Records and PB’s Galore at Blyth !
Emma Walton posts this report on the day that Wallsend's women notched their third team victory, following success at the Elswick Relays and the North Tyneside Road Race.
On Sunday a troop of Wallsend runners and their loyal supporters made their way up the coast to the annual Blyth 10k. This race is a firm favourite with club members and forms part of the ‘Open Race GP’ for the summer 2010 season as well as being the VAANEE 10k Road Championships.
Now before I start this article I need to clear the air. As I was growing up my parents tried to teach me two important lessons in life:
1. Watch what you say and who you upset as invariably things always come back and bite you in the bum
2. Be gracious and magnanimous in defeat
Therefore I would like to congratulate Mr O’Gara (Senior) for well and truly beating me in the last 2 races and apologise for my youthful (yes I am very young compared to TOG) exuberance that flowed forth in my Hartlepool post-race article….I know fully understand that I need to respect the pedigree of the TOGmeister!
Anyway back to the Blyth 10k and what a race for the club…once again a particularly fantastic race for the womens section coupled by some great male performances. A total of sixteen Wallsend runners made the trip to Blyth to run this flat fast course – and conditions couldn’t have been better.
There was an impressive turnout of female runners from the region and so in the Womens race the competition was fierce. However we had our own secret weapon in the form of Danielle Hodginkson who arguably had the run of the day. Danielle pulled an exceptional performance out of the bag and missed out on first place by the narrowest of margins coming in second place in a time of 36.04, which was not only a PB but a new Wallsend Harriers womens club record.
Next for the women came in Vicky who has been running exceptionally well lately and was in a determined frame of mind to try and capture those elusive three seconds which would take her under the 40 minute mark for her 10k. Vicky not only found those three seconds but managed to find another twenty-two and set another fantastic PB to come in 11th position in a time of 39.38.
Next in was myself….(yes I was behind Terry….!) and I had also managed to secure a PB finishing in a time of 42.16. At this stage we had managed to win the Womens team prize which was an added bonus to the trio of PB’s. However the excellent womens performances did not end there….next was Penny who is in the form of her life following her slow recovery from her broken leg and she again secured a PB in a time of 44.40…next was the infamous Julie who again had a brilliant run knocking over two minutes off her best time…another PB in a time of 52.12 and last but by no means least Kate who posted yet another PB in a time of 54.23…Well done to all !!!
The good news by no means ended there…lets discuss the men…Dan Weatherill put in a blistering performance and smashed his previous 10k time to achieve a new PB in a time of 36.37. Dan was followed by a Wallsend ‘virgin’…Kirk Dodds who was racing for the first time in a Wallsend vest and who ran a highly impressive time of 38.36…I am sure there is more to come from Kirk in the following months.
Next was the old dog himself…never underestimate his pedigree and he did in fact have probably one of his best races of the year and this possibly could be up there as one of the best runs of the day….too many choose from. Terry finished in a time of 41.09 which at the age of 68 places him fourth in the UK rankings for his age!! Well done Terry. There then followed a gaggle of fine young running men who all came in in relatively quick succession – ably led home by the lovable Kevin Payne followed by the equally lovable quartet of Ged Lee, Ron Murray, John Ross and Rob Kirtley. Next followed an injured (and once again lovable!) Micky Baker who still managed to complete the course in a respectable time of 44.42 (a time which helped him pick up the silver medal in his age category for the VAANE championships). Micky was followed by the omnipresent and ever improving (and indeed lovable…I’ve started this so I am going to have to finish it..) Tony Maddocks who again had a great run. Finally bringing up the rear of the troops in fine fashion was Mick Stringfellow (who again is indeed lovable).
All in all a fabulous day for the Wallsend athletes and thank you to the supporters who appeared around the course to give that ever important encouragement…so a huge thanks to SOG, Donna, Simon, Lisa, Dave (and his dog!), Bill Todd, Brian and Sean (sorry if I have missed anyone out there!!!)
Final results
Danielle Hodgkinson 36.04 PB (new club record) 2nd Woman
Dan Weatherill 36.37 PB
Kirk Dodds 38.36 PB
Vicky Hindson 39.38 PB
Terry O’Gara 41.09 Fourth UK ranked, 1st M65, Gold VAANE
Emma Walton 42.16 PB, 3rd F35, Silver VAANE
Kevin Payne 42.46
Ged Lee 43.05
Ron Murray 43.10
John Ross 43.58
Rob Kirtley 44.19
Penny Sinclair 44.40 PB
Micky Baker 44.42 Silver VAANE
Tony Maddocks 46.47
Julie Hind 52.12 PB
Kate Duffy 54.23 PB
Mick Stringfellow 56.17
(Apologies if I have missed off any PB’s!)
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