Wednesday 13 May 2026
Gordon Smith road relays – organised by Wallsend Harriers
A bright but chilly evening for the second relay event of the month. Teams of three – at least one runner being a vet.
Set at the Cobalt business park and featuring trail paths and pavements around the business premises, each runner covered two miles. Owing to the heavy rain showers and hailstorms over the last few days, the course was wet and cross country-esque. Some compared it to the Sherman Cup at Temple Park.
The women set off at 6.45. We had three women’s teams. Our first team consisting of Sarah Platten, Felicity Smith and Gillian Manford were aiming high given the team victories at the Masters’ relays.
With a few late changes, the other two teams were made up of Kisi Hardman, Debbie Spoor and Bella Arnott, Joanne Webber, Lisa Allen and Imogen King. The standard of the teams was exceptional with the winning team from Tyne Bridge finishing in 35.19. Our first team finished in a brilliant time of 37.22 in eighth position. Kisi, Debbie and Bella finished in 42.27 in 26th place and Joanne, Lisa and Imogen finished in 49.20, 46thplace.
The first team of Dan Milton, Luke Hilliard and Andrew Bell looked like a team with high prospects. Like the women’s race, the men’s race had an impressive field of 76 teams. The first team home was Gateshead, featuring Calum Johnson, in a time of 28.09. Our first team were fifth in a time of 29.44 – a great achievement. Kirk Haddon led our second team, with Aidan Jones (17) and Callum Eldridge; they finished 15th in 32:25. The runners in our third team all finished within 19 seconds of each other – David Jones, Dave Allan and James Douglas finished in 34.31 in 27th position.
And there’s more. Our fourth team of Andy Green, Nathan Pugh and Joe Horner (times within 13 seconds of one another) finished in 35.20, 32nd position. Fifth team – Paul Taylor, Scott Brady and Richard Houghton came home in 37.06 in 39th position and sixth team – Andy Green, Roland Brown and John Rippon completed the course in 38/06 in 49th position. Amazing effort by all. Full results below:
Saturday 16 May – NESDL – second fixture at Whitley Bay
Eric was leading the team again in this second meeting of the league series. There was an impressive turnout of 18 athletes including a mystery runner in the men’s mile listed in the results as Ann Onymous. Any clues who that was?
The team covered a vast amount of events with A and B string athletes in most disciplines. Eric sets the bar high in terms of multi- disciplines. He competed in six events – 200m, 400m hurdles, long jump triple jump, javelin and hammer. Well done to Joanne Forster for stepping up to do not only the 200m but also the javelin and long jump.
The day was rounded off with drinks, food and music at Eric’s house to mark the end of a successful day and his 65th birthday.
Let’s keep the momentum going with the next fixture on Sunday 14 June at Shildon. We need to cover the same if not more events to ensure that we score more points to keep us off the bottom of the league if we are to remain in the first division next season.
If you wish to practice your throws, attend training on Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm before the run session when you can access the throws equipment and use the field. Eric and Chris are usually on hand to provide assistance.
Monday 18 May
NEMAA Track and Field League, match 1, Steve Cram Stadium, Jarrow
No rest for the wicked. Our masters track and field stars were back in action only two days after the NESDL. Well done to David Walton (11.57)| and Rob Lambert (12.22) in the 3000m, Eric Lewis gaining a PB of 1.10 in his new age category (65-69) in the 400m along with PBs for Rob Lambert (1.19) and Su Lewis (1.49) in the same event.
Wednesday 20 May
Clive Cookson 10k, Monkseaton, organised by North Shields Poly
Not part of our championship series this year, but four of our members took on this two lap 10k which starts at Monkseaton High School, heading uphill along Rake Lane, turning right into fields before emerging in the housing leading back to the school. Making use of his winter marathon training Joe ran an impressive 38.49, finishing in 33rd place. John and Lynn must have run together with their finishing times on three seconds apart providing Lynne with a 3rd place in her age category. Nigel Hollier, back from an injury over the winter, finished fourth in the V70 category in 56.55.
| 35 | Joe Horner | 33/263 [M] | 11/48 [MSEN] | 38:49 | 38:54 |
| 285 | John Rippon | 211/263 [M] | 13/15 [MV60] | 54:19 | 54:24 |
| 287 | Lynne Michelson | 75/210 [F] | 3/13 [FV60] | 54:22 | 54:35 |
| 322 | Nigel Hollier | 226/263 [M] | 4/5 [MV70] | 56:55 | 57:08 |
The race was won by James Anderson of North Shields Poly in 33.30 and the women’s race was won by Jessica Eaton of Tyne Bridge Harriers in 37.01.
Thursday 28 May
The Angel View Race, Low Fell
Hosted by Low Fell Running Club, the annual multi-terrain event features a 9km (approx. 5.5 mile) senior race and a 1.5-mile junior race that starts and finishes at the Angel View Inn near the Angel of the North in Gateshead. The senior race has a multi terrain route taking in grassy fields, woodland trails and tarmac. There was a souvenir t-shirt for all finishers and a supper back at the Angel View Inn. It’s a friendly summer event with online race entries available 24 hours before the race and on the night sign ups.
We had six entrants taking on this undulating course and all of them achieving high rankings in their age categories. Congratulations to Joanne Webber, Gillian Johnson, David Walton, Andy Green, Joe Green and Lee Coulson.
