Gold medal year for the Harriers

Report: Peter Powell -

2014 has been a gold medal year for Stockport Harriers' men's team who have enjoyed unprecedented success both on the road and in the cross country events and have taken the team honours in no less than four recent events.

The Age UK Leeds Abbey dash, the National cross country relays, the British cross country championships at Sefton Park, Liverpool and the PUMA Northern 10 mile road racing championships at Woodbank park have all produced the desired outcomes.

Individual overseas invitations have come by the hat full as a result of winning team competitions with Jack (Jaybird) Martin invited to compete in the Iris Lotto cross country cup 10 kilometre race in Brussels.

This resulted in a tremendous 15th individual finish position (34:22) assisting the England team against stern international opposition and just 4 places and 15 seconds behind Morpeth's Jonathan Taylor who enjoyed his best outing of the season.

The ladies team has been up with the best of them during 2014 with the support of Elle Vernon, Louise Rudd and the indefatigable marathon specialist Jenny Knass, with all the good results coming together in no small part thanks to the vibrant coaching structure headed up by former Stockport marathon champion Dave Turnbull.

The current year also saw success for the junior section of the Harriers with team promotion in the track and field youth development league (lower age group) together with a division higher also being attained in the Northern track and field league which was greatly helped with DASH athletics joining forces with Stockport Harriers earlier in the season.

Christmas excesses were ran off at the annual Boxing day charity run with Jack Nixon first back to the Waterloo Hotel and Louise Rudd first in the ladies race. All ages were represented with club stalwart and one of the oldest runners in the country, 77-year-old Chris Bryans leaving many younger competitors well behind over the 5 kilometre course.

Beechwood cancer trust was the chosen and worthwhile charity with over £300 being realised during the proceedings and thanks are due to club member Gill Doolan for taking over the event and making it a great success.


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