Girls cause a stir as Tynedale make mark in season opener

In a field of 65 runners, 13 were wearing the black vest in the age group as they claimed second spot at the new venue of Tanfield, in County Durham.

They finished runners-up overall last season and have carried over their form with Bethan Nitsch and Jasmine Couchman, both from the slow pack, and Ellen Ricketts, from the fast, finishing 15th, 16th and 18th respectively.

With Olivia Milburn in seventh, Lucy Thorpe 13th and Olivia Stewart 28th from the fast pack, Tynedale U13 girls claimed a very creditable fifth place with Olivia gaining promotion to the fast pack in the process.

Also putting in good runs, Roisin Lally and Victoria Marshall made up the team.

Now that most of the representatives have been promoted to the fast pack following last season‘s title, the U15 boys’ team have a tough battle to retain their trophy.

Keen to keep the momentum going, Alex Wood was first counter with 15th position followed by Cameron Grey in 29th and Angus Thomson in 33rd as Tynedale finished in seventh.

The U13 boys‘ team could only field a small team, all from the slow pack, with Harry Coldwell first finisher for Tynedale in 38th place. Next up was Archie Marston (44th) and Tom Barrett (58th) with Hal Hodkinson the final member of the team.

Unable to field teams in the U17/U20 girls‘ as well as the U17 boys’ categories, things are looking promising this year as both finished third at Tanfield.

For the girls, Hannah Pinkney had a storming run from the fast pack to finish first counter in 11th place. Ellie Bluck (16th) and Rosie Dawson (23rd) were the other two counters, with Anna Channon and Ellie Barr completing the team.

In the U17 boys’ race, Christopher Jackson was first Tynedale finisher and earned himself promotion to the fast pack after finishing in ninth place.

Robbie Langford (12th) and Jake Duffy (24th) were the other counters for the team, which was completed by Jaycee Shotton, who was running from the fast pack.

Tynedale were well represented at U11 level with Nathaniel Henderson (15th) fastest boy and Hannah Skinner (25th) quickest girl. Rebecca Green, Harry Courtney, Blake English and Ciaran Lally all ran too.

Having fell back to the slow pack last season, the fastest three senior women for Tynedale have won promotion back to the medium category at the first time of asking.

In a field of almost 400 runners, Lucy Courtney just pipped teammate Charlie Pinkney into 14th spot with a sprint finish. Leanne Hayter was next to cross in 33rd, with Karen Robertson, from the fast pack, in 54th as she overtook Kim Bluck in the final few metres with the team finishing in fifth place.

Marking a return after a few years out, Phil Vincent gained promotion to the medium pack with a very useful 16th from a field of almost 600 senior men. Supervet Peter Hearn claimed 81st place, closely followed by the consistent Paul Hutchinson for 104th. Adam Pratt, from the fast pack, recorded the fastest Tynedale time.

Battle of the day was a tight sprint finish between Mike Broadhurst and Ian Brown, in 151st and 152nd place, for the last two scoring places in the team. Team captain Andy Green joined in the dash for the line but was unable to improve on his 153rd placing.

The Harriers will be next in action in the Sherman Cup/Davison Shield at Temple Park, South Shields, a week on Saturday.

The club has enjoyed great success throughout, six members of Tynedale Harriers among the highest awarded points in this year’s North East Grand Prix awards.

Bryn Mordey was the highest placed junior male and he was joined in the top 10 by teammate Bradley Towart, who was sixth. Meanwhile, Bradley’s father Darren finished in third place in the senior male (vet35) class.

Also making a big impression was Louise Smith who was second U15 girl, Alex Wood was fourth U15 boy and Kate Smith was fourth in the U13 girls’ category.

They received their trophies from Steve Cram at an awards ceremony held at Gateshead International Stadium on Monday..