TRY ON THE TYNE 5K

Sunderland Harrier Craig Gunn celebrated his first road race win with victory on the Newcastle quayside on Saturday.

He was competing in the Events of the North Try on the Tyne 5k and he won (16.33) the inaugural event by a street.

He was so far ahead of his nearest competitor that he eased off the throttle to save himself for the tougher Gateshead 5k on Wednesday.

Try On The Tyne 5k.

He said: “It wasn’t an easy course and I was not going to get a PB, so I took it steady from about halfway to save myself for Wednesday.

“I have won a fell race before but this is my first win on the roads. I will be more thrilled if I manage to beat my PB on Wednesday, in what will be a class 5k.”

With the field not being as strong as most North East 5ks, this gave two more Sunderland Harriers an opportunity to a share of the limelight.

Steve Gordon at the age of 47 was delighted to finish second (18.13) and Over-50 Darren Dodd recorded a PB of 18.32 for fourth place.

In third place was 13-year-old Gosforth Harrier Silas Christie in18.18.

The women’s winner was Tyne Bridge Harrier Kathryn Stevenson (18.47).

 The Darlington 10k yesterday saw New Marske Harrier Dominic Shaw break his own course record and lift the first prize of £600 plus an added bonus of £150 for his record breaking performance.

But he did not have things all his own way, as Altrincham’s Mohammad Abu-Rezeq set off like a train and opened a 50m gap at halfway only for Shaw to reel him in and finish in 29.56 to slice  six seconds off  his previous course best.

Abu-Rezeq clocked 30.42 in second and Lewis Gamble-Thompson, Shaw’s clubmate was  third (32.12).

Sunderland Harrier Over-40 Kevin Jeffress won his category in finishing seventh (32.55) and he was followed by clubmate Michael Barker in 17th (34.40), Over-45 Paul Blakey 31st (36.05), Over-55 Paul Redman 59th (37.34), and Over-45 Darren Stoker 68th ( 38.24).

Sunderland Strollers who had 40 runners finish the race, saw John Cook in 27th (35.36), Andrew Forbes 36th (36.15), Chris Dwyer 37th (36.18) and Luke McCormack 46th (37.11).

The women’s race was won by Birtley’s Tracy Millmore (36.45) who beat Low Fell’s prolific racer Hannah Wood (37.43.

 Sunderland Harrier Jenna Wilkinson beat the 40 minutes mark for the first time in recording 39.43 for fifth place. Stroller Wendy Chapman was first Over-50 in seventh with 40.24