Morpeth's Swinburn leads home triumph

Posted by The Journal on Jan 2, 09 04:27 PM in Sport

Morpeth Harrier Nick Swinburn was a convincing winner of his club's New Year's Day 11km Road Race.

The fell running specialist and North Eastern Counties Cross Country silver medallist, soon headed the field, closely followed by Northumberland-based Bingley Harrier Matt Whitfield.

The pair had broken clear from the chasing group of Mark Brown and Nathan Shrubb of Morpeth, both past winners, and Michael Dawson of North Shields Poly after the first mile of the hilly course.

Whitfield made a brave attempt to break away approaching the second mile, but the move was covered by Swinburn, who promptly started to pull away from his rival.

Swinburn extended his advantage to the finish line, with Brown passing Whitfield after halfway. The margin of victory over Brown was 54 seconds, with Whitfield finishing in third place.

Another Morpeth Harrier, Phil Walker, was the leading veteran, finishing seventh.

Morpeth also won the team event. Chester-le-Street's Angela Hibbs easily won the women's race.

2008 winner Mary Ferrier, of Gateshead, finished second, with Bev Whitfield (wife of Matt) taking third place.

Tynedale's Lynne Marr was the leading veteran, while Gateshead won the team event.

RESULT (Distance 10.7km): 1 N Swinburn (Morp) 33:36; 2 M Brown (Morp) 34:30; 3 M Whitfield (Bing) 34:59; 4 N Shrubb (Morp) 35:02; 5 M Dawson (NSP) 35:32; 6 P Walker (Morp, M40) 36:16; 7 P Waterston (Morp, M40) 36:22; 8 J Prest (Traff) 37:16; 9 G Moore (NSP) 37:36; 10 J Donneky (Derw) 38:31; 11 R Floyd (Morp) 38:41; 12 P Duffy (unatt) 39:11; 13 G Dixon (Morp, M45) 39:20; 14 M Davies (Morp) 39:35; 15 C Walker (NSP, M40) 39:43 M45: 2 P Doxford (SSh) 41:59 M50: 1 P Grey (Aln) 40:42; 2 D Nicholson (Low F) 41:06; 3 G Owens (NFR) 42:53 M55: 1 A Jenkins (Morp) 43:38; 2 E Wilson (SSh) 43:51 M60: 1 M McNally (Els) 41:20 M65: 1 R Moore (Tyne) 50:50. Team: 1 Morpeth 7; 2 Morpeth B 24; 3 North Shields Poly 29. Women: 1 A Hibbs (CleS) 39:46; 2 M Ferrier (Gate) 41:00; 3 B Whitfield (Bing) 42:58; 4 C Baudouin (Gate, U20) 43:58; 5 J Clark (Morp) 46:09; 6 L Marr (Tyne, W45) 46:28; 7 R Chinnery (Tyne, W40) 46:38; 8 H Ross (unatt, W50) 46:45; 9 D Ford (unatt, W35) 47:29; 10 M Loraine (Gate, W50) 48:15; 11 M Muller (Morp, W35) 49:49; 12 M Moran (NE Vets, W40) 50:11. W55: 1 J Kilgour (Clare) 53:05. Team: 1 Gateshead 16.

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