To spike or not to spike? It was cool but dry at Aykley Heads this season. A far cry from 
last year’s delightful mud-fest. Some people depend on the squelch, others excel in all conditions. And our Andy Graham is certainly the latter, clinching a top five finish (38.20) in an impressive line-up of senior men and on one of the more grueling courses of the North East Harrier League x-country season.
A fantastic turnout on Tuesday night saw 40 athletes take on the 5km route around Cobalt for the first Winter Grand Prix of 2017/18.
Josh Oates took top spot, running a great 20.53 to take maximum points and the series lead. Kate Weatherill held on for seconnd place with Paul Hetherington in third.
An excellent run from Chris Smith set a new course record of15:44, just ahead of Samuel Charlton who posts the second fastest time of an incredible 15:48. Well done guys! Emily James recorded the fastest female with 22:06, just ahead of Eira Hegarty’s 22:16.
Results so far are here.
Thank you kindly to Bill Todd, and Mish Margison for officiating. And to Simon Williams, Donna Thompson and Anna French for marshalling.
Next race in the series is the XC at Temple Park on 28th October, with the next WGP on 7th November. See you there.
Gary
There was a fantastic turnout tonight at the Club Championships with a total of 63 juniors and seniors representing the Green and Golds! It was a great atmosphere and a wonderful sight to see all the green and gold vests flying down the streets of Wallsend.
Read on for full results.
As the summer begins to fade there is one thing we can look forward to on the autumnal horizon, oh yes, it’s x-country season people! And on Saturday 2nd September we had Farringdon relays to wet our appetite.
It might have been warm and dry but the course did not disappoint with a muckle stream to wade/leap/jump across and hills galore.
I’m not sure why more Wallsend Harriers don’t do this race. Perhaps it’s the end of the summer holidays and people are still away. But if you’re about I’d strongly recommend it for next year. Ok it’s not on Power of 10 but it’s FREE and it’s only up the road and it’s our friends and team mates at Blyth, and it’s a gorgeous route, and it’s a great training run ahead of the GNR. Do you need any more reasons? Oh, and there’s a free buffet at the end!