Stalwart of the Club Heather Atkinson wins Athletics Award

Heather Atkinson may never have competed for Richmond and Zetland Harriers but has contributed as much, if not more, to the Club over the years - initially supporting her daughter, Fiona Hughes, then as an NYSD Official and now as a Senior Track & Field Official. Her contribution extended from Club athletics in the Junior and Senior Leagues to Open and Representative Meetings throughout Yorkshire and North-East England and last week, at the North-East Athletics Awards Evening at Gateshead International Stadium, she was rewarded for her efforts by being named North-East Official of the Year. Her reward was a Trophy, a dedicated fleece jacket and a bursary. Heather has now been put forward, representing the North-East, to next month’s National Official of the Year Awards Final and is included on the national list of Officials, those chosen to officiate at International Meetings - a reflection on her dedication to the sport and the pride of the Harriers.

NYSD Cross Country Richmond - 6th March 2005

Jon Orange at Richmond

The last NYSD X-C fixture was held at Richmond School on Sunday 6th and despite the inclement weather of previous weeks, the course held-up well to the two hundred or so pairs of feet that toed the start line. It was mostly a day of twos for the Harriers; two runners in three out seven races, two second team places and a brilliant individual second place for Jon Orange in the Men’s race, but a number one where it counted most - first place in the Senior Men’s race and with it, the President’s Trophy. The Club scored 64 points from a maximum of 84 to finish 4 ahead of Scarborough and regain the Trophy for the best all-round Club in the League.

RZH results: Under 13 Boys - 4th Marc Scott, 14th Rory Wadsworth & 15th Rob Scott, 2nd team; Under 13 Girls - 17th Naomi Moks & 20th Hannah Terry; Under 15 Boys - 8th Doug Roberts & 17th Adam Scott; Under 15 Girls - 11th Rosie Adams & 18th Katie Roberts; Under 17 Men - 3rd Phil Fitzpatrick, 5th Chris Andrade & 8th James Brownfields-Pope, 2nd team; Under 17/ Under 20/Senior/Veteran Ladies - 9th (& 3rd U17) Jessie Roberts, 10th Fiona Hughes, 20th Erica Moks & 24th Jenny Fenwick, 4th team; Under 20/Senior/Veteran Men - 2nd Jon Orange, 4th Richard Hunt, 7th Ken Harker, 11th Scott Wardman, 12th (& 1st U20) Edd Richards, 24th Shaun Purkiss, 30th Brian “Taff” Rogers, 35th (& 1st M50) Mike Brooks, 43rd Paul Roberts, 58th Ian Hepworth & 61st Ray Robson, 1st team and unofficially 2nd M40 team & 3rd M50 team.

There were two noticeable absentees from the Harriers line-up at Richmond because the English Schools Biathlon Championships were at Bath University on the same day. Nick and Georgina Zissler were sort-of-representing Barnard Castle School in the event which involves a 1000m run and a 100m swim. Nick came 9th in the Senior Boy’s age group (going through 800m in 2:04) and Georgina finished 15th in the Inter Girl’s category.