Harrier League

Alnwick, Saturday, March 3, 2012

Grand Prix Race. Mud King/Mud Queen Race.

Mudman and Mudwoman

Record-Breaking Striders!

Lovely downhill section to finish each lap. Striders broke a number of records at the Alnwick Harrier League fixture yesterday when they fielded their biggest teams ever! Twenty two men and eighteen women turned out for their club on what eventually turned into a pleasant, early spring day. The bumper turnout not only ensured that the women’s team will remain in the top flight for next season, but also allowed the men’s team to secure first place in Division 2 on the day!! This is a standard that the club hasn’t achieved for years so well done everyone! In terms of individual performances, Phil Sanderson was the fastest veteran man in the race and secured the Veterans’ Grand Prix title for the third season in a row! Well done Phil!

The HL was being held at Alnwick for the first time yesterday and the general consensus was that the course and the general setting were excellent. The three lap men’s race went off first and Striders had two debutants: Jim Leslie (travelling to Alnwick from his home in Scotland) and Stuart Conway, plus three runners making welcome returns (Paul Evans, Mike Bennett & Steve Lindsay). All twenty one runners put in brave performances with Will Horsley leading us home after running what he considers to be his best ever x/c performance.

The eighteen strong ‘Sea of Purple’ were next up for the highly competitive senior women’s race with a ‘quality’ field of 120+. A number of women were making their debuts including Jacqui Robson, Carolyn Bray, Barbara Dick & Louise McGolpin and everyone was pleased to see Melanie Hudson back in the mud. Once again there were some fine performances by everyone but particularly by some of our newbies such as Rachel Bullock and Carolyn Bray. Nina led everyone home followed by Mudwoman and Fiona (from the medium pack). The course featured a short steepish descent and one or two of our women went down it with guns blazing and flags flying. Perhaps the most accomplished effort was by Jan who used all her experience to make up about 30 yards on the ‘downhill’ and take a number of ‘scalps’. Well done Jan!

In fact, well done everyone, runners and supporters alike (it was so good to see Wendy Rowell cheering on her old team mates). Thanks to Andy for arranging the Striders Charabang, which was a great success, and thanks to all who helped put up / take down the tent and brought those delicious cakes.

Another great turnout!

The final fixture of the season will be held on 24th March at Prudhoe. Old hands will know this as probably the best HL course, so please come along and run, you never know, the men’s team, currently in 4th place, might even get promoted!?

Results

Men
Pos Name Club Cat Time
1 KERNOHAN, Lee Wallsend Harriers 37:29
21 HORSLEY, Will 40:55 *M
34 EVANS, Paul 41:29
59 SANDERSON, Phillip 42:21 *F
60 LLOYD, Jerry 42:21
76 GIBSON, David 42:48
84 GARLAND, James 43:00
152 CLAYDON, Matt 45:02
162 REEVES, Thomas 45:18
177 DAVIS, Geoff 45:51
189 BENNETT, Michael 46:15
212 ROBERTS, Shaun 47:19
240 JONES, Mark 48:37
254 LINDSEY, Steven 49:19
269 ROBSON, Alister 50:14
275 HOCKIN, Richard 50:35
279 VAN DER BREMER, Marco 50:57
280 LESLIE, Jim 50:58
297 NISBET, Dougie 52:01
299 HUTCHISON, John 52:10
307 CONWAY, Stuart 52:41
330 KURUNER, Yusuf 57:18
333 ROBSON, Dave 58:01

*M Medium pack – 2m30s handicap.
*F Fast pack – 5m handicap.

342 finishers. Men’s team 1st of 10, Division 2, now 4th overall.
Congratulations to Phil Sanderson – fastest Male Vet, won the V40 Grand Prix for 2011-12.

Yet another great turnout!

Women
Pos Name Club Cat Time
1 HAYES, Louise North Shields Poly 29:00
27 MASON, Nina 32:30
51 DAVIS, Susan 33:49
53 SHENTON, Fiona 33:55 *M
62 LAYTON, Roz 34:18
63 BULLOCK, Rachel 34:19
73 BRAY, Carolyn 35:01
77 PERCIVAL, Juliet 35:41
82 YOUNG, Jan 36:23
83 LAMB, Liz 36:26
87 BRADLEY, Jean 36:42
95 TOMLINS, Zoe 37:27
98 PROCTOR, Angela 37:38
104 HUDSON, Melanie 38:22
105 DICK, Barbara 38:27
106 TINDALE, Victoria 38:30
107 ROBSON, Jacqui 38:35
111 MILLER, Louise 38:59

*M Medium pack – 2m handicap.

127 finishers. Women’s Team 7th of 8, Division 1, now 7th overall.

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