Sean Kelly sends in this report from The Farringdon Cross Country Relays
Tyne Bridge Harriers at Farringdon XC Relays
TBH Taking it to another Level
Traditionally, the introduction to the cross-country season, the Sunderland Harriers’ Relays is a useful ‘toe in the water’ after the lasses and lads have been pounding the tarmac. For many in our club it was a step into the unknown. For the virgins, it was a toe in the muddy water of cross-country. Those memories of bullying PE teachers (Brian Glover in ‘Kes’ springs to mind… yes I know that it was football but it’s the same sort of thing) making you burst your lungs on Wednesday afternoons… well this was a lot different, now you had Paul Hilton shouting at you!
A few of us began training from Paul Hilton’s house (almost exactly) a year ago, we could not have forecast putting out so many teams at this race months later… never mind dominating the proceedings so much.
Leodhais Macpherson – Silver Medal
Walking the course with Mike Norbury, I missed Leodhais MacPherson’s majestic run to the silver medal in the first event of the day, the Under 11′s Boys & Girls Race of 1,000 mtrs of the XC Course in a superb time of 4:32. However, he was still wearing his silver medal in The Cumberland Arms this evening. Leodhais had predicted a top five finish but his dad was skeptical, well, he did the club proud. A longer course would have suited Leodhais, a lad to watch. Meanwhile, Mike Norbury was biding his time to shock the rest of us…
The Senior and Veterans’ race set off with our much loved and respected, Marc Fenwick at the front. Kenny MacPherson was trying to match his son’s performance but he was well down on where he should have been after the initial sprint. Kenny opened his legs and showed his class though and brought the Vets home in 1st place. Marc was imperious and showed the North-East a glimpse of his immense talent, there’s more to come. He came in second in a time of 9:05
Captain Paul Hilton had bags under his eyes so big that you could have put your track-suit in them before your run. Despite this, he put in a FABULOUS performance and brought the vets home in second place. Dave Moir held onto second with a sprint finish worthy of Usain Bolt and handed across to me…
I was very worried (a good state to be in, lots of nervous energy) but managed to run a good 1.5 miles. I hit ‘the wall’ and my legs went bandy with quarter of a mile to go. My head was in a bad place, but my legs were worse. How could I be so tired after less than 2 miles? Well I was wrecked but the sight of the massed ranks of TBH on the top of the final hill kept my legs moving. I staggered across the line keeping second place. Mark Hall followed me, storming home in 10:01.
Marc Fenwick, Louis Goffe, Sparrow Morley, Tony Carter – Senior A Team – FIRST PLACE
Tony did what we asked of him, he brought the senior team home in 1st position. As I write this, he is celebrating in The Cumberland Arms. Well done young man.
Special mention must also go to the legend that is Jimmy Turnbull who has been amazing since joining Tyne Bridge Harriers.
This man literally ran his soul out for the club at the Relays or should that be ‘ran his sole out’. Within 400 mtrs of starting his leg of the relay, Jimmy’s ‘well worn’ spikes started to give way underfoot and basically fell to pieces. However, unlike the shoes, Jimmy is made of stronger stuff and also unlike the shoes, did not fall to pieces and continued the whole of the 1.8 miles with his shoes falling away from his feet with every step and leaving little bits of his footwear as a ‘trail’ for other runners to follow.
To cap all of that, & if the pain in his feet wasn’t enough, Jimmy then went straight on from the XC Meeting to watch his beloved Football team get defeated (deFEETED) 2-1 at home.. painful days indeed !! Jimmy T you are a hero and one of TBH’s most valued members.. so pleased you made the decision to join us. Well done fella !!
Jimmy Turnbull – Running his sole out for the club – AMAZING !!
The land that we were running on was owned (in the past) by Cuthbert Pepper, a rich landowner, who lived in Farringdon Hall. Our own Cuthbert (Mark Reynolds) ran the course in 11:31. However, our very much-appreciated Rob Kirtley ran him close in 11:32. COME ON ROB! A massive part of the collective is the man, Mr. Kirtley. Much thanks to Mrs. Kirtley too. Our tent was ‘massive’.
TBH Ladies: Emma Moir, Kerry Reed, Lisa Walker at Farringdon XC
For me the best part of the day was the performances of our women. WHY DO THEY RUN LAST? Emma Moir must be the slimmest o/40 in the business. She finished in the top 20, great run, followed by Kerry Reed and Lisa Walker. Watch this space, our women know no boundaries.
We have the 6 stage, Northern Relays in 2 weeks’ time. It will be a hard task to get into this team. Our new runner, Mike Norbury set his stall out today with a 10:01 performance. WOW, this really made us think about training harder and gave Captain Hilton a big headache for picking teams.
The main story from today is: WE HAVE COME FROM NOWHERE, WE ARE GOING TO THE TOP!
Once again our loyal supporters and club mates did not let us down and cheered our club on throughout the races. Thank you so much for your valuable support. It always means so much.
