Northern Mens League Monkton - Jarrow 5th July 2003

Richmond and Zetland Harriers had five A-string wins from four athletes in their last NML match but ended the day in 4th place with 277 points, 2 behind Seaton, 13 behind Houghton & Peterlee and 32 points behind the winning Tyneside Composite team. The fixture was held at Monkton Stadium, Jarrow on Saturday 5th; the weather was fine and sunny and the Club had a team of eleven athletes. Dan Brooks was the first Harrier to gain maximum points with a win in the 400m hurdles, after he’d cleared the opening height in the pole vault and ahead of his run in the 3000m steeplechase - the first half of an afternoon’s athletics which saw him compete in six individual events plus a relay. John Wild was the next winner with a 33m11 effort in the discus, the best place from all four heavy throws. Sam Stanislaus, a first-year under 17 athlete and improving athlete, bettered the results from his debut at Carlisle the previous month by winning both the high jump and the triple jump. Jon Orange was the Club’s fourth winner in the 5000m, making it three League wins out of three for the Peacocks of Richmond sponsored runner.

RZH results: Dan Brooks 4th pole-vault A 2m10, 1st 400m hurdles A 65.1, 3rd 3000m steeplechase B 12:53.7, 3rd 110m hurdles A 21.4, 7th 400m B 65.1 & 5th high jump B 1m40; Mike Brooks (MV55) 3rd 3000m steeplechase A 12:10.4 & 3rd 5000m B 18:41.0; Mark Flannery 7th 4th discus B 21m41, 7th 400m A 57.8, 4th 200m B 25.6, 5th shot A 9m19 & 3rd javelin A 39m78; Ken Harker 2nd 1500m A 4:14.6; Jon Orange (MV40) 1st 5000m 16:10.4; Matt Prosser (JM) 6th hammer B 11m63, 3rd long jump B 5m08 & 5th 100m A 12.1;Chris Peacock (MV40) 4th 400m hurdles B 79.5, 4th 800m B 2:10.1 & 4th 1500m B 4:37.7; Sam Stanislaus 3rd long jump A 5m60, 1st triple jump A 12m13 & 1st high jump A 1m75; James Wardman 3rd 800m A 2:00.5; John Wild (MV50) 2nd hammer A 33m79, 1st discus A 33m11, 3rd shot B 8m70 & 3rd javelin B 29m95. Dean Wilkinson 6th 100m B 12.8: Team - 7th 4x100m relay 54.8 & 3rd 4x400m relay 3:49.7.

Fourth place on the day leaves the Club in third place in Division 3NE overall and, with one fixture remaining, only the slimmest of chances of promotion.

Burn Valley Half Marathon 5th July 2003

The Burn Valley Half Marathon and 3 mile Fun Run took place on the same day at Masham. There were 288 finishers over the very hilly and testing course around Wensleydale and the loyal field enjoyed hospitality afterwards that matched the superb scenery. Shane Gray ran the distance in 1 hour 38 minutes to finish in 78th place. Philip Fitzpatrick was the first of four Harriers in the Fun Run - literally, as he was the winner. Unfortunately, the three other young Harriers, Chris Andrade, James Askew and last year’s female winner Scarlett Gray plus several other runners, failed to finish properly as poor marshalling sent them off-course and onto the 13 mile route. They were all disappointed as they were in contention but, to their credit, accepted the apologies offered in a proper sporting fashion.

Harrogate & District Mid Week League Thirsk Race 9th July 2003

The last scoring race in this year’s Harrogate & District Summer Road Race League (H&D) was on Wednesday 9th at Thirsk. Despite the nearness of the race, only seven Harriers made the starting line and perhaps because of the brilliant weather the field was 20% down on last year’s record number. The Club had given-up thoughts of winning the Open Team Trophy or defending the Runners-up Shield but were just 30 seconds behind Otley in the Elite Team Race. Any serious thoughts here were demolished by the return-to-form of “Invincible Ian” Fisher who won the race and added another 75 seconds to the margin. Jon Orange was second and, with two wins plus a second place from the three previous races, confirmed his position as Individual Winner of the League - so the Club didn’t finish the season empty-handed! Two places and less than a minute behind Jon was Club Captain, Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo, rounding into impressive form ahead of his milestone/millstone (delete as appropriate) birthday early next month.

RZH results: 2nd Jon Orange (& 1st M40) 27:45, 4th Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo 28:41, 13th Ian Scott (& 2nd M40) 29:38, 20th Brian McNabb 30:07, 45th (& 1st M55) Mike Brooks 31:36, 61st (&3rd M55) Jim Robinson 33:19 & making the top 100 for the fourth time this season, in 99th place Ian Hepworth 36:27; On the night, Open Team 7th, Veteran’s Team 2nd & Elite Team 2nd; Overall, Open Team 8th, Veteran’s Team 4th & Elite Team 2nd.