Saturday 25 April
The Blue Streak Trail Run, Spadeadam 11km/ 14 mile
A choice of two unusual race distances at a unique race venue, these trail races take place at Spadeadam RAF base, north of Haltwhistle. This RAF base was built in 1955 to provide a test centre for the Blue Streak rocket, an intermediate range ballistic missile. The Blue Streak Trail Run takes runners past the launch platforms, military equipment and practice targets as well as amazing views over the Lake District, Hadrian’s Wall and Spadeadam Forest. Participant numbers are closely controlled given that Spadeadam is an active RAF station.
All profits are donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund which has been supporting members of the RAF and their families in difficulty, providing practical, emotional, and financial support.
Not only excited to be running on an active RAF base, Mike Russell had the pleasure of his very first race win. He finished first in the 11km race.
https://www.sientries.co.uk/uploads/events/16218/results/Bluestreak%20Times%20.pdf
Sunday 26 April
London Marathon
Surely the best major marathon on the planet – the magnificent London Marathon. Debbie Spoor was back (in spite of an uncomfortable hamstring tendon problem) for the ninth time finishing in 3:55.49, an amazing achievement given the paucity of training runs. First timers at London, Joe Horner and Paul Taylor had trained well together and were rewarded with great times. Joe finished in 3.16.45 and Paul in 3.21.04.
Well done to all three and good luck to the million plus people who have entered the ballot for next year.
https://results.tcslondonmarathon.com/2026/?pid=search44361
Blackpool half marathon
Coach Rob Lambert headed west for a flat, coastal half marathon in Blackpool. He’s definitely on a roll at the moment, finishing 93rd overall and second in the M60 category.
https://www.fyldecoastrunners.com/uploads/5/2/4/9/52490083/festhalf26.pdf
Saturday 2 May
Elswick Harriers Northern Steeplechase and Throws Festival, Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham
This inaugural event was organised in conjunction with England Athletics, adding to our portfolio of club events (now four). A steeplechaser since his youth, Justin Durham was motivated to create an event in the north for this niche discipline. Steeplechase competitions are few and far between with most taking place in the south of England. However, the event is growing and Justin’s aim is to spread the word amongst endurance athletes in the north east and beyond.
The week preceding the Festival, Justin and Simon Allen organised and led a steeple chase workshop at Wentworth track, which was attended by 17 athletes, mostly juniors and many complete novices. Enthused by the workshop, 16 of the attendees entered the Festival. A house move prevented the 17th athlete from competing.
In addition to steeplechase, the Festival included 1500m and 3000m flat races and a comprehensive throws competition led by Eric Lewis. There were 18 officials to adjudicate the throws and time the track races. There were volunteers from Elswick assisting with athlete registration, barrier set up (changes in every race), tannoid announcements, supervising the athlete call up room, retrieving throws equipment and running score cards to the results team.
Athletes had travelled from Scotland, Yorkshire and Lancashire to compete – there were steeple chases for all age groups from under 14 (race development race not on Power of Ten) to and including Masters 60 plus in along with the flat 1500m and flat 3000m. There was a great turn out from local clubs including Elswick. Some of the junior athletes were successful in achieving qualifying times for English Schools selection in both the steeplechase and 1500m. The steeplechase events formed part of the inaugural North East Counties AA championship, so medals were awarded to the top three in each category.
Simon Allen was the first home in the M60 2000m steeplechase achieving a 100.09% age grade in World Masters ranking. Ayla Blight won the Under 16 1500m steeplechase and has gained the qualifying time for English Schools. Our other competitors on the day included Dexter White in the under 16 1500m and javelin, Cate Johnson, Issy Durham and Niamh Logan in the under 16 race; Ava Durham who claimed bronze in the under 18 race and Joe Green who competed in the flat 3000m race.
Eric Lewis, Su Lewis, Chris Snook-Lumb and Grant Henderson represented Elswick in the throws competition.
With 58 entries in total, the event was relatively small but it worked seamlessly. Great lessons were learnt and we could definitely envisage scaling the event up in future. The hope is to gain England Athletic’s support and financial sponsorship again next year with a view to the event being a qualifier for the world steeplechase championships. For further details about the event check out the link below.
https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2026/GBR/steeplethrow
Wednesday 6 May
North East Masters AA Road Relay Championships, Jarrow
Always a popular event in the masters’ calendar. We had five women’s and four men’s teams in action. Three athletes per team over a course of approximately 1.75 miles, competing in master’s age categories. The women’s races commenced at 18.30 and included a race for M65 men with 48 teams in total.
All five of our teams finished in the top 50%. Our first team in the women’s 35-44 age group came out overall winners Congratulations to Gill Manford, (fifth fastest leg), Maria Catterall and Rachel Dodds (11th fastest leg). Our second 35-44 team of Gill Johnson, Laura Shepherdson and Lisa Allen finished in 17th position. Another gold came in the F45-54 category with Felicity Smith, Mary Hall and Justina Heslop (fastest leg) claiming fourth position overall. Not far behind was Bella Arnott, Sara Blight and Debbie Spoor who finished fourth in the 45-54 race (18th overall) and Andrea Banner, Joanne Webber and Lynne Michelson finishing in 8th(24th overall).
In the men’s race, our 35-44 team of David Jones, Dave Allen and Ibraheem Hamoodi ran well to finish 14th(20th overall out of 70 teams). Our 45-54 team consisted of a couple of 55-64 athletes so they did great to finish 21st – well done to David Walton, Chris Snook-Lumb and Robert Lambert. Great success for our two V55-64 teams with Andy Green, John Rippon and Simon Allen finishing in 4th place and Mark Turnbull, Mike Russell and James Douglas taking gold (18th overall).
https://www.nemaa.co.uk/results2/nemaa-open-road-relays-may-6th-2026
Thursday 7 May
NEHL 2025/26 Presentation
It seems like a long time ago since the end of the cross country season, although I think we had better weather at Eltringham Farm than we’re currently having now that we’re in the road relay and track season.
Well done to all who competed during the seven month season of seven harrier league races, but special congratulations to our girls and women for retaining the Davidson Shield.
Our scorers were Imogen Bungay, Sarah Platten, Kisi Hardman, Maria Catterall, Justina Heslop and Jude Nutt.
It’s key to have a good number of runners participating to ensure success so well done to our remaining runners on the day who were Rachel Dodds, Gillian Johnson, Mary Hall, Kisi Hardman, Heather Donald, Laura Sheperhdson, Lynne Michelson and Imogen King.
Congratulations to Justina Heslop who won the individual grand prix for veteran women and Emma Tomlinson won bronze in the under 17 category.
Davison Shield with some of our female participants – Emma Tomlinson, Jemima Bond, Niamh Logan, Charlotte Taylor, Lily Roxburgh, Katie Dixon, Maisey Mould, Ross Tadele, Lily Mould, Jude Nutt, Justina Heslop
Sunday 10 May
Copenhagen Marathon
Mike Wilson headed to the beautiful city of Copenhagen. A great choice for a marathon – he achieved an amazing time of 2.56.53 (1293rd). Congratulations Mike – a brilliant achievement.
https://live.copenhagenmarathon.dk/en