The sun shone brightly on the first Harrier League Cross Country on Saturday when 30 Black and Ambers started the winter season off. U/11 Boy Tom Wallace started the show off. 5 little lads James Leath, Sam Gill, Alex Wallace, Tom McDarby and Aaron Edwards all made their debuts for Blaydon in the U/13s. They were all at the lowest age group of this section so hopefully many more races to come... Likewise in U/13 girls. Cecilia Reid, Fran Recchia and Emma Burnett were also a very young team. Cecilia finished 3rd and will move up into the fast pack. Fran and Emma finishing close behind. We finished 2nd in the team race, beaten by 1 point by Birtley. In the U/15 Boys, Luke Shears, Daniel Buffham and Tom Rutherford are now veterans of the Harrier League, all running from the fast pack. Emily Walters and Brenna Orr were our only competitors in the U/15 Girls, both in this section for the first time. A superb quartet of Beth Fraser, Emily Gill, Innes Orr and Rachel Curry were our U/17 women’s team and Jack Bowden our only U/17 man finishing a very creditable 10th.
With most of the senior women away at Chester, Jo Edwards and Elaine Rudman (making her debut in the competition) were our only competitors. Nine men ran yesterday, led home appropriately by coach Dan Flint closely followed by Jonathon Stephens, running from the medium pack, and Alan Armstrong. Dan and Alan will be moving up to the medium pack, Jonathan to the fast pack. 4th home was Lee Hutton followed by sprint coach Simon Evans, 6th counter was Eric Lewis. Also in the team was our former club chairman, Stew Beryl, Gavin Burn and John Kain. We started the season off well coming second in the team competition and with many more athletes to come in, better times are sure to come. Well done everyone a very good start to the season. P.S. Kids, check out the photos of coach Simon. That’s the way to run up a hill!!!