Cleveland Fell Race Series - 27th April 2004

This summer, Richmond and Zetland Harriers have League competition in Track & Field, on the fells and on the roads. Their T&F League season started with the first NYSD fixture and the first fixture in the Northern Runner/Cleveland Fell Race Series was on Tuesday 27th April, the Fox & Hounds Chase over 9 miles and 1550 feet from Ainthorpe, near Danby. Although the weather in the Yorkshire Dales had been mostly fine, the Yorkshire Moors were a different story - it had rained solidly for the previous two days and the mist was down reducing visibility to about 20 yards. At the start, race organiser, Dave Parry, advised all runners of their responsibilities, to carry protective clothing, a map, compass and whistle, and a Mars bar or similar but there were no major mishaps, just the usual tumbles, a few taking wrong turns and one runner retired. Shaun O’Grady of Loftus ran-out the winner, ahead of leading M40 Sid Coxon of Tynedale and Carl Mustill of Newton Aycliffe in second and third places, with Paul Figg of NYMAC fourth and first counter in the winning team. Dan Brooks of the Harriers showed he’s proficient on any terrain as he finished in 25th place, Mike Brooks eased-out his London Marathon legs three places behind and there were 54 finishers.

North of England League Track and Field 1st May 2004 - Chester-le-Street

Fiona Hughes

The T&F season continued on Saturday 1st May at the Riverside Stadium, Chester-le-Street, with the first North of England League fixture for Senior athletes - a combined Men’s and Women’s League. The Harriers are in Division 4 East, up against Birtley, Tynedale and a Tyneside Composite team drawing from Blaydon, Elswick, Gosforth, Jarrow & Hebburn and Wallsend. The RZH team was a tale of two halves; Fiona Hughes was able to muster nine young, keen athletes for the Women whereas Chris Peacock could only find five Men (including four Veterans) who were capable, available or interested. The whole team, with parents and Coaches acting as Officials, enjoyed a fine, sunny but breezy afternoon and some great performances. The Women had seven A-string and thirteen B-string wins from the fifteen events contested and won both relays with Fiona Hughes scoring a massive 39 points from her five individual events. The Men were up against Richard Hunter, a notable decathlete, who scored 59 out of Tynedale’s 163 point total from his seven events. Fortunately he’s a sprinter/jumper/thrower, not a distance runner, and Jon Orange had a comfortable win in the 5000m. The Women’s team were 1st with 164 points; the Men were equal 3rd with 73 points; their combined score (including 30 points for Officials) was a winning 267 points.

RZH results - Women: Kelly Bartram hammer 12m39, discus 25m20, shot 6m89, triple jump 6m58 & javelin 17m66; Kim Bartram long jump 4m43, 100m 13.3, 100m hurdles 19.7 & 200m 27.8, Kerrie Foxall 3000m 12:43.3 & 1500m 5:58.8; Sarah Gregory 3000m 12:43.6; Fiona Hughes 400m hurdles 82.2, 800m 2:41.2, high jump 1m20, 100m hurdles 22.7 & 400m 80.2; Louise Jackson 800m 2:22.7 & 400m 63.5; Erica Moks long jump 3m63, 400m hurdles 83.1 & 1500m 5:53.9; Sharon Powell hammer 28m28, discus 25m40, shot 5m97, triple jump 6m38 & javelin 17m66; Georgina Zissler 100m 13.3 & 200m 27.8; 4 x 100m 56.4 & 4 x 400m 5:07.9: Men: Dan Brooks 200m 27.4 & 5000m 20:18.9; Mike Brooks 400m hurdles 90.2, long jump 3m37, 800m 2:38.2, 100m 14.7, 3000m steeplechase 13:01.2, 400m 72.7 & 1500m 5:48.8; Jon Orange 5000m 16:08.3; Chris Peacock hammer 11m62, 800m 2:16.3, discus 13m75, shot 6m49 & 1500m 4:51.5; Matt Prosser discus 15m95, shot 6m82 & javelin 15m35; 4 x 400m 4:24.6.