Tyne Bridge Harriers – U11′s 1,000 mtrs
Leodhais Macpherson – 04:32, Silver Medal
Tyne Bridge Harriers Senior A – 1st Place (38:32)
Marc Fenwick – 09:05
Louis Goffe – 10:02
Sparrow Morley – 10:04
Tony Carter – 09:21
Tyne Bridge Harriers Senior B – 4th Place (40:39)
Dave Appleby – 10:13
Mick Norbury – 10:01
Piers Watson – 10:24
Mark Hall – 10:01
Tyne Bridge Harriers Senior C – 14th Place (46:15)
Micky Baker – 11:53
Chris Thompson – 12:23
Dave Daniels – 10:32
Dale Wallace – 11:27
Tyne Bridge Harriers Veterans A – 2nd Place (40:33)
Kenny Macpherson – 09:43
Paul Hilton – 10:07
Dave Moir – 10:30
Sean Kelly – 10:13
Tyne Bridge Harriers Veterans B – 7th Place (45:20)
Daniel Birchall – 10:59
Mark Reynolds – 11:31
Rob Kirtley – 11:32
Derek Reed – 11:18
Tyne Bridge Harriers Veterans C – 11th Place (58:22)
Jimmy Turnbull – 15:10
Micky Duff – 15:51
Dave Anderson – 12:15
Steve Allerdyce – 15:06
Tyne Bridge Harriers – Senior Women – 1.8 miles
24 Emma Moir – 13.08
29 Kerry Reed – 13:46
31 Lisa Walker – 14:03
There were loads of positive comments about Tyne Bridge Harriers overheard around the course yesterday and to field 28 athletes..comprising 6 complete relay teams with every team being a counter!! 3 ladies and an under 11 competitor taking a silver medal in the warm up to the XC Season proves that we have the strength, depth, commitment & enthusiasm in the club to carry us further onward and upward & in excellent spirit.
See you all out in the field in the months ahead
Full results can be found HERE
13 comments
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Steve Alllerdyce
September 10, 2011 at 16:53 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Great performances by everyone today!!! a fantastic day for TBH
To quote a couple of my favourite sayings :-
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful – Albert Schweitzer.
To succeed, we must first believe that we can – Michael Korda.
doubled
September 10, 2011 at 17:48 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Well done to everyone who took part. And to the ‘newbies’, welcome to Cross Country running haha!!
Apples
September 10, 2011 at 18:54 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
What a day and what a fantastic set of performances from all who took part. It was amazing to see so many TBH teams out across the course, it seemed that there was one coming through every minute. Special congratulations to the Senior Mens and Vets A team putting TBH right up there in the spotlight.
Thanks to the supporters from all clubs across the course
Sean Kelly
September 10, 2011 at 22:18 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
The look on every face tells its own story. As for the younger members… Jake, follow your young sister’s example and look at the camera. Lovely photo. Everyone has had a great day. WHERE’S KENNY?
kenny mac
September 11, 2011 at 14:24 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
aye i think i may have been in the bushes lol, great day, success all round, more gladiators to come, big week ahead for the club, bring it on
Shades
September 11, 2011 at 15:22 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
great day for the club. I’m pleased I was there to be part of it see it all and hear it all.
More than well deserved 1st Team Place for TBH (to be honest) Seniors
C”MON TYNE BRIDGE
Paul Hilton
September 11, 2011 at 16:01 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I still cant believe what happened yesterday , I thought Tynedale last week was good but yesterday we took our club to another level.
For those TBHs out there that dont know ,there is always a write up in Evening Chronicle about the weekends local Athletics by Bill Mgkuirk. So check that out tomorrow.
Sean , excellent report again also good run by Rob Kirtley who matched his time from 2 years ago and thanks to Sue for the Canteen
Paddy
September 11, 2011 at 17:02 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Congratulations to each and everyone of you that ran yesterday. Absolutely tremendous running individually and more importantly as a team. Not much else I can say that hasn’t already been said. Get in!!
Brother Louis
September 11, 2011 at 18:47 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Brother Shades you’re a legend!! Great report and photos
Top performances all round and yet another fantastic addition from Yorkshire in Mick, it must be the water!
Shades
September 11, 2011 at 19:49 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I can’t take all the credit Brother.. Sean did the write up.. I added the bit about Jimmy T. and put in the pix which were taken by me and Sparrows parents… still a fantastic day
.. well done Brother L
david rowe
September 11, 2011 at 19:12 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I WISH I HAD STUCK IN AT SCHOOL AND GOT A MONDAY TO FRIDAY JOB, GUTTED I MISSED A GREAT DAY IN THE SHORT HISTORY OF TBH. WELL DONE TO EVERYBODY YOU DID YOURSELF AND OUR GREAT CLUB PROUD.
Deka
September 11, 2011 at 19:16 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
great report sean fantastic,superb,brilliant,efforts to all TBH runners in the first ever xcountry race our club has been put right up there allready really well done lads and lasses
Emma M
September 11, 2011 at 20:04 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Brilliant article Sean !! You’ve got a real talent for writing.
For the 1st time I am really looking forward to the XC season and Hope & Jake loved Sue’s flapjacks …
‘If you dream it you can acheive it
If you wish it you can become it”
Emma’s motto!