Wind takes its toll in Thirsk 10-mile Road Race

Windy conditions slowed runners and the winning time of Cheltenham’s Graham Rush (50min 36sec) was way outside Morpeth’s Johnny Taylor’s course record of 48.32.

Rush was closely followed by Ethiopian Wondye Indelbu (Leeds) 50.48 and New Marske’s Mark Shaw was third (51.54).

Sunderland Harrier Kevin Jeffress finished 11th place (55.53), well outside his best of 54.11, and clubmate Michael Barker was 14th (56.24).

Over-50 Paul Redman finished 55th (62.01) and Jimmy Johnson recorded 68.46.

Sunderland Strollers were well represented, with Andrew Forbes in 29th (59.17), Chris Dwyer 67th (62.45), Michael Dixon 122nd (67.11) and Gary Hargrave clocked 68.45.

Sunderland Harriers had two women making their debut over the distance.

Alice Smith finished sixth (65.33) and Over-40 Colleen Compson acquitted herself well to clock 70.33. Sunderland Stroller Lyne Valentine was first Over-60 in 75.38.

Three Sunderland Harriers’ travelled to Liverpool on Saturday for the British Masters’ Cross Country Championships.

Paul Merrison, many times an individual medallist through the age categories, this time had to be satisfied by seventh place in the Over-55 category.

Tim Field finished 40th (29.20) and seventh Over-50 and four places and 10 seconds ahead of Merrison in 44th (29.30). Peter Richardson was 14th Over-60 in 106th (36.49). The team finished fifth in the Over-45 category.

Former Sunderland Harrier Roger Wilson, now competing for Stratford-upon-Avon, was first Over-75.

The North East had two winners, in Terry Scott (Tyne Bridge), with first place in the Over-45 category, and Darlington’s Ian Barnes, who was first Over-80.

Houghton Harrier Alex Brown and Chester-le-Street’s Emily Chong produced impressive performances in the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Norwich on Saturday.

Brown was 25th in the Senior Boys’ race and Chong finished 24th in the Junior Girls’ event at the County Show Ground.

Also in fine form were Tynedale’s Daniel Joyce and Darlington’s India Pentland.

The Durham results were: Junior Boys’ 20th team place with Daniel Joyce 22nd, Peter Cook 92nd, Samuel Gibson 92nd, David Race 159th, James Roberts 225th and Thomas Wraith 249th.

Inter Boys’ 34th with Ryan Watson 110th, Jamie Reed 130th, Max Harris 170th, Cameron Thomas 230th, Matthew Phillips 237th and James Martin 296th.

Senior Boys’ 22nd with Alex Brown 25th, Cameron Allen 89th, Joseph Grehan-Bradley 128th, Luke Pickering 131st, Ben Lambert 207th and Sean Mackie 242nd.

Junior Girls’ 24th with Emily Chong 25th, Tess Graham 106th, Rebecca Wren 118th, Lydia James 146th, Scarlett Newby 188th and Cecilia Reid 225th.

Inter Girls’ 26th with India Pentland 26th, Catherine Roberts 66th, Jessica Leslie 143rd, Eva Hardie 193rd, Sophie Robson 249th and Stella Jones 251st.

Senior Girls’ 35th with Kezia Dowsett 143rd, Laura Kirkham 188th, Amelia Leslie 223rd, Sarah Lipscombe 243rd, Charlotte Kenyon 255th and Molly Fullford 280th.