Reebok UK Inter-Counties Championships -Woollaton Park 8th February 2003

Graeme Nicholson, Senior Coach (retired) and keen athletics fan was in Nottingham on Saturday 8th to spectate and report on the success of Richmond and Zetland Harriers who competed in the Reebok UK Inter-Counties Championships at Wollaton Park. They were selected to run for Yorkshire in the top event of the winter season - with the best eight athletes in each of five age groups from each County having been chosen. Conditions underfoot were good for racing and the venue ideal for both athletes and spectators.

In the third race of the day over 300 athletes lined up for the start of the senior women’s race which included Louise Jackson from the Richmond Club, in her first taste of competition in this age group, having worked her way up through the various age groups during her 9 years with the Club. She worked hard over the 8,000m testing three lap course to come home in 127th place in 32:48. There were 297 runners finish the race and the Yorkshire team were 7th out of the 35 Counties with complete teams.

The next race was for under 15 boys over a distance of 4500m and Philip Fitzpatrick joined the other 320 plus runners at the start. A gritty performance was rewarded with a 72nd position and, as fourth counter for the third place Yorkshire team, meant that he earned a bronze medal. There were 308 runners finish the race representing 44 Counties.

The ninth race of the day was for under 15 girls in which Yorkshire champion Jessica Roberts, who lives in Northallerton, joined the other athletes for the start of their 4000m race. Jessica and the rest of her eight-member-team packed well in the leading group of runners and the four scoring athletes that included Jessica in 29th place came away with silver medals for their efforts.

Another Club member Scarlett Gray deservedly earned her Yorkshire Vest this year.

Jim Robinson

Philip, Jessica and Scarlett along with Amy Baines and Jo Adams will all be making the long trip to Brighton in March to represent North Yorkshire in the English Schools championships.

North East Veteran's Cross Country Championships 8th February 2003

Closer to home, two of Richmond and Zetland’s Veteran Harriers competed on the same day in the North East Veteran’s X-C Championships at Branksome School, Darlington. The 10K race was over three laps of the School playing fields and adjacent parkland and Brian Rushworth of Sunderland was a clear winner in the V40 category, finishing with a time of 34:11. His team-mate Glenn Forster won the V45 in 35:11; Archie Jenkins of Morpeth and Scotland won the M50 in 36:16 and Les Christopher made it a hat trick for the Mackems, winning the M55 in 38:41. Jim Robinson from Hudswell was best man for the Harriers finishing second M55 in 39:04 and earning a silver medal. Mike Brooks finished just out of the honours, fourth M55 in 41:34.