A TEAM of nine athletes from the district excelled at the North-East Indoor Championships at Gateshead.

Nine members of Hexham-based Tynedale Harriers scooped a plethora of medals in various age categories, over two days at the weekend.

The field events took place on Saturday, and it was a memorable day for Prudhoe’s Louise Smith, who won gold in the U20 long jump.

Her distance of 5.35m broke the championship record which had stood since 2014.

Fellow Harrier, Ross Maxwell, won a gold medal in the M60 shot putt, while Ellis Leonard was second in the senior men’s long jump, his distance of 5.50m earning a silver medal.

Haydon Bridge High School pupil Ethan Hill took on the long jump at U20 level, and came fourth with a distance of 5.62m.

The track events took place on Sunday, when Chris Fenwick performed superbly in the 60m spring at M65 level, winning gold with a personal best time of 8.81s, which was enough to break a four-year championship record. Tynedale Harriers also had three silver medallists on Sunday. Lewis Davison, of Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School, was second in the 60m sprint at U15 level, with a personal best time of 7.80s.

Will Ainsley, of Hexham Middle School, was second in the 60m hurdles with a much improved personal best time of 10.60s. Prudhoe High School’s Kate Smith was second in the 60m hurdles at U17 level, with a time of 9.00s.

As the indoor season draws to a close, Kate Smith is preparing for an English national event in Sheffield, while Louise Smith, Ainsley, and Davison will compete at the forthcoming Scottish nationals in Glasgow.