Leg of the night. Good to see the club provide two Womens Teams in GILLIAM MOULD, KIM MATTHEWS and CLAIRE GREGORY - aggregate time - 39:49 with YVONNE SWINHOE, CAROLINE DUFFY, and CHRISTINE LEE finishing in a time of 42:54. The Women finished 7th and 12th teams respectively. After the Relays the competitors enjoyed a buffet and a well earned drink at the Ship Inn where the presentations took place. All in all a good evening and full marks to Wallsend Harriers for another well organised event.

North Eastern Counties Track and Field Championships
The North Eastern Counties Track and Field Championships took place at Gateshead Stadium over the week end of 10th/11thMay. The highlight of the meeting from the clubs point of view was an outstanding performance from PHIL HURST who won the U/20 Men’s 1500 metres in a time of 3 mins. 58 secs. This was an improvement of 20 seconds on his P.B.! ASHLEY GIBSON was narrowly beaten in the Senior Womens 1500 Metres in a time of 4:31.3 two tenths of a second behind Karen Johns. MARK KETLEY completed an excellent weekend for the club by gaining bronze in the Senior Men’s 10k.in a time of 36 Mins.

In an open meeting held at Gateshead Stadium JESSICA RICHARDSON improved her time in the U/11 600 Metres to 2.00.8 in gaining a silver medal.

Pier to Pier
The popular Pier to Pier race organised by Sunderland Strollers took place on Sunday 18TH May in good conditions.

In a huge field KEVIN STEPHENSON claimed 8TH place overall in 40:21, with PAUL DIXON close behind in 9TH spot in 40:39.There was a large turnout of club members with the following placings:

168th - LEE COULSON,

175TH - STEVE CURRY,

196TH - ANDY MIDDLETON,

241ST - ADRIAN CHURM,

255TH - LUCY PRINS,

256TH - JEFF EMMERSON,

272ND - PETER BANNISTER,

273RD - ALAN LATTIMER,

410TH - SUSAN WILSON,

419TH - DAVID REAY,

473RD - DANIEL MONK,

635TH - LES WILLIAMSON,

695TH - MARY AVERY,

740TH - HELEN FLYNN.

National Open Masters Road Relay Championships
On Saturday 17TH May Elswick gained a national title by winning 0/60 title at the 21st National Open Masters Road Relay Championships held at Sutton Park, Birmingham.

CONGRATULATIONS:
To the team of STEVE WHITE, MARK McNALLY, and HARRY MATTHEWS who beat off strong opposition to gain the gold medals, winning by over a minute from nearest rivals Oxford A.C.

Les Allcorn 10k
The Les Allcorn 10k took place on Tuesday evening 20TH May with three club members taking part. PAUL TURNER continued his good form in capturing third place in 34:20 with STEVE CURRY 41ST, IN 44:12 narrowly beating ANDY MIDDLETON - 43RD.IN 44:30.

Clive Cookson Races
The following evening the Clive Cookson races were staged at an artic Whitley Bay. Another large turn out of Elswick members with the Senior Men’s team finishing in 4th spot. PAUL TURNER not showing any affects from his 10K race the previous night had another good run to claim 6th place in a time of 34:29 and finish 2nd 0/35 Vet. STEVE GREY was 11TH overall and 2ND.0/40 in 35:50.

MARTIN CONNELLY was 28th - 37:45 with JIM BELL - 29th and 1st.0/60 in the same time. Considering the problems Jim has encountered in the last year a truly remarkable performance! JUDITH NUTT was 33rd - second woman in 38:07, whilst IAN FENWICK recorded 39:37 - 47th, another P.B. for Ian! Good to see DAVE APPELBY racing again, finishing 57th - 39:54. Other Elswick placings were GARY RUTHERFORD - 100TH - 43:40, YVONNE SWINHOE was 138th - 46:35 to claim 1st 0/50 Woman. DAVID REAY was 151st in 47:24, with CHRISTINE LEE - 167TH - 48:42.

Prior to the 10K.race the 5k.event was held with the club only having the one entrant in MARK McNALLY who after his sterling efforts at the weekend finished 7TH overall in a very respectable 18:08.

...And FINALLy
The club is sad to report the death of RON HENDERSON at the age of 73. Ron was an outstanding middle distance runner in the 1950’s and was Elswick Harriers only ever A.A.A. half mile champion. In a career that is well chronicled in THE BOYS IN RED Ron gained many honours including a British vest, but sadly he never was given the opportunity to go to the Olympic Games due in part to the thinking of the times which precluded the likes of Ron who was from a working class background. Unfortunately due to a freak accident whilst competing in Moscow his illustrious career was terminated by injury. Our condolences go to his wife and family.

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- Autumn 2007