10th Annual Tartan Games - Gateshead 23rd August 2003

Seven athletes from Richmond and Zetland Harriers competed at The Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday 23rd August in the 10th Annual Tartan Games - the biggest end-of-season one-day Open Medal T&F Meeting. Chris Betts, Meeting Organiser, reported that there were more than 600 athletes competingand a total of 1094 performances recorded, that there were numerous meeting records set and a world record in the CP Sports Discus where Danny West threw 36m79. For the Harriers, Sophie Broadway, competing as a first-year under 15 just a month after her 13th birthday, was “Queen-for-a-day” after placing third in the final of the 200m and winning the bronze medal.

RZH results: Under 13 Girls - Rosie Adams 800m 2:46.92; Under 13 Boys - Tom Osborn 200m 34.8 & 800m 2:50.55; Under 15 Girls - Jo Adams 800m 2:39.67 & discus 18m57; Sophie Broadway 100m 14.3 & 200m final 28.7 (28.5 in heat); Under 17 Boys - Philip Fitzpatrick 800m 2:09.12; Senior Men - Ken Harker 800m 2:01.68; James Wardman 800m 1:59.28.

Northern Men's Track & Field Knockout Plate - Barnsley 24th August 2003

On Sunday 24th August, the Senior Men’s team travelled to the Dorothy Hyman Stadium at Cudworth near Barnsley for the Northern Men’s T&F League Knockout Plate Final. The eight-strong team were without several key athletes, most notably John Wild, who had come home injured from Hungary where he had been throwing in an International Veteran’s Meeting. “Out of adversity comes strength” according to someone wise and appropriately there were several fine performances - Ken Harker won the 1500m with a superb demonstration of front-running, Jon Orange placed second to former International and fellow Veteran John Convery of Bingley in the 5000m, Dan Brooks ran a season’s-best 62.78 for second in the 400m hurdles (just one of five individual events and both relays in his usual busy afternoon), Sam Stanislaus also earned a second place in the triple jump and Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo was proverbially over-the-moon with his sub-35 minute clocking for 10,000m. Although the times and distances for the sprints and throws won’t be added to any athlete’s CV, the team acquitted itself well enough to finish the day in 6th place with 79 points, a mere 40 points behind winners Chesterfield & District AC.

RZH results: Dan Brooks 110m hurdles 21.00, 200m 27.14, 400m hurdles 62.78, pole-vault 2m20 & javelin 15m20; Mike Brooks 100m 14.66 & 3000m steeplechase 12:34.62; Ken Harker 1500m 4:15.87; Jon Orange 5000m 15:54.29; Matt Prosser 400m 56.07; Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo 10,000m 34:57.94, discus 17m14 & shot 6m36; Sam Stanislaus high jump 1m65, long jump 5m58 & triple jump 12m36; James Wardman 800m 1:58.04; team 4x100m 53.57 & 4x400m 3:52.54.

Bishop Monkton 6 Mile race 25th August 2003

On the Bank Holiday Monday, Scarlett Gray ran her first six-mile race at Bishop Monkton. Scarlett had her Dad for company on the half road/half cross-country course and finished in a time of 40:31 to place 19th overall, 3rd female and earn third prize.