British Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships:
As you know Hazel Bough competed on the the Scottish Masters Scottish Masters Athletics Indoor Championships a few weeks ago.
In the 800 meters, Hazel finished 2nd in her race in a super speedy time of 2.27. (800m results)and 3rd in the 1500 meters finishing with a time of 5.07. (1500m results).
Earlier this week, Hazel got confirmation from NEMAA that she ran age group records in both races – what a fantastic achievement!
Hazel was back in action on the indoor track, this time in London for the British Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Again, doubling up in the 800m and 1500m. Hazel ran superbly finishing 2:26:82 in the 800m breaking the NEMAA record once again!
And, the following day Hazel ran a fantastic time of 5:10:27 in the 1500m to claim gold.
NECAA Road Relay (Signals Relays) Championships:
Flashback to last weekend when we fielded 8 full teams across the 3 races.
Our women stole the show once again finishing a close 2nd place in the vets race.
Our men’s team had 6 new faces in the ranks. Andy Blight and Nigel Hollier making a return to relay running, both rolling back the year to run in the v50+ race.
Competing for the club for the first time, we had Elijah King and Jack Gordon – two impressive runs for our newbies. Aiden Jones made his senior debut and Mike Wilson a relay debut – great to see you getting involved.
Our teams placed:
Race 1
Senior Women 1: 15th place (1:00:12)
Vet Women 1: 2nd place (55:52)
Vet Men 1: 6th place (55:52)
Vet Men 2: 8th place (56:52)
Vet Men 3: 27th place (1:05:34)
Race 2:
Senior Men 1: 18th place (1:17:15)
Senior Men 2: 22nd place (1:19:09)
Barcelona Half Marathon
Andrea and Tony Banks are fond of a holiday and what a way to enjoy the sights by doing a half marathon.
They both had brilliant runs, Tony running 79 minutes and 94 minutes. Super running by the pair!
The Saturn Run:
James Sunley was up to his old tricks running FAAAAR in The Who Framed Roger Rabbit Love Run.
An endurance run, where runners compete laps of 7km until they drop. James managed 50km (31.1 miles in old money) before deciding to go for his Sunday Lunch. The things people do to get out of their household chores!
Great effort James, well done!
2025 National Cross Country Championships, Parliament Hill:
Firstly, a huge thank you to Mike Russell for organising everything for us – i’m sure you’d make a very good travel agent if you want to come out of retirement… Also, thanks to our bus drivers, Mike and Simon for getting us to to and from Parliament Hill.
Thanks Ken for the history of champs and the quiz for the bus. “The 2025 Championships saw the return to Parliament Hill which is always a very popular venue and on many peoples “to do” list. The iconic start going up the hill with the City of London as a backdrop is not to be missed!
Cross Country races have been held on Hampstead Heath for well over 100 years, but the first National Championship was for women in 1950, with the men running there for the first time in 1957.
This year’s event will be the 18th time that a joint male and female championship event at Parliament Hill. However, the first time in the current format of all 10 races was in 2003.
Closer to home and from an Elswick viewpoint Mike Mcleod won the Seniors championship at Luton in 1994 and Justina Heslop won the juniors women at Blackburn in 1994 there may be others however both of these still have links with the club. On the subject of strong links Callum Johnson won the title in 2020 at Nottingham Callum will be presenting some of the awards at our celebration evening. (So make sure you get your tickets).”
With 19 adults and 10 juniors registered (the most i’ve seen since i’ve been at the club) and with our keen supporters in tow, we boarded the bus leaving from the Newburn Leisure Centre on Friday at 1.30pm prompt…
Thanks Andrea for sorting the registrations out.
The journey flew by hearing stories of old and entertained by a super fun Ken Heslop quiz keeping our minds off the daunting XC that lay before us on Saturday – the winner of the quizzes were Paul and Kate Taylor on the red bus and Mary and Ben Hall (finally won something) on the grey bus.
Saturday morning and arriving at Parliament Hill, as promised, it was wetter than an otters pocket. And muddied than any British festival so challenging times ahead.
