Track & Field Heat 3 - Hexham

[Tue 6th Jul 2010]

Quote from Martin, Wallsend/Blyth combined team manager "I have never in all my years seen so many people encroaching onto the track to shout on one of their fellow competitors in a race. There must have been thirty of us and to cap it off, we had Eric Smart in lane 3 talking a photograph of Danielle Hodgekinson when she was only 20 metres away from him. I don`t know how we got away with it!  Danielle showed great strength  maintaining a metre gap between her and the Scarborough runner. For me that moment was the realisation of how much this team wanted to win". This quote shows how good the team spirit is between the joint Wallsend and Blyth competitors, in fact we did get a bit of a telling off from the track officials for over enthusiastic celebrations on the track while races were still in progress.

The highlights of the day were the Inspired victory by the mens 4 x 100m team of Craig Birch, Kalvin Hurst, Scott Povey and Eric Smart, who for the first time in 2 years beat the very strong Tynedale quartet, and the womens 4x 400m team, who were trailing for most of the race but clawed their way through to a superb victory.

Other wins on the day were, in the 'A' races, Dave Moir in the 3000 steeple chase, Ash Henderson a convincing winner of the 5000m (even after winning the Newcastle park run again the day before), Danielle Hodgekinson in the 1500m, Craig Birch doing the double in the 110m and 400m hurdles and Laura Murphy equal first in the High jump; and in the 'B' races, Kalvin Hurst in the 200m, Dan weatherill in the 1500m, Tony Carter convincingly in the 5000m, Phil Jones in the 400m hurdles and Stacey Robinson in the 1500m.

A string of 2nd placed performances by Scott Povey in the 400m 'A', Simon Gibbs (800m 'A'), Ken McPherson (1500m 'A'), , Rebecca Nail in the Long jump 'A', Sharon Richardson in the 'A' Hammer, Craig Birch 100m 'B', Ian Baxter in the `B` steeplechase, Emma Walton in the hammer 'B', Julie Hind ('B' discus) and Rebecca Nail in the 'B' high jump..

Let's not forget all of our team competitors on the day who all played their part in securing the match win, when the margin of victory is so close its obvious we can do without no one. On that note we can only thank everyone for their efforts and thanks also to the many supporters who helped make it a day to remember.

The final meet is at Monkton Stadium, Jarrow on the 31st of July and with the top two teams being promoted our fate lies in our own hands. If anyone is interested in taking part or even turning up on the day to support the team, please inform one of the club captains.

Match result

1 Wallsend / Blyth 401pts
2 Scarborough 390
3 Blaydon 343
4 Tynedale 285
5 Houghton 274
6 Richmond & Zetland 222.5
7 Middlesborough / Hartlepool 221.5

League Positions (after 3 matches)

1 Wallsend / Blyth 19pts
2 Scarborough 17
3 Middlesborough / Hartlepool 14
4 Houghton 10
5 Tynedale 10
6 Richmond & Zetland 7
7 Blaydon / Elswick 7

Full results can be found at http://www.noeaa-athletics.org.uk (opens in new window)

Read Wallsend’s report here Wallsend harriers