Lee Coulson 00:41:50, chip time 00:41:47, 2/14 V50-54
Andy Green 00:41:11, chip time 00:41:07, 1/11 V55-59
Joseph Green 00:39:11, chip time 00:39:07, 5/14 20-39
Gillian Johnson 00:46:49, chip time 00:46:45, 8/24 20-39
David Walton 00:42:38, chip time 00:42:34, 2/4 65-69
Joanne Webber 00:50:34, chip time 00:50:29, 4/12 50-54
The race was won in a time of 32.49 by Steve Rankin (V40-44) of Sunderland Harriers and the women’s winner was Abby Colling of Birtley (senior) in a time of 39.01.
For full results:
Saturday 30 May
Club Championship 3,000m race, Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham
Our first internal race in a while. We began using internal races in 2021 when open races were hard to find given the rules on social distancing. They proved popular amongst our members so we gave it another go, this time with our inaugural 3,000m race on the track at Hexham.
The conditions were hot, with a moderate breeze. Many were novices to the track and this particular distance, so it was a relaxed introduction to this event. The 24 athletes were divided into two races – sub 12 minutes and over 12 minutes. Coach Tom and Ben were in attendance to officiate the start and finish, and the race timing. There were some impressive times ranging from Dan Milton’s 9.17 in the senior men’s category, 11.49 for Rachel Dodds (senior woman), Scott Brady – 11.11 (V40), Mary Hall 13.15 (V40), Mark Turnbull 10.41 (V50). Debbie Spoor 13.25 (V50) and Rob Lambert 12.45 (V60).
We welcomed back Kim Matthews following a long period of absence following long term injury and knee surgery. Whilst she didn’t complete the distance, it was a good measure of her successful recovery and a positive sign of what she can achieve next. Returning to the club after a ten-year absence, Emma Turnbull made her debut in the club championship. Great to have Emma back to boost our super squad of V50 women.
It was great to see so many of our members using the track at Wentworth which is available for us to use between 9.00am – 12.00pm most Saturdays along with our friends at Tynedale Harriers. The two clubs share the cost of the track hire and share its use. All the facilities are available to us – the throws and jumps areas, track and the comprehensive selection of throws and hurdle equipment. You can join in the organised sessions run by Simon Allen and Justin Durham, practice your field events, (Eric, Su and Chris are usually around to assist), or do your own session. All we ask is that you make a small financial contribution of £2.50 per athlete.
British Masters Throws Pentathlon, Horspath, Oxford
Eric and Su Lewis and Chris Snook headed south to Oxford for this multi throws event, consisting of hammer, shot, discus, javelin and weight. Here’s a summary from Chris:
Good weekend for some of the Elswick throws squad in Oxford. British masters throws pentathlon weekend and Eric, Su and myself are slowly (long story) returning with a grand total of 7 PBs and one medal; the biggest single improvement of the weekend being Su’s weight throw increasing from 6.23m to 7.61m
Eric’s best score was beating the eventual winner of his pentathlon in the discus event. He’s hoping for a rematch in a decathlon at some point in the future.
No stand out single events for me but pleased with overall consistency getting me a better than expected total across the five throws and clinching the bronze medal when my closest competition for it didn’t get a valid throw in the discus.
Looking forward to taking some of our momentum from this into the senior match in a fortnight’s time. Hoping a good crowd can join us for this one to secure another season of senior Division 1 athletics for the club.
Sunday 31 May
V2O Max Triathlon Festival, Druridge Bay
A two day event organised by Barry of V2O Max who delivered our first aid training a couple of years ago. A brilliant setting for triathlon with the lake and gravel tracks for the running. We had juniors participating in the shorter events on Saturday (Ayla Blight, Emma and Dominic Tomlinson).
On Sunday, Chris Pearce and David Bell took on the standard distance triathlon finishing 83rd and 33rd respectively. Chris was 13th in his category and David 5th in his category. Stricken with a back problem, Bella Arnott was determined not to miss out on the action, so transferred from the standard to sprint distance event and finished second in her category. Adam Bell and Andrew Bell also competed in the sprint distance with Adam in 7th overall and Andrew in sixth position. They both won their age categories.
Sunday 31 May – Great Manchester half marathon
Three of our athletes headed to the northwest to compete in the AJ Bell Great Manchester half marathon. Back in 2017 David Jones was thrilled to run a PB of 1.45 in this race. Exactly nine years later to the day, David achieved a massive PB of 1.23 and was 17th in the 40-44 category. Allan Callender finished in 1.46.23 and Simon Barnes in 2.00.25. Congratulations to all three runners.https://results.greatrun.org/results
Well done all our competitors during a busy couple of weeks… and more to come:
Tuesday 9 June – Blaydon Races. As many seniors and juniors are involved in this, there will be no junior training. However, Steven Robertson is willing to coach a senior session if people are interested.
Saturday 13 June – Roman Wall Show, Steel Rigg – Fell Race 12.30 – Entries taken on the day, 4 miles, no race entry fee as it’s included in your entry fee for the show (approximately £5). Also a junior 1 mile race of under 16s at 12pm. If you would like to help out and marshall, speak to Andy Green.
Sunday 14 June – NESDL, 3rd fixture. Speak to team manager Eric Lewis or any of the captains (Mark Turnbull, Felicity Smith, Mike Russell, Heather Donald) if you are interested in participating.
Monday 22 June – Anita Nott – all female 5km race, Jesmond Dene
Wednesday 24 June – Weetslade Relays – teams have been entered