THERE have been some busy days for the junior and senior athletes of Richmond and Zetland Harriers.

On Sunday, April 24, at Middlesbrough sports village there was great team spirit amongst the juniors at the first meeting of the North East Youth Development League (NEYDL) division two south. Matilda Ellis (U15w) ran the 800m in 2:42, Phoebe Haw (U15w) 2:54 (PB) and Tegan Smith (U13w) 3:07 (PB). Phoebe also competed in the 300m in a time of 51.5 seconds and 2.9m in the long jump.

Ollie Middleton (U17m) achieved a personal best in the 1,500m in 5:06 then went straight on to take part in the Shot put and his throw of 8.11m gave him first place. Ollie also raced in the 400m in 66 seconds. Ollie Rogerson (U15m) finished the 1,500m in 5:37 and Tomas Hoole (U13m) 6:04. Shannon Robinson 1,500m (U17w) in 5:01 and 300m in 48.4 and 7m in the shot put.

Strong running from the seniors at Swainby Sweep saw Kimberley Reeve and Pauline Whittaker in the prizes. The race has two distances to choose from – seven or 16 miles. Kim finished 17th overall, second female and first in age category in a time of 58:06 in the shorter distance and Pauline was 36th overall and third in age category in 64:25. In the longer distance, Chris Soley finished 39th overall in 2:32:01 and Nicki Buckett 111th in 3:21:28.

Set beneath the backdrop of one of England's finest medieval castles, John Gray and his dog Pippa finished well ahead of the pack to win the Traildog Raby Castle 5k canicross in a time of 17:33.

Mid week and it was the New Marske Spring Coast Road 5k on Wednesday, April 27. Josh Lincoln was the first Harrier to finish in ninth place in 16:51 (PB), Ollie Middleton 26th with a big personal best time of 18:10, Steve Middleton 27th in 18:11 and Peter Richardson 106th in 23:37.

The first day of May and John Gray and his faithful companion Pippa, were back out racing and again took first place in the Conny Canicross 5k at Allensford Country Park in Consett. They completed the hilly, technical course in 20:43.

At the Parkruns, on Saturday, April 23 Rob Scott was the first finisher at Northallerton in a time of 17:02, Ian Christon was second in 19:04, Anthony Jefford third in 19:33, Steve Middleton fifth in 21:15, Elaine Watters 18th in 24:34, Elly Robertson 25th in 26:13 and Victoria Christon 68th in 33:42. At Darlington, Joseph Reeve finished fourth in 17:59, Thomas O'Mahoney fifth in 17:59, Ken Harker eighth in 19:15, Henry Wright 18th in 20:11, Paul Wright 53rd in 22:45, Ian Hepworth 161st in 28:38 and Colin Smith 166th in 28:55.

The following Saturday and Anthony Jefford achieved a course personal best at Northallerton when he finished third in a time of 18:54, Ollie Middleton seventh in 19:36, Steve Middleton eighth in 19:43, Elaine Watters 24th overall, first in her age category in 23:20 (PB), Peter Richardson 33rd in 24:19, Pauline Whittaker 36th in 24:33 and Elly Robertson 64th in 29:14. At Darlington, Carl Jones matched his previous personal best time on the course when he finished in first place in 16:00, Henry Wright 21st in 20:20, Ian Hepworth 148th in 28:03 and Colin Smith 149th in 28:05.