NYSD Cross Country Meeting - Barnard Castle 21st October 2007

Tony Ryder in action

The weather was inviting for the second NYSD Cross Country league meeting at Teesdale School, Barnard Castle on Sunday 21st October, which made a welcome return to this venue. The number of competing athletes was up for Richmond and Zetland, totalling 37 on this occasion and the momentum from the start of the season was kept well and truly rolling, as there were more excellent results for the team and individuals alike. The Club took no less than 2 victories and 3 second-place finishes across the various age groups on a hilly and undulating, but fairly dry course.

The Under 13 Boys were first away and straight into winning ways once more, with Fergus Roberts taking another well-earned victory by over a minute from his closest rival, while Daniel Overin and Paul Harmsworth finished closely in 3rd and 4th position overall, giving the team a fantastic lead. Glen Lent was next home, taking 10th place and Andrew Parkinson produced a good run to finish 16th overall. Thomas Bingley, Alex Wright and Ben Purkiss promptly claimed 20th, 21st and 22nd positions respectively to conclude another successful outing. The Under 13 Girls went one better this time, when the team took 2nd place, thanks to Amy Coulson moving up the rankings to 4th position, followed by Rosie Stirr in 15th place and Laura Matthews, who took 20th overall. Kerry Robson ran another good race to claim 24th position and bring the team home into 2nd place on the day.

Once again Maddy Winzer was the only representative in the Under 15 Girls race, however, but this made no difference as she powered her way across the winning line well ahead of the field. By now things were looking very positive on the team front and the Under 15 Boys took it to another level. Sam Wood continued his excellent race form to take 2nd place, followed by his ever-present team mates, Thomas Allen and Marc Scott, who finished within a second of each other in 4th and 5th positions respectively, giving the team another victory. The ladies squad underwent a bit of a reshuffle on this occasion, with some athletes missing and different faces in the lineup, but with 6 competing athletes they climbed right up the standings to 2nd overall, which was a great boost. Kelley Haniver came in as one of the front runners, taking 6th place and Tamsin Clark produced another strong performance, finishing 7th overall, wile Jenny Hands was next home in 18th position, undergoing a hard weekend on the sporting front. Sarah Gregory was another having a good day, finishing strongly in 19th place, while Fiona Hughes moved up several positions to cross the line in 27th position and Laura Wrightley enjoyed another outing on the Cross Country circuit to finish in 43rd and complete the team. There was a welcome addition to the Under 17 Men’s team with 2 athletes competing this time round; Doug Roberts claimed a brilliant 2nd position, while Adam Scott had a very positive first outing, running his way into 9th place overall.

The men’s team were also bolstered by additional athletes, with 13 in total, putting them in with a good chance of retaining their second place overall from the first meeting, which they did with relative ease. Jon Orange was once again first on the score board for the Harriers in 4th place, moving up 2 positions on last time, while Ken Harker gave another good account of himself, promptly claiming 10th, having been spurred on by Shaun Purkiss, who was hard on his heels and finished well up the field in 11th. Tad Zaranko continued his fine racing form, taking 20th overall, while Ian Scott was pleased to cross the line in 26th place. Taff Rogers was ahead of his teammate Tony Ryder this time out, another who had completed a busy race week, as they crossed the line in 28th and 33rd positions respectively. Paul Roberts made his seasonal debut for the Club and enjoyed a successful outing, crossing the line in 37th place overall, while Darren Cox was next home in a well-deserved 53rd overall. Tony Ditchburn made his first Cross Country outing of the season, accomplishing a good result into the bargain by finishing 59th and Jim Robinson moved significantly up the field into 68th place, making him the 1st Vet 3 across the line. Steven Lambert was another on his first off-road outing in club colours, competing well on the undulating course to take 77th, while Ray Robson put in some good, consistent running to finish comfortably inside the top 100, in 93rd place overall.

RZH Results: Under 13 Boys – 1st Fergus Roberts, 3rd Daniel Overin, 4th Paul Harmsworth, 10th Glen Lent, 16th Andrew Parkinson, 20th Thomas Bingley, 21st Alex Wright & 22nd Ben Purkisss, Team 1st. Under 13 Girls – 4th Amy Coulson, 15th Rosie Stirr, 20th Laura Matthews & 24th Kerry Robson, Team 2nd. Under 15 Boys – 2nd Sam Wood, 4th Thomas Allen & 5th Marc Scott, Team 1st. Under 15 Girls – 1st Maddy Winzer. Under 17 Men – 2nd Doug Roberts & 9th Adam Scott. Senior/Vet/U20/U17 Ladies – 6th Kelley Haniver, 7th Tamsin Clark, 18th Jenny Hands, 19th Sarah Gregory, 27th Fiona Hughes & 43rd Laura Wrightley, Team 2nd. Senior/Vet/U20 Men – 4th Jon Orange, 10th Ken Harker, 11th Shaun Purkiss, 20th Tad Zaranko, 26th Ian Scott, 28th Taff Rogers, 33rd Tony Ryder, 37th Paul Roberts, 53rd Darren Cox, 59th Tony Ditchburn, 68th (& 1st MV60) Jim Robinson, 77th Steve Lambert & 93rd Ray Robson, Team 2nd.