Jo sets the pace as fastest female runner in Druridge Bay parkrun

Jo smashed the fastest time of the year by a Harrier at 5k by clocking 18.47. Jo, who holds the course record at the event, posted the fastest time at the event for a female this year and also the fourth fastest time ever by a woman.

Other female Harriers ran well, with Jackie Prouse winning the female 45 category and Justine Norman securing a 5k pb just a week after a 10k pb at Bamburgh.

For the males, first to finish for the club was Junior Harrier Joseph Godden, who finished 24th in 22.01, just ahead of his dad Paul and then Graham Skirrow. Paul Robinson ran a personal best at the course.

In other events that morning, Richard Eastoe was first in the male 60 category at Workington, Derek and Eileen Guthrie both ran course-best times at Newbury and Nick Armstrong was the first Harrier to take part in the Rising Sun Parkrun at Wallsend.

The following day, five Harriers competed in the nine-mile Windy Gyle Fell Race. There were some excellent performances, most notably from Graham Simpson, who was second overall, just under a minute behind the winner and about two minutes quicker than a couple of years back.

Adam Fletcher was also in the top 10, finishing eighth, while Richard Johnson was 32nd. Steve Studley and Helen Dickinson also took part.

* A group of ten Harriers turned out for the club at the Newburn River Run last Wednesday.

This race is a generally flat, one which starts at Newburn Leisure Centre, before heading to Wylam, over a bridge and then back on the opposite bank of the Tyne to the finish. It’s officially a 6.5-mile race, though this year there was a slight detour in the last couple of miles meaning it came in at just over 6.6 miles.

First Harrier to finish, continuing his mightily impressive season, was Tim Falconer in 44.37. Next home in 66th of the 266 runners and three seconds quicker than in 2014 was Mark Doctor, while third Harrier was John Cuthbert.

For the women, first to complete was Denise Drummond, followed by a slightly injured Angie Embleton and then Laura McLean (Jr).

Results: 42-Tim Falconer 44.37; 66-Mark Doctor 46.54; 101-John Cuthbert 49.22; 130-Micky Aiston 51.21; 139-Denise Drummond 52.26; 146-Ian Atherton 53.02; 147-Angie Embleton 53.02; 173-Dave Coates 54.55; 179-Laura McLean 55.24; 239-Stuart Bruce 1.02.18.

Alnwick Harriers’ Grand Prix standings after Blaydon Race: Still at the top of the standings, though with a slightly reduced lead, is Tim Falconer. Tim produced a fine performance at Blaydon, although Paul Godden narrowed the gap and has shot up to second, overtaking Dominic Harris who is currently third.