BUSA Cross Country Leeds - 5th February 2005

This week’s round up of Richmond and Zetland Harriers results starts on Saturday 5th with the BUSA X-C Championships at Boddington Hall, Leeds. Scott Wardman, competing for Leeds Metropolitan University, ran in the 4K Short course race, finished 59th in 15:08 and was 3rd counter for the team.

North East Regional SportsHall Athletics Competition - 6th February 2005

On Sunday 6th, the North East Regional SportsHall Athletics Competition was held at Thornaby Pavilion and Dave Paver, the North Yorkshire Team Manager commented: “we were very short of athletes because of half term, football matches and every other factor that stops teams being raised; but those who went enjoyed the event, they all tried very hard and there were some good results - especially considering the standard of some of the bigger, specially trained Counties.” In the Under 13 Girls, Alice Morrison was 7th in High Jump with 1.25m and Ruth Hill was 5th in Long Jump with 2.01m. The girls then combined with Hannah Spruce of Harrogate and Beth Wooton of Pickering in the 4 x 2 lap and finished 2nd. Sophie Broadway was one of those that DP referred to as other factors; she was invited to and attended an Elite Squad Sprints Coaching Day at the EIS Arena in Sheffield, otherwise she would have competed for the North Yorkshire team.

Yorkshire Veterans Cross Country Thirsk - 6th February 2005

The Yorkshire Veterans held their X-C Championships on Sunday 6th at Thirsk Racecourse. The course was similar to that used for the NYSD fixture in December although lengthened and with a freshly ploughed field as another hazard. Mike Brooks ran in the 10K race for Over 50s & 60s and finished 22nd overall in 41:50 and was 7th M55.

NYSD Cross Country Stockton -on -Tees - 6th February 2005

Ian Scott in action

The 5th NYSD X-C fixture was on the same Sunday, at Blakeston School, Stockton-on-Tees. John Kettle, NYSD Winter Secretary commented: “there was a late change, caused by the intended venue suddenly becoming unavailable due to maintenance work. The change involved Billingham Marsh House Harriers in considerable extra work in finding an alternative location. Although the turn out was a little down on our previous meetings this season, possibly because it clashed with one or two other events, thanks are due to BMH for not giving up and putting on a successful event.” There were 18 Harriers in action and there were good performances from first to last including seven top ten places: in the Women’s race there was a best-yet 7th place for Philippa Abrahams and an inspired run from Shirley Mathurin in her new red spikes; in the Men’s race there was a first place for Edd Richards in the under 20s category, first points for Ian Scott as a M40 and a determined debut from Ray Robson.

RZH results: - U13B (2.5K) 5th Marc Scott 9:10 & 15th Scott, Rob Scott 10:40; U15B (3.5K) 2nd Josh Miers 14:27 & 12th Adam Scott 16:17; U15G (3.5K) 8th Rosie Adams 17:35; U17M (7K) 4th Chris Archer 26:04 & 7th James Brownfields-Pope 29:10; U17/U20/S&VW (4.5K) 7th Philippa Abrahams 19:01, 26th Fiona Hughes 21:55, 35th Jenny Fenwick 23:47 & 40th Shirley Mathurin 27:40, 6th team; U20/S&VM (9.0K) 5th Ken Harker 31:46, 11th (& 1st U20) Edd Richards 32:15, 17th Ian Scott 33:25, 30th Taff Rogers 35:12, 40th Shaun Purkiss 35:53, 44th Colin Sewell 36:38 & 81st Ray Robson 44:41, 3rd team & unofficially 3rd Over 40 Team.

With one fixture remaining, at Richmond School on Sunday 27th, several Harriers are “in the running” for individual awards. Individual runners who have scored a minimum of 20 points over the season will receive an award, but only their best five scores will count. Additionally, Nick Zissler and Jessie Roberts are tops in their U20M and U17W categories and Colin Sewell and Mike Brooks are 1st and 2nd respectively in the M50s. The Women’s team are 2nd to Middlesbrough & Cleveland AC by 12 points, the Men’s team are 2nd to Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers by 5 points and both RZH teams will need a no-show from the opposition in order to gain top spot. Although the Harriers don’t have a single team in first place at present, they are the only Club with teams scoring in all seven categories, they are 6½ points ahead of Scarborough and are tops in the table that counts most - the President’s Trophy.