Our endurance runners were well and truly back into the X-country season with a visit to Wrekenton for the first of 6 Harrier League fixtures.
Although we had heavy rain throughout the week leading up to the races the course held out really well, even though it is a testing course anyway without any mud. The Senior Ladies had a good turn out and the fields as expected were very large, the slow pack set off with Gillian Mansford always around the top 3 places throughout the race and ran very well to finish eventually 2nd position, despite being sent the wrong way in the closing stages. Gillian was well supported by Kim Simpson and Liz Porteous who battled through the field from the medium pack, while Jane Giles who is getting back to full fitness worked her way through the field from the fast pack to close the team who finished in 4th position, with great support from Danielle Pizzey, Rebecca Bennett, Phillipa Pattinson and Suzy Kelly, a solid start to the season.
The Senior Men followed on with more than 650 runners spread out within the 3 packs, Conrad Franks continuing his excellent form and working his way through from the fast pack to finish in 17th position and the 2nd fastest time of the day. With the field being so large our team counters had to work hard to make progress, but they battled on to enable the team to finish in 7th position. Jonny Malley and David Old came through from the medium pack and good to see Paul Waller and David Dawson counting for the team and with the ever reliable Steven Medd closing the team in from the fast pack. The team were well supported by Steven Wellings, Steven McCloy, Ian Logan and Michael Potter.
With the National Road Relays being held on the 6th October and the club represented, we need as may of our Senior Woman and Men to turn out at the 2nd Harrier League at Druridge Bay on the same day, so we can maintain/improve our league positions.
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