Great conditions saw Ponteland Runners with their best attendance at the Harrier League, and best results thanks to the ladies,  since we started.

The ladies needed 3 for the team result and we had 6 runners with Joanne, Claire and Eva providing results for the team  who finished 2nd in the division.  An excellent result for Ponteland.

For the men we had 7 runners, with the first 6 counting for the team result.

Looks like the Harrier League is proving popular this winter with Ponteland fielding more participants in the first race than we did at any of the events last year.  A big thanks to Team Captains Joanne and Jon for organisation, and all the runners are grateful for the refreshments that were kindly provided by some.

Lets see how Ponteland can do over the remaining races of the league.

7 Ponteland Runners enjoyed an early season run out in fantastic sunny conditions at Tanfield near Sunniside this afternoon (28th September). Results for the ladies were as follows (184 runners):
Eva Lowther 7th 25 mins :25
Joanne Brown 19th 26 mins :48
Jo Shallcross 52nd 28 mins :56
All 3 women ran really well and will hopefully be the core of a very strong Ponteland women’s team this season. Well done to Eva for such a strong showing against some of the North East’s best runners. Joanne’s first cross country race went well and suggests it will be not long before she moves into the medium pack with Eva. Welcome to the club to Jo Shallcross and a great first run in our club colours.
The men’s results are as follows (324 runners):
Jason Old 106th 38:44
David Stroud 115th 39:03
Jon Parkin 252nd 45:44
Paul Holborow 263rd 46:25
It was a great performance from Jason and David in their first race and both finished really high up the field in a scratch race with no slow/medium/fast pack. Well done to Paul for his performance in his first cross country and as I tailed him for most of the race I can vouch for how well he climbs hills!!!
Hopefully the ladies who seemed to be taking pictures galore with their phones can post some pictures that will hopefully entice a few more of us to turn out on the 26th October for the first race of the league season at Blaydon.
Jon.

In the end only three Pont. Runners did this 10 miler from Hexham to Ovingham but they were rewarded with fast times and helpful conditions. Although running for Elswick (inferior tent, no flag to speak of) Mark Turnbull broke the one hour mark for the distance for the first time when finishing 39th. David Buffham broke his distance PB by two and a half minutes in 1.14.04 and – unknown to him – was very closely followed home by Sarah Huntley in 1.14.04. Very well organised by Tynedale Harriers, a great warm up for the GNR and jelly as well. Put it in your diaries for next year. Club Championship update to follow. David

Ponteland Runners had 2 teams in the Weetslade relay hosted by Claremont Road Runners.   This event requires a lady and a vet within each team of 3.  Ponteland A finished 20th out of 64 teams,  an excellent result.  With our B team ( all vets ) coming in 48th.  A big thanks go to Claremont who ran a great event,  even managing to hand out results at the end of the race.  Full results are available from Claremont’s website here.

Last year the race had 40 teams taking part,  this year that increased to 64 so this race is well supported by local clubs.  Maybe next year Ponteland Runners will be able to enter 3 teams, if we can tempt enough ladies to take part…….  Well done to both our teams this year.

A warm clear night provided the perfect backdrop for the Newburn River run this year.  Ponteland Runners had 8 runners in the race, (plus a few second claim members) including regulars from Monday and Thursday club sessions so a great opportunity for some from the club to meet each other.

Jon Parkin & Mark Lyon came in with very close performances for the Men,  followed by Joanne Brown (Right) and Eva Lowther for the ladies.  We also had good performances from  David Buffham,  Paul Holborow ( First race as a Ponteland Runner ), Sue Heppell, Fiona Harker and Nikki Morrow ( Photos below ) from the Thursday morning sessions. Great to see a good turnout from Ponteland at a race which continues to prove popular.  Again our thanks go to Elswick Harriers for running an excellent race.   Next is the Weetslade relay next Wednesday with Ponteland having 2 teams entered as we did last year.

Sunday 9th June,  as always, is the Blaydon Race.  2013 saw 18 Ponteland Runners enjoying some warm weather and running this traditional Race.  For the ladies, Joanne Brown came in first with an excellent 37.49, Claire Tumia came in second with 40.49 and in third place came Chrys Hudson in 44.11.

The Ponteland Runners men were led in by Mark Lyon in 36.18 followed by Jon Parkin at 37.36 and third across the line was Joe Bell in 40.09.  Everyone enjoyed the race and were pleased that the weather wasn’t a repeat of last years downpour. In fact it was a complete opposite with the sun breaking through the clouds at 2pm in time for us gathering at the start. It was hot, very hot !

Our thanks go to Blaydon Harriers for a well organised day, as always, and everyone is looking forward to next year.