After a long, gruelling Cross Country season, with races on and off due to bad weather and Covid-19, the North Shields Poly u13 boys were rewarded for their efforts with the news that they were Harrier League Champions 19/20.

All the way back in September at Wrekenton with a hilly course (not that muddy), the club was all in high spirits, although nobody expected this. The next one came at Aykley heads, a more flat, grassy course. But all the grass meant mud, and for the first time this season, the runners experienced serious mud. Temple Park was next, a favourite of many, and it was on a cold windy January day that the race took place.

No-one could have foreseen the marshy, flooded path behind the trees which all athletes had to make their way through. Peterlee was cancelled due to severe Rain and parking difficulties, which meant we had to wait over a month to get back out racing, at Alnwick. When Alnwick Cross Country is mentioned, you usually think of the tall, steep and incredibly fast hill leading into a rapid sprint finish.

And this time was no different, as all the runners stormed down the hill into another brilliant result. Next was Lampton, formerly a Lion park, rescheduled to later in the season, and a very scenic course, with a brutal hill to say the least. That was the premature end to the season, the other races being called off due to new social distancing rules amidst Coronavirus crisis.

Overall, a successful season for the u13 boys, who will have to work even harder to defend their title next time around.

Congrats to: Arran Head, Ben Scantlebury, Jonny Gaukrodger, Zac Brannon, Olly Hayes, Hamish Dochtin, Isaac Adams, Mason Bulfin, Jakob Adams, Benjamin Maley, Dan Turnbull, Daniel Watson ,Ollie Mcann, Matthew Maley, Jonathan Maley and Jacob Blackhall, all for helping the Team into 1st Place.

 

Author: Benjamin Maley