Gordon Smith Relays.

Wednesday night the 10th May saw 2 teams of Harriers contest the Wallsend Gordon Smith relays at the new venue of West Allotment Country Park near to the Silverlink. On a fast, flat 2 mile, traffic free course within the park the Harriers team of Michael Thompson, Andy Powell, and Ian Richie set out to defend the title we won last year. The Ladies team of Nikki Woodward, Vicky Younger and Alice Smith making a debut at the event, were hoping for a top 10 finish. Michael (10.28) and Nikki (12.28) led the teams off and set a solid foundation for the second leg runners of Andy (9.50} and Vicky (12.29) to follow, both improving the positions of the teams. The last leg, as usual was fast and furious with Royal Blues Ian (10.21) and Alice (11.48) coming through the field to finish 2nd and fifth respectively, an excellent all round performance by both sets of athletes. The night started well with club captain Colleen Compson’s daughter 12-year-old Evie finishing an excellent 2nd in the junior 1 mile run in a time of 7.48 and Andy Powell’s daughter, 9 year old Emily, running for Houghton, beat a lot of older and bigger juniors to finish 6th in 8.46. Both girls encouraged by the spectators produced excellent sprint finishes, well done!!