Northern Athletics 12-Stage Road Relays
Silksworth Sports Centre, Sunderland on Saturday, 2nd April 2016
4 long legs and 8 short legs:
Despite running for over 2 hours and 45 minutes, the top 5 finishing clubs were the only ones to occupy these positions during the entire event.
Lincoln Wellington led for the first 5 legs and ended up finishing a very credible 4th, just ahead of Sale Harriers, Manchester. Morpeth Harriers on the last long leg (leg 7) moved into 3rd place, thanks to Peter Newton’s fastest long leg of the day in 18.57. They remained in 3rd place for the remainder of the event.
That just left Leeds City and the resurgent Salford Harriers to battle out the top 2 places. Leeds hit the front at the conclusion of leg 7, and then remained in 2nd place for the remaining legs. Salford, in the shape of Max McNeill, overtook Leeds on leg 8 and they hung onto 1st place for the remainder of the race, much to their supporters’ delight! It has been at least 14 years since Salford last won this event, although the progress could be seen last year when they were 3rd.
Results:
1st: Salford Harriers 2.46.39
2nd: Leeds City 2.47.36
3rd Morpeth Harriers 2.47.39
4th Lincoln Wellington 2.49.25, 5th Sale Harriers 2.50.29, 6th Gateshead Harriers 2.51.39
Fastest Short Legs: 1st James Bowness, Trafford, in 10.09; 2nd Russ Murray, Gateshead, in 10.10
Fastest Long Legs: 1st Peter Newton, Morpeth, in 18.57; 2nd Carl Hardman, Salford, in 19.23
The top 30 clubs of 25 ‘A’ teams and 5 ‘B’ teams have all been invited to the National 12-Stage Championships on Saturday, 16th April 2016. Results
Report Ken Smith
Photos Eileen Ingham
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- Peter Newton Fastest Long Leg
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- Salford Men 1st
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- Morpeth Men 3rd
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- Leeds City Men 2nd
