Morpeth Harriers in strong cross-country performance

Posted by The Journal on Dec 15, 08 11:33 AM in Sport

Conditions at Saturday's 103rd North Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships at Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Wrekenton, were atrocious, wet and windy, with the temperature dropping throughout the meeting.

Sunderland Harrier Mark Hood won his third consecutive senior title. Hood soon headed the field on the testing three-lap course, with former junior champion Nick Swinburn, of Morpeth, the only athlete to raise any challenge.

The pair were well clear after lap one, when Hood started to pull away from his rival. The winning margin was 29 seconds, while New Marske's Andrew Wiles finished in an isolated third position.

Morpeth Harriers retained the team title from Gateshead, with Elswick finishing in a surprise third position.

Gateshead's Mary Ferrier, the junior champion in 2006 and 2007, stepped up an age-group to win her first senior women's title.

Her clubmate Charlotte Wickham (second in 2007), led for most of the race, before Ferrier's usually strong finish again prevailed. Chester-le-Street's Maxine Czarnecka finished third, leading her club to a successful defence of the team title.

Junior international Ricky Stevenson, of New Marske, easily repeated his 2007 victory in the Under-20 race, winning by over two minutes from clubmate Dominic Shaw.

With five runners in the first 12, New Marske successfully defended the team title.

Shildon's Kate Avery was an emphatic winner of the combined Under-17 and Under-20 women's race. Still in the younger age-group, Avery - the defending champion - led all the way to win by 32 seconds from the Under-20 gold medallist Jessica Russon, of New Marske. Gateshead retained the team title.

Durham's Michael Grimes won the Under-17 men's race, while Darlington's Nicole Burlinson comfortably claimed the Under-15 girls' title from Shildon's Fiona Higgin. New Marske's Mark Shaw easily retained the Under-15 boys' title.

Chester-le-Street's Anna Fawcett won the Under-13 girls' race from Birtley's Sophie Forster.

Robbie Loraine, of Gateshead, won the opening race for Under-13 boys, coming home ahead of Chris Peverley, whose club, Chester-le-Street, dominated this age-group with victory in both team events.

Gateshead won the Middlesbrough & Cleveland Trophy, awarded for the best overall team performance.

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