It’s 1937, less than a year after the Jarrow March. A new sports club has just been formed as part of money brought to the town by Surrey industrialist and philanthropist Sir John Jarvis. The new stadium is named after him and he donates a silver trophy for the club’s inaugural meeting.
It’s 1987 in Jarrow and Hebburn. There is a stadium complex with an 8-lane synthetic track. Major meetings have seen sub-4 minute mile performances. The membership of the club has a world champion, Steve Cram, a history of international athletes, and numbers in the hundreds.
How did it happen? Tom Tweddell brings to life those people who created this success. It’s a fascinating tale of struggle, both in the club and the town, covering the period from 1937 to 1987.
‘A History of Jarrow and Hebburn Athletics Club’ by Tom Tweddell is now on sale from Monkton Stadium reception, priced £15.
Tom’s second book ‘The Other Jarrow Crusade’ has also just been published. It focuses on Sir John Jarvis, the Club’s founder and his role in Jarrow. A synopsis of each chapter can be found here: The Other Jarrow Crusade Chapters.
The Jarrow and Hebburn AC Cock Crow 5k Race and 2km Junior Fun Run took place on a balmy summer’s eve on Tuesday 23 July 2019. The temperature had peaked at around 28 degrees Celsius mid-afternoon, which was a challenge for volunteers setting up the course, but thankfully dropped to a more pleasant 22 degrees by race start time.
The first run of the evening was the 2km Junior Fun Run, open to those under the age of 15, which started at 6.50 pm. Seventeen juniors completed the run, with Owen Hedley and Darcy Tullis, both from Jarrow and Hebburn AC finishing first male and female respectively, and a trio of South Shields Harriers: Matthew Burton, Benjamin Weston and Hayden Steven in positions 2, 3 and 4. Results can be found here and run photos can be found here.
The Cock Crow senior 5km race kicked off at 7.15 pm, with a busy field of 140 runners. For the benefit of those who have not raced it before, the course has a very quick start, with a straight, flat 1,300 metre dash along the Bowes Railway Path, before taking a sharp right turn through a gate, which leads to the first hill. From the top of the hill you descend a sandy trail path back onto the Bowes Path, with expansive views of the surrounding countryside. This year, the fence leading back to the path had been knocked down, which meant runners could run straight through, rather than having to vault a stile. You then take a left across a small bridge, which leads to the new out-and-back section of the course, introduced in 2018 following the installation of kissing gates on the old route. The race then cuts through parkland, skirts a pond, recrosses the bridge and heads back along the Bowes Path to the finish.
Kurt Heron was first male home in a time of 16:20; a new record for the re-measured course, followed by Ross Floyd from Morpeth Harriers, who just pipped an impressive Jack Brown of Jarrow and Hebburn AC into second place. Sparrow Morley of Tyne Bridge Harriers was in fourth place, having ran at the Northumberland Coastal Run on the Sunday and the British Miler’s Club meeting at Chester-le-Street the evening before. Alex Sneddon of Jarrow and Hebburn AC was first lady; a stunning return to winning ways, only five months after giving birth to her first child. Jemma Amin of South Shields Harriers was second lady, with Hazelle Webster-Costella of Jarrow and Hebburn third.
For a race usually dominated by runners from Jarrow and Hebburn AC and South Shields, it was fantastic to see more representation from the wider North East running club community, with particularly noteworthy performances from Sunderland Strollers, who won the men’s team prize, Nina Cameron from Heaton Harriers as first lady in the 40-49 category and Graeme Dockwray from Low Fell RC as first male aged 50-59. Maurice Woodward from Jarrow and Hebburn AC topped off a fine season, with the prize for first male 60-69. In the ladies team competition, South Shields Harriers and Jarrow and Hebburn AC were level on aggregate points, but South Shields were winners by virtue of their third counter (Rachel Breheny) crossing the line first.
Arguably the most important competition of the night took place to determine who would take home the Mark Wood Memorial Shield. The Shield was introduced in 2018 and is awarded to the first mixed team of two men and two women (Based on aggregate points) between the hosts Jarrow and Hebburn AC and South Shields Harriers. It is named after South Shields Harrier Mark Wood, who tragically passed away in 2017 and was a good friend to runners from both Clubs. The Shield was presented by Mark’s daughter Katie to the winning team of Jarrow and Hebburn AC, who retained it this year with a team of Jack Brown, Andrew Laidler, Alex Sneddon and Hazelle Webster-Costella.
