Nestle Rowntree New Year Relays 3rd January 2005

Richmond and Zetland Harriers had their share of winners in the New Year’s events as the Roberts family set two records enroute to winning the Nestle Rowntree New Year Relays.

The first winners of the New Year were Paul Lowe of NYMAC and Johanna Jackson of M&C who were first Male and Female in the Captain Cook Fell Race on Saturday 1st, race 6 in the Northern Runner sponsored Cleveland Winter Series. The same day but further north, Nathan Shrubb and Sarah Heatley were winners for their home club in the Morpeth 11K Road Race. On Sunday 2nd, Steve Potts of Sunderland and Tracey Waller of HBR were winners of the Old Monks 6, a multi-terrain race over a new course from Hart Village, near Hartlepool.

The Roberts family elected to compete in the Nestle Rowntree New Year Relays on Monday 3rd and came home with a win and two course records. The Relays are an informal event, suitable for all ages and standards, with teams of three running 1½ miles, 3 miles and 3 miles on grass at the Knavesmire with bonus times added for a Female, a man Over 50 or a boy Under 12. Teams can enter together, or individuals can be made into teams on the day, hence the results appearing on davepaver@hotmail.com as the Roberts family and in AW as RZH. Twenty three teams took part. Ten-year old Fergus Roberts ran the first leg and handed-over in third place, 1½ miles in 9:36, setting a record for under 12 boys; Jessie Roberts ran the second leg and also set a record for under 16 girls, 20:07 for 3 miles, before Doug Roberts ran the glory leg, 3 miles in 17:34 to bring them home first, 47 seconds ahead of the second place Nestle Rowntree team.