North East XC Relays Championships – 18th March 2022
The NE XC Relay Championships took place at a much different Thornley Farm, basked in sunshine and a lot less mud than at the recent NEHL. With the race run over a different course it still had its challenges with the ground being bumpy and a few wet patches, it was hard to get in your stride over the 3000m distance. With a lot of the NE larger clubs not putting in any entries, it was good to get a JJs team out, much to the delight of Bill McGuirk, the NECAA chairman. Tom Dowling lined up first after a good individual XC season. Tom flew round the course bringing home the JJs in 9th place with the JJs fastest time of the day of 12.29. Ben McMain, in his second XC of the season following injury, took over with a good run of 13.10 moving us up to 8th. Niran went off third and held on to 8th place with a time 9 seconds off Ben. Simon, took off on the fourth leg, enjoying his time back in the A team with the young lads, but sadly slipping two places with the team finishing in 10th place overall.
It was good close to the XC season, in which the JJs had a very successful season. With spring road season beginning, it will be good to carry that success on to roads.
10th Jesmond Joggers – 0:52:51 Tom Dowling 12:29 (9) Ben McMain 13:10 (8) Niran Patel 13:19 (8) Simon Wells 13:53