Hartlepool Burn Road Harrier Lamb’s PB in High Gosforth Park race

The race has had many famous winners over the years, Big Bren and Steve Cram

Mick had a triumphant run, finishing 28th overall in a hugely competitive field, he equalled his personal best time of 28 minutes and 25 seconds over the five mile distance.

An outstanding result which earned him a Vet45 prize.

For the past two years, Mick has ranked in the top 50 Vet45 runners in the country at the five mile distance.

Darren Rowbotham challenged himself to the Blyth Sands Race, which is five miles of beach running from Blyth to Seaton Sluice and back again.

Not one for the faint hearted as the weather and terrain conditions are unpredictable.

Darren had a great run over the challenging course, completing in 62nd place in 43:38.

The 109th North Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships took place on last weekend at Newcastle on a cold windswept Town Moor.

The 12k three lap course was not for the faint hearted, runners had to contend with very uneven ground, a long demanding gradual climb against the wind before hitting two hills the first of which was an absolute killer.

Add a few boggy bits just before the hills and you get the picture of what the two mile plus laps were like.

Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers had a strong team assembled on the start line among the massive field of 356 runners.

The best performance from the Hartlepool club came from the ever improving Simon Bennett who has really proved himself to be a natural off road runner this season.

He is now one of Burn Roads top runners, over this course he dug in deep on every lap and flew up and down the tough hilly section.

To get in the top 100 in this calibre of race is a great achievement and two more team mates managed that,

Paul Wilson and Vaughan Godber fought hard against top flight rivals and each other with Paul coming out on top this time.

Following on was Burn Road’s tenacious terrier Mick Lamb, once again he gave his all for the team.

Andy Minister the comeback kid was next showing his appetite for the sport having Mick in his sights.

The next Burn Road man who prefers a flat tarmac road to these muddy events was John Davis putting in a good display over the uneven ground to seal the last team place and bring the club home in a very respectable 10th team place among the cream of North East Athletic clubs.

Completing the Hartlepool contingent were O/50 veterans Karl Edwards, Dave Wallace and Peter Johnson who had to endure the cold rain that came over when they were at the most exposed part of the course, but all are battle hardened and continued on to the finish in fine style.

Results: Simon Bennett 51st (45.41), Paul Wilson 66th (46.29), Vaughan Godber 86th (47.39), Mick Lamb 117th (48.58), Andy Minister 125th (49.22), John Davis 146th (50.29), Karl Edwards 188th (53.28), Dave Wallace 311th (60.34), Peter Johnson 323rd (61.40).

In the under 13 girls race Hartlepool Burn Road Harrier Alex lamb ran for her other affiliated club Gateshead Harriers and helped the team to third place,

Alex had a great run and pointed out that their 3k race took on a more challenging boggy section with deep water than the Senior men’s course.