The other prizes were kindly presented by Nick Morton, Director from our race sponsors MICC Ltd. a British company with a factory in Washington, who are the world’s leading manufacturer of mineral-insulated cables. MICC have supported our Club races for almost a decade and if it wasn’t for them, the Cock Crow race would not be possible. Thanks also to our other race sponsors, Gateshead Senators, a local American Football team who play and train at Monkton Stadium, who are always on the look out for new players, coaches and young people who may be interested in joining their academy. Further thanks to our race officials Alan Elders, Bill McGuirk and Les Venmore, our chip timing and results team of Paul Dixon and Vicki Thompson, the Cock Crow Inn for being helpful and accommodating hosts, to St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy for letting us use their car park, and to all our volunteers and marshals.
Cash proceeds from the evening will be donated to Maggie’s Centres in loving memory of Renee Robinson, sister of South Shields Harrier Lee Dickens. Please follow the JustGiving link here to read Lee’s story.
First Male Kurt Heron receiving his prize from Nick Morton from MICC Ltd.First Lady Alex Sneddon receiving her prize from Nick Morton from MICC Ltd.Mark Wood Shield presented by Katie Angela Wood to the winning team of Jarrow and Hebburn AC.First place men’s team for Sunderland Strollers.First placed female under 18 goes to Sophie Robson from Jarrow and Hebburn.
Prize winners in full:
Men
First place – Kurt Heron (Unattached)
Second place – Ross Floyd (Morpeth Harriers)
Third place – Jack Brown (Jarrow and Hebburn AC)
First male under 18 – Max Tyrie (South Shields Harriers & AC)
First aged 35-39 – Mark Anderson (Sunderland Strollers)
First aged 40-49 – Gavin Mulvaney (South Shields Harriers & AC)
First aged 50-59 – Graeme Dockwray (Low Fell RC)
First aged 60-69 – Maurice Woodward (Jarrow and Hebburn AC)
First aged 70+ – Alan Wilks (Aycliffe Running Club)
Team prize for first 3 men – Sunderland Strollers (Mark Anderson, Chris Dwyer, Andrew Forbes)
Women
First place – Alex Sneddon (Jarrow and Hebburn AC)
Second place – Jemma Amin (South Shields Harriers & AC)
Third place – Hazelle Webster-Costella (Jarrow and Hebburn AC)
First female under 18 – Sophie Robson (Jarrow and Hebburn AC)
First aged 35-39 – Alexis Dodd (Unattached)
First aged 40-49 – Nina Cameron (Heaton Harriers & AC)
First aged 50-59 – Heather Robinson (Jarrow and Hebburn AC)
First aged 60-69 – Sheila Hudson (Sunderland Strollers)
First aged 70+ – No runners in this age category
Team prize for first 3 women – South Shields Harriers & AC (Jemma Amin, Fran Dembele, Rachel Breheny).
Results of the Mark Wood Shield inter-club competition awarded to the first mixed team of four (Two men, two women) between Jarrow and Hebburn AC and South Shields Harriers & AC, based on lowest aggregate points score:
Winners: Jarrow and Hebburn AC – 94 points
Jack Brown (3), Andrew Laidler (14), Alex Sneddon (33), Hazelle Webster-Costella (44)
Runners up: South Shields Harriers & AC
Mark Hodgson (9), Gavin Mulvaney (11), Jemma Amin (43), Fran Dembele (50)
Membership forms for 2019-20 are now available on the Join Us page please complete and return as soon as possible. A membership form must be completed and returned to the club even if you are paying by bank transfer. Fees remain at the same cost as last year.
Jarrow and Hebburn AC members are invited to attend the Club Annual General Meeting, which will take place on Tuesday 7 May 2019 at 7.15 pm in the Club House at Monkton Stadium.
The meeting will start promptly at 7.15 pm, which allows the evening’s training sessions to conclude, so that coaches and training groups can join. The meeting will close by 8.15 pm and we all need to be out of the stadium grounds by 8.30 pm. Members are welcome to join the Committee for a drink in the Lord Nelson afterwards. An agenda for the meeting can be found here.
