Benjamin Maley has written an excellent report on the Poly’s recent successful trip to the Northern Road Relays in Manchester.

An Early Start beckoned as the North Shields Poly Junior Competitors met at Monkseaton Metro Station, the clocks saying 6:30AM. The bus was almost full, 36 of the 44 seats filled. A great turnout considering it was all Juniors! The Poly had athletes completing in all of the races except U13 girls. Despite it being incredibly early, the sun was out shining giving the clouds a hint of orange, the full moon from the previous night was in the sky adding to a beautiful morning. 

The Bus set off and we reached Manchester (not after a 20 minute break at our usual Wetherby Services though!) and the Bus pulled into the Etihad Stadium car-park. Lee Morgan one of the two juniors coaches who travelled, dashed ahead to get the numbers while the others walked to the track area.   The U13 boys, two teams all from Mel Carr’s group consisting of Harry Furness, Zac Brannon, Ben Scantlebury, plus Benjamin, Jonathan & Matthew Maley – the brothers competing together as a team for the first time, jogged the course led by Zac’s Parents, Tommy and Karen. After they returned, the A leg runers warmed up, and at 11:30 the first race of the day was off. The A team came home in a strong 7th place with team Maley finishing 27th. Not Long after the U15 Boys of Zac Old, Oliver Douglass and Josh Blevins set off (special birthday wishes go to Josh Blevins who made the journey on his 15th birthday!). Zac brought the team home in 13th place and Oliver worked his way through to 6th before Josh took them up to 2nd place and a silver medal running the 3rd fastest time of the day for the under 15’s. This was followed by the U15 Girls team, off first was Ellie Van der Merwe who ran a great leg coming in 3rd place then Katie Joslyn and Holly Waugh making sure the team secured a bronze medal. The under 15 girls second team raced well to finish 26th. Caitlin Flanagan, Gracie Davies and Eve Rudd showing the strength of the poly in this age category.  Last but certainly not least, was the U17 boys and Girls. Ryan Eden was the only under 17 boy today coming home in 30th place on the first leg. The under 17 girls, Alexandra Berry, Kirsty Nash and Lucia Bradley finished 23rd. Once they finished, we found our way across the course to the Bus before getting home at 6PM.

A successful day by all the runners and we continue to announce ourselves as one of the largest North East clubs. Up the Poly! 

 

By Benjamin Maley