World Triathlon Championships – Friday 22 September
Despite a back fracture (and limited running) following a bike crash in May, Mike was determined to accompany his pal Rich in competing at the Super-Sprint World Triathlon Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. This entails a 300m swim, 10km bike ride and 2.5km run. Mike had qualified for this race by coming 3rd in the British qualifier in Sunderland last year. With his limited training and being at the top end of the age-group, Mike’s ambitions were limited to not finishing last in the v50 category, but he surprised himself (& me) with 23rd place out of 38 qualifiers.
NEHL fixture number 1 – Wrekenton – Saturday 23 September
The NEHL got off to a great start with ever increasing numbers of participants – 571 men and 465 women. The unexpected rain clouds dispersed as the women lined up for the first cross country race of the 2023/24 season. It’s good to get this first one done whilst the climate is warm and the ground is dry and firm. However, the recent heavy rain meant that the course was more akin to October/ November conditions, so any cross-country virgins yet to purchase spikes, may have been a little hampered wearing road shoes.
Excitement was rife amongst the female Elswick members with a flurry of new registrations. Welcome to Laura Stephenson, Caroline Johnson, Genevieve Buee and Maxine Cottam making their XC debuts. First home for the team was Justina Heslop, running from the medium pack and finishing in fifth place in 25.22. A wonderful return to form for Mary Hall, who was second counter finishing in 30.58, 49th place, narrowly missing out on promotion to the medium pack. Third home was Sara Blight in 31.53 and safely outside of the top 10% in 97th place. You’ve done it again Sara! Three places behind was Felicity Smith in 26.55, running from the fast pack. A terrific time. Well done our top four runners who brought the team home in ninth position overall.
The second group of four consisted of Jude Nutt, 27.04, 109th from the fast pack, Rachel Dodds, 29.40, 113th from the medium pack, Gillian Johnson, 32.19, 121st, and Louise Allen, 32.56, 164th. Our C team was led home by Debbie Spoor in 30.58, 190th from the medium pack, Andrea Banner, 29.22, 242nd from the fast pack, Caroline Lienard, 36.50, 321st and Laura Shepherdson, 37.00, 323rd. And there’s more! Katie Donnelly, 37.45, 335th, Sarah Muparutsa 37.50, 336th, Caroline Johnson, 38.13, 347th, and Kate Taylor, 40.59, 387th, made up a D team; with Maxine Cottam 41.01, 388th, and Genevieve Buee 44.07, 425th, making in incomplete E team.
This was an excellent turn out and start to the season. We have lots more runners yet to run, with many of them to start in the slow pack, so we are sure to progress well as the season continues.
A solid start for the men’s team also, with our scoring sextet finishing in 6th position in their division. Brilliant to see Christopher Mason fitting in running around his medical degree. He finished in 16th position in 37.03, gaining promotion to the medium pack along with Jonathan Rewcastle, who finished in 35th position, 38.23. Third counter was Ben Hall in 159th, 41.06, followed by fast packer Danny Spoor, 176th, 36.22, John Rippon 216th, 42.07, and Simon Allen, 237th in 42.29.
Our B team consisted of Paul Taylor, 258th, 42.55, Roland Brown, 280th 43.13 (super sprint finish), Lee Coulson 302nd, 44.01, Paul Robinson, 334th, 44.44, Chris Pearce, 341st, 44.58 and James Sunley, 343th, 45.01. We also had a complete C team of Jonny Lowes, 373th, 46.06 (first XC in a while – welcome back), Carl Marshall 381st 46.15 (another returner to the XC team), Alan Thompson 409th, 46.56, Jack Graham 432nd 47.48, Sammy Craig, 456th, 48.51 and Sean Motsi, 563rd in 61.54. Peter Jobson completed the line-up, finishing in 564th, 62.04. Very well done to them all, in particular Jack and Sammy who were taking part for the first time. The rigour of the course came as a slight surprise to Jack, (I won’t repeat what he said), but I hope he and Sammy will return for more.
Redcar Running Festival (Half Marathon 10km and 5km – Sunday 24 September
Only 18 months since breaking an arm and a leg, and with grave uncertainty about the prospect of running again, Susanne Stephenson defied medical opinion and took on the Redcar Half Marathon, finishing in a brilliant time of 1.40.38 (91st). A very impressive achievement indeed. Shaun Connelly was pleased to finish in 1.46.24 (123rd). Having suffered from a series of niggles recently, Steven Robertson was unable to complete the course on this occasion. We know what an excellent runner Steven is and we look forward to seeing him on the road to recovery and returning to his usual fine form.
