AN impressive turnout of 37 Tynedale Harriers braved winds in excess of 50mph in Peterlee on Sunday.

They were among just over 1,000 competitors at the North East Harriers League fixture at Thornley Hall Farm.

A dozen runners represented Tynedale in the senior women’s race on a tough course.

Rachel Vincent made light work of her 2m 40s handicap from the medium pack, to be first across the line for Tynedale in 13th overall, earning herself promotion to the fast pack.

Kirstie Anderson (fast), Maria Armstrong (medium) and Karen Robertson (fast) all demonstrated their speed and skill on the hills and in the mud, to cross the line in 38th, 60th and 70th respectively.

Their combined scores earned the team fifth place, leaving the team in joint third in Division One, with only one fixture remaining.

Also running for the women’s team was Charlie Pinkney, Elizabeth Earle, Kim Bluck, Carol Marshall, Rhiannon Robinson, Louise Griffin, Gillian Bell and Kim Firstbrook.

Tynedale’s senior men were also well represented, with 10 runners. Jaycee Shotton took the honour of being first home for Tynedale, in 74th overall, with Steve Reynolds in 101st.

Ben Heathcote and Andy Green both overtook more than 300 runners as they dealt with their 5m handicap from the fast pack, to finish in 112th and 125th respectively. The final two scorers for Tynedale were Paul Hutchinson (182nd) and Lewis Balfour (226th).

Will Lloyd, Pete Watson, Bernard Kivlehan and Vincent Thornley completed the line-up. The team finished the day fifth in Division Three. Tynedale were also well-represented in the junior races. Nathaniel Henderson (U13 boys) ran from the fast pack to finish 10th in his race, with Zach Maurice in 22nd and Solomon Couchman (fast pack) in 35th. The team finished fourth.

Abigail Thornley (U13 girls) was 19th, Daisy McLintock 27th, and Poppy Watson 33rd (all fast pack), as the team finished ninth.

The U15 girls also fielded a full team. From the fast pack, Ciara Thornley and Kate Salthouse finished in 8th and 12th respectively, with Jess Sails the final counter in 23rd place, as the team finished fourth.

Charlie Daley was the only Tynedale Harrier in the U15 boys’ race, but he stormed through the field from the fast pack to finish in second place.

In the U17 boys’ race, Joe Green had a strong race and managed to hold off Dan Joyce who was chasing him down from the fast pack. They raced for the line to finish eighth and ninth respectively. In the U11 boys’ race, Jem Henderson ran superbly to finish third, with Owen Forbes not far behind in seventh, and Morgan Vincent in 42nd.