Houghton Harriers – Summary of Endurance Athletes Coaches Report covering 2021 season
This is a summary of a short report presented by Lynn Cooper (Endurance Coach) to the January 2022 Annual General Meeting. Please note that Spring 2021 cross country events were covered in the 2020 report as it was delivered late due to COVID restrictions.
Whilst track competitions were still somewhat reduced due to COVID there were opportunities to race and 3 Houghton Harriers excelled: Cameron Allan, Will Bellamy and Henry Johnson.
Cameron achieved PBs at 800m, 1500m, 3000m & 5000m but unfortunately his season ended abruptly when he crashed out of a track race, having just been selected to represent England at road relays.
Will was North East 800m Champion, 800m under 20 bronze medallist at the English Championships in Bedford, qualified for English Schools Track and Field Championships and represented England at 800m in Manchester.
Henry won silver at 800m in the under 20 English Championship at Bedford, qualified for British Senior Championships again and represented Great Britain at 800m at the European under 20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, making it through heats and semis to reach the final.
Chris Coulson further improved his 3000m personal best but it was on the roads where he excelled, with personal bests at 5km, 10km and a strong debut half marathon which placed him 20th under 20 in the UK. Similarly, Luke Pickering ran a personal best for 1500m and ran sub 15 minutes for 5000m on both track and road plus a 10km personal best. He maintained our record of running fastest leg in the Signals Relays – deferred to August – but unfortunately this was not quite enough for the team to medal.
Other personal bests were Anna Pigford (800m, 1500m, mile & 5k), Eva Hardie (1500m, mile, 3000m & Half Marathon), James Martin (200m, 400m & 800m), Lee Dover (10k), Rory Graham (3000m & 5k), Ryan King (800m & 1500m) and Tom Pigford (800m, 1500m & mile)
Newcomer Elvio Loredo had successful debuts at 800m, 1500m and mile; Eleanor Daglish, now based in London, made her debut at 5000m track, 5k & Half marathon on the road.
At the end of the summer we saw four under 20 athletes leave the area to start University: Henry Johnson (Michigan USA), Luke Pye (Keele), Sam Gibson (Oxford) and Will Bellamy (St. Mary’s London); fortunately others stayed closer to home.
The North East Cross Country Harrier League has eventually returned to normal and we have fielded senior men’s teams at every fixture so far, including North East and Northern Championships and Sherman Cup. Currently we are one point off third place in Division 3 of the Harrier League. Star performer has been Chris Coulson, currently second in the individual rankings for senior men after finishing fastest from a North East Club at the last Harrier League fixture at Thornley (beaten by a guest runner from outside the area).
The under 17 /under 20 women are currently lying 5th in the North East Harrier League and Eva Hardie & Anna Pigford came first & second in the Davison Shield in early January 2022. Anna Pigford was a winner at the Lambton Harrier League event and is currently lying third individual.
Houghton Harriers had individual and team successes at the North East Cross Country Championships at Sedgefield in December with Brandon Pye winning silver under 17, Chris Coulson bronze under 20, Eva Hardie bronze under 20 and Anna Pigford, Amy Leonard and Eva Hardie under 17 / under 20 team bronze. The same athletes ran well at the Northern Cross Country Championships at Pontefract: Chris Coulson 12th under 20, Anna Pigford, Amy Leonard and Eva Hardie under 20 team bronze and Brandon Pye an outstanding under 17 silver medal. A special mention should go to Davie Gribben, first senior man over 60, and Cameron Allan 13th senior man.
Largely down to performances at the North East and Northern Championships, Cameron Allan, Chris Coulson, Will Bellamy, Brandon Pye, Anna Pigford & Amy Leonard have been selected to represent the North East at the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in March with Ciaran Lines a reserve. Eva Hardie is too old to be eligible for under 20.
Cameron Allan has had to pull out of the team for a very good reason – after finishing 10th at British Universities and Colleges Sports Cross Country Championships (BUCS) 10 days ago he will be representing England at the World Student Cross Championships in Portugal that weekend.
More success at cross country where Amy Leonard, Brandon Pye, Ryan King and Chris Coulson have been selected by Durham for the English Schools cross country in March, with Freya Stockley a reserve.
Looking ahead next weekend is the Signals Relays. The Senior men are weakened by the loss of Luke Pickering (recovering from surgery) and Brandon Pye (unavailable) but those remaining will give a good account, as will the Veteran Men. The best chance of a medal lies with the Senior Women’s team of Anna Pigford, Amy Leonard, Danielle Coulson & Eva Hardie.
There is one more cross country league fixture at Alnwick before we look forward to the return of the Good Friday relays and then a regular track and road racing season.
Thanks to all who stuck with training throughout the COVID restrictions (what else was there to do?) and credit to those who didn’t but have returned. I hope you continue to find enjoyment in training and competing – regardless of personal bests or medals.
Apologies for any notable performances or personal bests that may have been missed in the preparation of this report.
