Club Championships 2010
Wallsend's very own Jimmy Olsen writes....
Walton , Hindson and Hetherington
No! not a reputable firm of gents’ outfitters from the 1950s…but the names of your worthy club champions, from the class of 2010. And what a championship it was.
THE MEN
With thirty-seven hardy green and gold merchants toeing the line, on the kind of evening which would have seen Emperor Hadrian heading for sunnier climes, a steady start was the order of the day. Along Appletree Gardens for the first time, a leading group emerged with Brain Hetherington, Sean Kelly, Simon Gibbs and the omnipresent Dave Moir operating with a degree of caution. Slowly but steadily, Gibbs and Kelly began to turn the screw, with Moir eventually choosing to plough a lone furrow (which eventually yielded a fine overall fourth for the world record mastermind). Club stalwart and pre-race favourite Dave Daniels had a night to forget and called it a day at halfway.
Into the second lap and as the pace dropped imperceptibly, the club’s forgotten man, Simon Gibbs, forgot the fact that he had trained less than a handful of times in the last month and grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck. With Sean Kelly by his side, the momentum gathered, a spectator remarked: “This looks like the duel next to Benfield School!” Nestled in behind however and ready to strike, was 46 year old manufacting manager, Hetherington. As the trio approached the Coast Road, Hetherington gradually stole a gap, which became ninety yards by West Street. Sean, lying in second, was now seventy yards to the good over the rejuvenated Gibbs.
The descent along West Street witnessed Kelly (recently turned 40) bearing down on Hetherington, with Gibbs attempting to claw back Sean. Up Rheydt Avenue for the final time and the lead was down to fifty metres, with Sean now closing in on Brain. With 100 metres to run, the victory was still in doubt; however, the Hadrian Park Hornet still retained enough fire-power in reserve and the challenge of the Birkenhead Bomber was finally quashed. Sean was magnanimous in defeat and along with Dave Daniels led the homage to the new king. For Simon “Lazarus” Gibbs, the night hopefully represented a seminal point in his fortunes and along with Kelly and Moir, they provided an evening to savour. So Gibbs in third place overall, was the first senior, but let us not even begin to plunge those murky depths.
At 46 Hetherington is the oldest winner of the championship, but paradoxically, his engine probably has the lowest mileage of any victor. Hetherington’s 34.54 sees him move to tenth fastest veteran of all time, behind the hallowed 32.24 (1986) performance of Terry O’Gara.
Barry Allsopp finished a magnificent fifth. His 37:19 clocking is thought to be the third fastest over 50 clocking in history, behind O’Gara (35.16 in 1994) and Anderson (36.31 in 2008). The Kings’ Estate Cruiser enjoyed a half minute advantage over an eye-catching performance by Dave Hindmarch. Derek Reid continued his recent comeback, with a solid run ahead of the talented Mark Black, who finished eighth. Kevin Payne could be well pleased with another sub-42 clocking, as could Neil Robinson and Ged Lee (fresh from out-kicking Joy Fenwick in Saturday’s track session). Twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth places witnessed the battle of the club’s war horses, with John Ross usurping Peter Joyce and Micky Todd respectively.
Dave Rowe could not quite match the dizzy heights of his North Tyneside 10k pb; whilst – compere without compare – Graham Armstrong (the 57th fastest senior of all time, with his 34.29 in 1983) re-familiarised himself with the event. Tony Maddocks and T.V. star Rob Kirkley, could be highly content with their endeavours. Similarly, club treasurer, Alex Richardson (28th fastest veteran of all time – from 1994) had another solid club championship, as did the evergreen Ian “Opportunity” Knox. Perhaps, the largest cheer of the evening however, was reserved for race secretary Ian MacDougall, who maintained his peerless finishing streak, which (amazingly) predates Margaret Thatcher’s Downing Street regime.
THE WOMEN
Whilst the men may have exchanged pleasantries during the first mile, there was no such ceremonial observation from their female counterparts. Form horses, Vicky Hindson and Emma Walton (with all due respect to equine lovers) were quickly to the fore. Vicky, fresh from her superb 40 minute clocking at North Tyneside 10k, seared through the first two miles, at an estimated sub six minute-mile pace.
Observers commented at halfway, that she would either have the run of her life or she would blow up horribly. In second place, NE veterans’ five mile champion, Walton, had her eyes fixed upon Lisa Walker’s fine (2006) 0/35 record of 21.39. Emma could certainly not rest on her laurels however, because directly behind her was gathered the most competitive group of the evening, all with their designs on a medal. As the main protagonists approached Crosslings, club standard-bearer Kevin Payne, could have thrown our new flag over: Elaine Lui, Catherine Willis, Laura Murphy, Amy Turner, Penny Sinclair and Chrystal Skeldon; were, of course, the item not such a precious artefact.
Up front, Vicky chose to execute the performance of her career to date, to break the record held by former NE 10mile bronze medallist Lisa Walker. Close behind, Walton, proud purveyor of petits-pain, pastries and pasties, narrowly failed to break the veterans’ record, although she did have the consolation of finishing first over-35. Elaine Lui won the battle for bronze and announced her entry into the sharp end of club athletics. Two of the club’s most talented athletes, Catherine Willis and Laura Murphy, occupied fourth and fifth places respectively; ahead of highly encouraging runs from –former great –Amy Turner and Club Member of the Year, Penny Sinclair. In eighth place overall, Chrystal Skeldon lifted the o/40 title, whilst –next to finish –Kerry Bentham (fourth counter at North Tyneside 10k) could be pleased with her performance. The remaining finishers: Caroline Hasson, Emma Osbourne (who warmed up for the race by overseeing an 8 day school skiing trip), Joanne Holmes, Sarah Cawthorne and Stacey Davidson, all finished in close proximity.
Indeed, post-race analysis shows that our women should not solely celebrate Vicky’s heroics. A mere 51seconds separated Chrystal in eighth place, from the bronze medal; whilst an impressive fourteen athletes managed to break twenty-eight minutes for the course. (Bill Todd will be doing cartwheels!)
THE YOUNG ATHLETES
After a sabbatical of many years, all-round good eggs Dave Anderson (fourth fastest veteran of all-time) and Baz Allsopp (seventeenth fastest veteran of all-time) killed the proverbial fatted calf and brought back our prodigal sons. . . . .In other words, we staged a junior club championship.
A fierce battle ensued, with Jack Armstrong stylishly winning a mighty under 11 contest, just ahead of the equally impressive Leodhais McPherson. Kevin’s flag would have could in handy once again for the under 13s race, as Oliver Ellis enjoyed a narrow victory over Cameron Spencer and Adam Hill, in what was the most competitive event of the day. The under 15s event witnessed a popular victory for Ryan Hall, who –with his enthusiastic, gutsy attitude –could prove a decent early bet for the much coveted Club Member of the Year award. Keiron Drape push Ryan all the way to the line, with Braeden Ellis picking up a well-earned bronze.
Congratulations to all athletes and many thanks are extended to all spectators, marshals and officials. As Mariah Carey sang: “We can’t live . . . . . if living is without you!”
As the curtain closed on another year, I thought I could hear faint murmurings from a young girl’s ipod. The song appeared to be the High School Musical classic, “We’re all in this together”: a fitting epitaph, to a memorable evening.
Steve O’Gara
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