Club Record for Hodgy!
Danielle Hodgkinson yesterday broke her own Wallsend Harriers 10K club record by 2 seconds when she ran 35.35 for 14th place at the Great Manchester 10K. Also in the elite field was Stacey Rogers who finished 28th in 37.18, just 21 seconds outside her PB. 
It was great to see 2 Wallsend lasses competing at the sharp end of such a big race (and getting loads of TV attention in the process) and the girls did us proud!

Super Bri goes to Harrogate!
Veteran Club Champion Brian 'the machine' Hetherington took in the Harrogate Parkrun on Saturday while on a weekend family break (he's a machine, he runs wherever he goes!). Over a tough course that went across a field and muddy tracks, Brian
finished 2nd in a time of 17.27. Although slightly disappointed with his time, it was great way to warm up for the Clive Cookson 10K on Wednesday. Well done Brian!
 

Ross  Murray for the Olympics?  
Former Wallsend Harrier and son of our very own Bev Gosling, Ross Murray competed at the BMC Manchester Grand Prix on Saturday and not only did he come away showing some of the country's top middle distance runners a clean pair of heels, he also achieved the 2012 Olympic 'B' standard with 3.36.6! This is just 1.1 seconds below the A standard. 
Ross left Wallsend a few years ago to join Gateshead after it became obvious that his talent needed special nurturing and at the time we didn't have the facilities to be able to develop his potential. He still has strong links with the club though
and it was great to see him demonstrate the ability he has always promised. Congratulations to Ross and also to Bev, she must be very proud!
To see Ross's fantastic 3 and 3/4 lap race, go to http://www.athleticos.org/video/635670-1500m-A-mens

Check out the newest twitter addition to our website thanks to Statto Stace's progamming prowess! (just to the right of your screen for those not as observant!)  

.....And one of the latest tweets is from British Olympic hopeful Louise Hazel about our very own Danielle Hodgkinson! Go Dan!!

Tweet away Wallsend Harriers :-)

Following the exciting announcement of the reintroduction of the Summer Road Race Grand Prix you know what you need to do...get your trainers on and get your racing legs ready!! So to help you...what's on at the club this week?

Tuesday: Club training 6.30pm start at the college - whether you are running with Julie's, Kev's or Steve's group it doesn't matter as long as you go go go and give it your all!
Thursday: Club training 6.30pm start at the college
Friday: Track session Churchill playing fields 6.15pm start - all welcome and this will REALLY help you notch up those great finishes in the Summer Road Race Grand Prix races.

Have a great week green and gold gods and goddesses!!

We are pleased to announce to all our members that we have re-introduced the Summer Road Race Grand Prix after a 2 year absence. This exciting series is separate from the internal Summer Grand Prix and is based on how you run over 8 local road races of varied distances (organised by other clubs) during the Summer, but which are races you will normally run anyway. You enter each race as normal by adding your name to the list at the club. It is most likely that your overall score will be the total of your best 6 finishes from the 8 races andbonus points will be given for anyone completing all 8 events.....find out more......

Young Jack Armstrong goes from strength to strength and yesterday he stepped up another level at the Newcastle Parkrun. Running with his Dad Graeme, the 13 year old set off to try to break his course PB of 21.06 but as ever at the Town Moor conditions were blustery to say the least! However he whizzed around the course to finish in a superb 50th place out of 324 finishers in.....20.37!!! That's about 6.37 miling, not bad for a little whipper-snapper! Surely the next target is the magical 20 minute barrier which I'm sure he is capable of achieving soon.Well done Jack! 

Stacey Rogers continued her fine form with a victory at the Middlesborough 5K. After winning the Terry O'Gara Memorial 5k, getting the  second fastest time at the Gordon Smith Relays and coming second at last week's Sunderland 10K, Rogers wanted another test before she competes the Great Manchester 10K next weekend. In 'gusting gales' she was neck and neck with the host club's Carolyn Summersgill until the last kilometre where she powered away to win in a PB of 17.56, beating her previous best by 16 seconds. Anyone else in action this weekend in either the Childrens Cancer Run or the Ashington Tri (Becki!) - let us know how you got on and add your results into the comments section of this article! Spread the news and share the joy! :-) 

Sarah Fordham, in only her 2nd
SGP ran a fantastic 2 minute PB to win last night’s 2nd Summer Grand
Prix of 2012.
Fast-improving Sarah just could not be
caught as she led the 40 other runners around the 2 mile course in the Rising
Sun country park. All had to endure heavy rain as registration took place
and start times came round.

Martin Telford writes.....A solid turnout enabled the Wallsend/Blyth team to cement 2nd place. A position we held for most of the meeting. North Shields poly made a fist of hosting this the first match of the series of four and took a grip from the outset. Thanks to them as hosts and congratulations on talking the first meet. 

On a hilly course in Sunderland today there were yet more superb performances from all the Wallsend athletes. Winning the race was our very own Yared Hagos who continues to be on fine form however as well as Yared there were some head turning performances from our other athletes. After showing their support for the track & field team yesterday (thanks guys!) Chris Smith put in a belter of a performance dipping under the 36 minute mark to take 6th senior men's slot and Andy Graham not too far behind took the 9th senior mens position. In the women's race international athlete Aly Dixon took the victory but our very own Stacey Rogers, getting back to form, finished 2nd senior woman - well done Stace...one for the girls!! 

Well what a fantastic start to the T&F season from the combined Wallsend/Blyth team securing 2nd place behind North Shields Poly at Churchill playing fields yesterday. With competitor numbers down due to racing clashes, holidays and broken bones team manager Martin had a job on his hands ensuring he had as many events covered as possible. But never wanting to let the side down and in usual Wallsend/Blyth team spirit the troops pulled together and turned their hand to any event they could in order to score some vital points. And what an eventful day it was with some outstanding races in particular the 800/1500m and the men’s 4 x 100m relays. 

I know it is hard to believe but the planning for 'The Toby' 2012 has started already. Fancy a weekend of laughter, running, laughter, more running and even more laughter.....Then 'The Toby 2012' could be for you! The dates of this fantastic weekend of fundraising and fun are Friday 17th (leaving around 6pm) to Sunday 19th August and we will be running the 145 mile coast to coast route from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. 

This is a simply awesome weekend so come on guys get involved and either add your name to the list in the changing rooms or send us a message through 'contact us' letting us know YOU ARE IN!!! 

If you want more details before you take the plunge (you really won't regret it!!) then speak to Kevin or Vicky....alternatively click here to have a read about what we got up to last year!