North Eastern Harrier League wins for Lydia Turner and James Johnson

All the news from the past few days on the UK cross-country running circuit

START FITNESS NORTH EASTERN HARRIER LEAGUE, Wrekenton, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, January 19

After several cancelled fixtures due to weather and car parking difficulties, it was back to action for the league and Durham University student James Johnson, a World Aquathlon Championship contestant, was not only first home overall but also the fastest man competing.

It was a similar story in the women’s section as Lydia Turner was first home and fastest overall. However she had to overcome a time deferral of over two minutes to still cross the line first.

The Birtley Harrier repeated her victory in the league from Thornley Hall last September.

Back in 2014 Turner placed third in the under-20 women’s race at the European Cross-Country Championships, which was one of several appearances in that event.

Overall (first home): 1 J Johnson (Durh U) 31:25; 2 A Sayers (Crook) 32:58; 3 C Alborough (Crook) 33:18

Fastest: Johnson 31:25

M40: 1 J McKenna (Tyne Br) 31:51

M50: 1 J Armstrong (Morp) 35:58

M60: 1 P Redman (Sund) 40:17

U17: 1 L Powell (Tyne Br) 18:39

Fastest: A Cook (Gate) 16:28

U15: 1 A Darling (T’dale) 8:50

Fastest: Darling 8:50

U13: 1 M Carter (T’dale) 10:0

Fastest: O Curran (Darl) 8:57

Men’s start (David Hewitson)

Women: 1 L Turner (Birt) 25:25; 2 A Bell (Gate, U20) 26:01; 3 J Patterson (Durh U) 26:19

Fastest: 1 Turner 22:54; 2 J Heslop (Elsw, W45) 24:28; 3 R Newman (Durh U) 25:29

W40: 1 J Hodgson (Morp) 24:57

W50: 1 L Short (T’dale) 26:20

W55: 1 J Murfy (S Shields) 27:52

U17: 1 H Cutler 21:31

Fastest: G Carter (Durh) 20:31

U15: 1 T Bishop (Birt) 10:38

Fastest: H Robison (Hought) 9:29

U13: 1 E Hawkins (NSP) 10:47

Fastest: P Phillipson (Birt) 9:39

Women’s start (David Hewitson)

CHINGFORD LEAGUE, Epping Forest, January 18

Overall: 1 S McCauley (Lon H) 30:31; 2 A Other (Lon H) 30:35; 3 C Bruce (Trent P, M40) 31:10

M50: 1 R Maidment (Orion) 32:43

M60: 1 R McCormick (Barn) 35:49

U17: 1 A O’Driscoll (WG&EL) 17:14; 2 W Muffett (WG&EL) 17:15; 3 S Lindsell (E&H) 17:56

U15: 1 F Reina (Ilf) 18:59

Women: 1 C O’Shea (VP&TH) 36:05; 2 Z Oldfield (Lought, W40) 36:24; 3 K Clark (VP&TH, W40) 36:53

W50: 1 M Reid (Ilf) 37:09

U17: 1 E Trainor (WG&EL) 24:12

U15: 1J Falkowski ((Trent P) 19:56

SOUTH EAST LANCS LEAGUE, Heaton Park, Greater Manchester, January 18

Men: 1 J Watson (Traff, U20) 30:14; 2 M Harris (E Chesh) 30:40; 3 D Norman (Alt, M45) 30:56

M55: 1 T Shanker (Manch…