Marske Harrier and ex-Mail journalist Dominic Shaw wins Hartlepool Marina 5-mile road race

Dominic Shaw (centre, no 466) is one of the early front runnners at the start of the Hartlepool Marina 5 mile road race. Picture by KEVIN BRADY

The New Marske Harrier clocked a record (unofficial) time of 24 minutes, 24 seconds to triumph around the seaside route, finishing in front of the Wingfield Castle near Hartlepool Historic Quay.

It was a majestic performance from the Middlesbrough man to bring home the record 550-strong field, beating last year’s champion Greg Jayasuriya by more than a minute and a half.

The Middlesbrough & Cleveland runner was runner up in (an unofficial) 25-57, just in front of Quakers Running Club’s Mike Joyeux.

Shaw took charge of the annual event from around the mile-mark, opening up a commanding lead before sprinting down the finish straight in the sky blue vest of New Marske.

The former Hartlepool Mail reporter, now writing on Premier League-chasing Middlesbrough for the Evening Gazette, was thrilled with his victory.

“I was really pleased with that,” the 27-year-old told SportMail. “It was pretty slow early on but got faster as it went on.

“I’ve ran three races in four weeks and ran a PB in all of them, a 10K, 10 mile and now this.

“It’s the time of year as an athlete you want to be in some kind of form ahead of going on the track in a month or so.

“I’m happy with that. Greg has had a great year in cross country, he’s been flying over the mud.”

Shaw clinched a prize from sponsors, Pearts Fencing, for setting a new course record.

Darren Armstrong was the first runner in from host club Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers, finishing in 15th, just in front of team-mate, Simon Bennett.

Durham City’s Joasia Zakrzewski was the first female in a course record of 28-56 and New Marske’s Hassan Ben-Tiba was the first U20 finisher.

To complete a good day for New Marske, the East Cleveland club clinched the team prize.