Double agony for Morpeth Harriers

Posted by The Journal on Nov 5, 09 11:51 AM in Sport

For the second time in four weeks Morpeth Harriers were denied a podium place in a major event by a matter of a few metres.

A month ago in the Northern Six-Stage Road Relay Championships in Leeds, they finished in fourth place after being run out of a medal place with the finish line in sight.

And on Saturday, history repeated itself in the English Cross-Country Relay Championships in Berry Hill Park, Mansfield.

With around 600m to go as the fourth and final stage unfolded, it looked as though the Northumbrians would go one better than their third place of last year as Ian Hudspith edged into second place.

However, the toll of an aggressive run gradually told on the run to the line as first Scott Overall, of Blackheath and Bromley, edged past him and then the fast-finishing Tom Russell, who helped GB win the under-23 team gold medal at last year's European Cross-Country Championships, overtook Hudspith in the shadow of the finish gantry.

It was a bitter climax for Morpeth after things started off so brightly thanks to Nick McCormick, who set the tone for an exciting afternoon by handing over in third place at the end of the 5km opening salvo with a time of 14min 59secs, which was to prove the fifth-fastest of the day.

On leg two, Chris Sampson dropped back to seventh, but on the penultimate stage Jonny Taylor moved Morpeth back into third position before handing on to Hudspith for the final charge.

Last year's champions, Bedford and County, were well clear in first place with Derby in second 20m clear of Morpeth.

However, as it proved, the danger was from behind and though Hudspith quickly headed the Derby athlete he was then joined halfway round the course by Overall who had started the last leg in seventh place.

As the pair ran shoulder-to-shoulder, the chasing pack was gradually reeling them in and at the line less than 10 seconds separated the second to sixth team to finish.

It wasn't that Hudspith ran badly - only six athletes ran quicker than him on the last stage - it was just a case of the 39-year-old's legs failing to respond when the challenge came from men just over half his age.

It was extremely cruel on the Morpeth quartet, who were devastated to lose out when it looked so promising with just over a minute left on the clock and a Halloween treat to take back north.

However, it turned into a nightmare trick as the bronze awards were snatched out of their grasp.

New Marske continued the move into senior competition with an impressive final position of 11th.

Gateshead Harriers finished in 22nd place, with Chris Parr their quickest, while Sunderland closed in 29th place.

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