NE Harrier League – Cramlington 27/10/12
Report by Bill Milbourne
Start Fitness Harrier League
Event 1 Cramlington
After a few days of heavy rain the going was a bit soft in places. It was no better on Saturday morning which started off with ominous grey clouds after overnight snow. The gods were not unreasonable on the day. When the Claremont Team assembled the sky was lightening and the weather was almost pleasant when we got to Cramlington
At the course, everything was very wet. Water oozed out of the ground where we walked. The junior races had already churned up the mud when the senior men started. There was no point in searching for firmer ground on the course. There wasn’t any. At least that was one complicated decision out of the way so it was just a case of taking the shortest route, trying to avoid the really slimy bits on the corners and avoid stray shoes that had come off in the sticky bits.
The mens team were a bit under strength with Sumanth doing something strange involving cows on the Town Moor and Matthew going to a wedding. Brendan was in good form from the medium pack backed up by a strong performance from Cross- country virgin Luke Bryant so we start the season out of the Division 2 relegation zone in 7th place, a good result under the circumstances considering that I was 6th counter
Brendan McMillan 26th 38:00
Luke Bryant 188 41:51
Alasdair Wilson Craw 253 43:53
Dave Beaney 300 45:45
Graham Leslie 335 46:26
Bill Milbourne 396 50:37
Dave Wotton 397 50:39
Dave Kear 407 52:02
The Ladies team fared much better with a strong squad finishing close together. It was a baptism of fire for recent recruit Debbie in her first outing in a shiny new sky-blue vest. By the time she finished, the course looked like the Somme. Tyne Bridge are still looking for some of their squad.
Claremont Ladies start the season in 5th place in Division 1
Tracey Etherington 31 31:04
Mandy Herworth 42 31:38
Sarah Bowen 51 31:54
Kate Sergeant 56 32:25
Debbie McCrory 160 39:32
