VAA-NEE NEWS

NEWSLETTER
The Veterans Athletic Association North East England (VAA-NNE) December newsletter should be with members by the end of the month.
MEMBERSHIP
You will need to enter for 2010 early and prior to running any of the events.
LOFTUS POULTRY RUN
The Loftus Poultry Run, cancelled due to bad weather has been re-scheduled for the end of January 2010.
MARCH NE VETS XC CHAMPS
The Cross Country Championships are scheduled for March 20th 2010 at Darlington.
Entry form and details on the VAA-NEE website.
MARCH NE VETS 5 MILE CHAMPS
The 5 mile Championships will be incorporated in the Hartlepool Marina 5 mile on Sunday March 28th 2010. Hartlepool Borough Council have already sent out early bird entry forms to 2009 entrants. This lacks information for VAA-NEE association members. Those who have received priority forms should record their VAA-NEE membership numbers if they choose to enter the race in 2010. Further releases of the entry form will include a flyer relating to the championships.
2010 AGM
The Annual General Meeting AGM will be held on Monday 11th January 2010 at Gateshead Stadium 7.00pm start. Please try and attend. There is a proposal to revise the Track & Field League structure.
Have your say!
(Please check all the above nearer the date)

Its Robertson and Sanderson as NFR Clean up

The last race in this years North East Fell running championships saw Karen Robertson back in the driving seat as she took the race win and with it the Women's 2009 NECCAA/NEHRA Championships for the North East of England. Denise Tunstall (DFR) was 2nd in the F40 Category Kath Davis (NFR) who was 3rd. Susan Milburn of Newton Aycliffe was 1st in the F50 category with Pam Costello 3rd. Pat Cooper won the F50 category.

Outright winner and winner of the 2009 M40 category NECAA/NEHRA Championships was Phil Sanderson (NFR) from clubmate Lee Bennett. Sanderson has been running for Elvet on the road and has impressed with his gutsy approach. Alistair MacDonald of Morpeth Harriers was 3rd.

The M50 category was a close and hard fought affair with Stuart Ferguson (DFR) taking the honours from Shaun Roberts (Elvet) and Neil Cassidy of Tynedale.

In the M60 categoryGraham Fraser landed the honours for Allen Valley Striders. Eric Whitaker (NEVAA) as 2nd and Peter Whewell (North Yorkshire Moors) was 3rd.

Joe Garbarino won the M60 category from David Wright of Tynedale.

Organiser Keith Cooper said:

'Thank you to all our competitors and race organisers for another fantastic North East Fell Running Championship. The story of the championship would probably be the dominance of NFR, taking a 1-2-3 in the mens open championship and the MV40, women's open, and LV40 titles amongst others too. The closest battle was delivered in the MV50 category with two Weardale neighbours battling it out and the experienced Stu Ferguson (DFR) winning through in the final race. Phil Sanderson delivered on the potential he showed in the previous year to wrap up the men's open and MV40 titles after just five races. A new name to watch is Lee Bennett (NFR) who, in his first season of fell running, came 3rd in the men's open and 2nd in the MV40 categories.

Karen Robertson made a stunning return to the championship by winning the women's open and LV40 titles with maximum points. Sarah Lister (Blackhill Bounders, 2nd women's open) will surely be a name to watch in future years.

Another new name is Graham Fraser of Allen Valley Striders who, after a late start, bagged the necessary points and sealed the MV60 title, beating many younger runners along the way. It would be great to see more runners from the Yorkshire area with clubs such as North York Moors AC and Esk Valley Fell doing more races as they regularly score high points on home turf'.

(Thanks to the Rob, Keith and the NFR Website for the above: More information on the excellent Northumberland Fell Runners Website)

Norman Woodcock 5m

Ian Crampton was back into some shape as he finished top vet in this years Norman Woodcock 5 mile event held on the 5th December at Gosforth Racecourse, Newcastle. He finished 7th overall and 1st M45 in a time of 26:35 for the 5 mile course. Unattached Paul Besford was 10th (M40) with Phil Walker and Paul Waterston, both of Morpeth Harriers, finishing well up.
Back in form Archie Jenkins (Morpeth) was well within 30 minutes finishing 30th and first M55 in 29:46 with Peter Grey of Alnwick Harriers 32nd (29:53).
Mike McNally (Elswick) was 41st overall and 1st M60. He completed the course in 30:47.
Claire Bruce (Morpeth) has finished the season well and taking the veterans women's prize (34:42). Jenny Friend and Heaton club mate J. Archibold both finished high up the placings and both Ewart (Gosforth) and Roberts of Saltwell had good runs. A total of 180 athletes took part and some fast times were posted.

Heaton Harriers Memorial 10k Results

Results from the recent Heaton Harriers Memorial 10k can be found here. http://www.heatonharriers.org.uk/mem09res.php

Elswick 5K: Exhibition Park

With no Brian Rushworth this year, Phil Walker (Morpeth) finished well up in the Elswick 5k held in dry but breezy conditions. Comprising 1 lap of the Park, there was a big turnout and the event looks to be continuing to increase in popularity. No sign of any official results on the web so far. Newspaper reports suggest it was indeed Walker who was 1st vet and 4th overall; he finished in 16:16, 46 seconds behind winner and clubmate Nathan Shrubb. Graham Moore (NSP) was 2nd vet and 9th in 16:49 and Kevin Stephenson (Elswick) 3rd and 11th overall in 16:57. Bracken (M45) finished in 17:22, with Steve Marshall leading in the M50's in 18:46. Other leading age group finishers were Borlos (18:49), Pemberton (NE Vets), McNally and Bell (both Elswick). Chester Le Streets Sarah Wilkinson was 2nd and 1st W35 vet in 17:54. Unattached D. Ford was 1st M40. She finished in 21:43 with Cummings (NSP) and a rare outing from Pam Woodcock leading the Women's 50 and 55 categories respectively. Christine Lee (Elswick) put together a solid run in windy conditions to finish in 24:53 with Bell of Blackhill Bounders a little way behind.

(Photos: click the FLICKR link on the right hand side of the page)

The Blaydon Race

It was like a 'who's who' of the north east veterans running world. Some results shortly. Photos at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34070057@N06/sets/

VAANE T&F Championships: Entries Closing on 15th June

Make Sure your entry is in for the VAANE Track and Field Championships (20th June 2009)
Entries Close 15th June 2009

The entry form is on the VAANE site. You can also find a membership form here to join ( http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/veteransathleticsnortheast/index.phtml
T & F Championships start at 11.00am with first Field event.
The 100m start is anticipated at 11.45am
Note Please note: the VAANE Newsletter entry form should have included Weight.
Women plus M70+ do the 3000m, M35 -69 do the 5000m.

EXPECTED TIMINGS.
FIELD EVENTS 11.00am DISCUS (M60+ & Women; 11.00am JAVELYN (M35 - M55); 11.00am LONG JUMP (M60+ & Women) 11.45am JAVELIN (M60+ & Women); 11.45 DISCUS (M35 - M55); 12.00noon LONG JUMP (M35 - M55) INTERVAL 1.00pm HAMMER (M60+ & Women); 1.00pm SHOT M(35 - M55); 1.15 TRIPLE JUMP (all) 1.45pm SHOT (M60+ & Women); 1.45 Hammer (M35 - M45); 2.00pm HIGH JUMP (all) 2.30pm HEAVY WEIGHT (all). TRACK EVENTS. 11.45am 100metres; 12.10pm 1500metres; 12.40pm 400metres. INTERVAL 1.15pm 200 metres; 1.40pm 800 metres; 2.05 3000 metres (m70+ & Women); 2.30 5000metres .