Club members should have all received agenda and proxy voting instructions by email from the Club Secretary, via the EA Portal.
Twenty six brave souls managed to pull on their running shoes and themselves away from the annual tv and chocolate binge to race the boxing day handicap this year. Well done everyone and thanks to those who helped raise £135.00 which will be donated to the Clare Docherty fund.
• All numbers to be collected from the clubhouse. We do request one person per club/ school collect all of their team numbers.
• Toilets and changing facilities are available in the clubhouse at Monkton Stadium.
• Maps of the course will be available on the day.
• Please use the car park where you can. If you do park in the surrounding streets please be courteous around driveways and narrow parts of the village.
• Bedeswell Park is across the road from Monkton carpark. Take extra care crossing the road to the entrance of the park.
• First race will start at 11am year 4 girls and each race will run as soon as all competitors are through the finish line and results have been collated.
• Medals for the top three in the race will be presented at the end of the race. School medals will be presented to the schools along with the Shield next week.
• Results will be published as soon as they have been checked
• Don’t forget your pins and most of all enjoy your run!!
Jarrow and Hebburn Athletic Club invites our members and guests to the annual Club Presentation Evening, which takes place on Saturday 10 November 2018 at Hedworth Hall in South Shields.
The evening is to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our athletes, and show appreciation to our dedicated coaches and volunteers. It is also a rare opportunity for club members of all ages and from all training groups to meet, chat and socialise.
Tickets are available from your club coaches, priced at £8 for full members and £5 for mini athletics. Buffet dinner is provided. Places are limited and will be issued on a first come, first served basis, so please don’t leave it until the last minute to get yours.
Award nominations are now open online and will close at midnight on Sunday 28 October. Please follow this link to the nomination form.
Please read the instructions at the top of the nominations page. Only nominate one person per category and only write the person’s name; not the reason for nominating. If you want to include quotes to support your nominations, please email them to JonathanGilroy@hotmail.com and we’ll include them on the night. Paper nomination forms are also available from coaches.
Please can all winners from last year’s awards return their trophies to the club as soon as possible to allow us to get them engraved. All trophies must be returned by Thursday 18 October 2018.
It promises to be a fantastic evening. We look forward to seeing you all there!
The Start Fitness North East Harrier League starts tomorrow, here are the fixtures in full for the coming season, along with some other useful info for club members.
Fixtures 2018-2019
Saturday 29 September 2018 – Wrekenton
Sunday 7 October 2018 – Druridge Bay
Saturday 27 October 2018 – Gosforth Park
Saturday 17 November 2018 – Aykley Heads, Durham
Saturday 5 January 2019 – Sherman Cup – Temple Park, South Shields
Saturday 9 February 2019 – Thornley Hall Farm, Peterlee
Saturday 2 March 2019 – Alnwick Castle
Jarrow and Hebburn AC will pay the £3 Harrier League registration fee for each participating club member, with the following conditions:
Club members must register at the start of the season. Please inform team captains Claire Simpson or Brendan McMillan if you are interested in competing.
Club members must run in at least one Harrier League fixture or the Sherman Cup in the 2018-19 season.
If club members lose their number during the season, it is up to them to pay the £5 replacement fee.
You can find out more information at the Harrier League website and the pack you are in for the 2018-19 season here
Please check this as soon as possible. Do not wait until race day if you think there’s a mistake. Please contact your team captain straight away.
Other Cross Country Fixtures
Minors Cross Country – for children in years 4, 5 and 6 of school
Sunday 14 October – Campbell Park / Bedeswell Park, Jarrow
North Eastern Cross Country Championships
Saturday 8 December 2018 – Wrekenton
Northern Athletics Cross Country Championships
Saturday 26 January 2019 – Pontefract Racecourse
2019 Saucony English National Cross Country Championships
Saturday 23 February 2019, Harewood House, near Leeds
Organised by the Blyth Running Club, the Sands Race is held along the beach from Blyth to Seaton Sluice and back again. This is an annual event, handicapped by age and sex and held on the first Sunday in December. See the article at http://www.blythrunningclub.org.uk/sands_race_main.html history of the Sands Race.