Finding a ‘suitable’ spot to put up the trusty team tent, we heading out to see what merchandise we could get out hands on…
It was our under 13 girls that got us underway at 11.45am and our senior running last at 3pm.
Our juniors were amazing, totally unfazed by the crowds and mud to do us proud and fully deserved their cakes at the end.
The adults were great too, the course got more and more cut up and muddy but it added to the ‘fun’.
Everyone should be proud for getting round this course – well done!
U13 Girls 11:45
Jemima Bond: 17:16
Cate Johnson: 16:43
Niamh Logan: 15:58
Millie Robson: 16:26
Lily Roxburgh: 17:16
U17 Boys 12:05
Aiden Jones: 33:06
U13 Boys 12:30
Sam Haddon: DNS
Kallen O’Neil: 14:23
U15 Girls 12:45
Charlotte Taylor: 23:27
Junior Women 13:05
Isabella Russell: 34:00
Senior Women 13:35
Louise Allen: DNS
Andrea Banner:47:29
Mary Hall: 49:50
Justina Heslop: 36:48
Lynne Michelson: 55:07
Judith Nutt: 39:31
Felicity Smith: 40:54
Kate Taylor: 1:04:26
Senior Men 15:00
Simon Allen: 1:12:06
Martin Connelly: DNF
Peter Dawson: 1:16:32
Ben Hall: 1:16:41
Joe Horner: 1:07:32
David Jones: 1:09:24
Jonathan Rewcastle: 1:03:04
John Rippon: 1:07:45
Mike Russell: 1:08:35
Chris Smallwood: 1:12:06
Paul Taylor: 1:11:13
CALL OUT FOR RUNNERS….
Please please please make every effort to make the XC fixture on 1st March at Alnwick. Both our men’s and women’s teams are at risk of relegation to division 2, a good turnout could secure our places in division 1.
We still have lots of numbers still to be collected so please come and run in the remaining fixtures to help us retain our places in the leagues. And, if anyone that isn’t registered and wants to take part, please let me know.
Our final fixture will be Druridge Bay, taking place on Sunday 23rd March. The Prudhoe will not go ahead.
Check if you’re registered by clicking this link.
Information Notice:
Blyth 10km and the Pier to Pier has sold out but are allowing transfers; keep an eye out on Facebook as numbers will become available.
The Cowbell 5km (entries now open) will replace our previously advertised internal 5km in October. The October slot will remain free and will be used if a scheduled race is cancelled or clashes with a XC.
Future Fixtures:
2024 North East Harrier League:
Saturday 1/3/25 Alnwick Castle we need everyone running!!
Sunday 23/3/35 – Druridge Bay
See facebook posts if you want to be registered or speak to Ben and Felicity.
Track and Field Fixtures:
North East Senior Development League:
Match 1: 26th April
Div 1 – Whitley Bay – North Shields Poly to host
Match 2: 17th May
Div 1 – Shildon – Darlington to host
Match 3: 15th June
Div 1 – Whitley Bay – Wallsend to host
Match 4: 19th July
Div 1 – Shildon – Gateshead to host
Speak to Eric Lewis, Ben or Felicity if you’re interested.
Relays
30th March – Northern 6 & 12 Stage Relays – Redcar (Road) – See facebook post
18th April – Good Fridays (Road)
April – NEMAA Jarrow (Road)
April – Neptune (Mixed)
14th May – Wallsend (Road)
June – Weetslade (Road)
July/August – Gosforth (Road)
September – Farringdon (Trail)
November – Norman Woodcocks (Road)
Club Champs:
15th March – Cowbell 5km – Open now
6th April – Blyth (10k) – Sold out
18th May – Pier to Pier (off road) – Sold out
June – Rest
2nd July – Pie and Peas (10km) – Click for updates
July – Sunderland (5km)
August – Watergate (5km)
September – Rest
October – to be used if any fixtures are cancelled
November – Heaton Memorial (10km)
November/December – Gibside Fruit Bowl (off road)
January – Rest
February – Sherman Cup/Davision Shield (off road)
We’ll look to add an internal race (probably a 5km) if any races are cancelled.
Rules:
best x2 results from each race category (5km, 10km and off road)
Useful website for races: http://www.northeastraces.com