Buis on form to win Sand Dancer crown
JAMES Buis, from Heaton Harriers, triumphed in the senior men's event in South Shields Harriers' Sand Dancer 10km Mixed Terrain Race on Sunday.
Chris Muir, from the host club, was second, while Sunderland's Louise Noble took the senior women's title.
Muir – bidding to become the second member of the Shields club to win the race in its 104-year history after Geoff Rippon won the 1979 event – set a fierce pace with Buis in contention as the pair made an early break from Andrew Henderson, of Blyth, last year's winner.
In wintry conditions over the coastal paths on the Leas they forged even further ahead into the second lap turning back from the Velvet Beds at Marsden, but with only a mile remaining, Buis made a decisive break and crossed the finishing line in Gypsies Green Stadium, 30 seconds clear of Muir in 33:51.
Henderson held on to third in 35:27, with Greg Ritchie, from Jarrow and Hebburn AC, only 16, an impressive fourth, and only seven seconds adrift.
In a close team race, Heaton – with Daniel Robbins seventh in 36:00, and Lucas Longman 10th in 37:20, supporting Buis – prevailed by only one point from the Shields club, who had Michael Jones eighth in 36:05, and first veteran over-45, and George Arthur 11th in 37:41, and second over-45 with Muir.
With Colin Robson ninth in 36:19, and Michael Bunn 12th in 37:47 and third over-45 backing Ritchie, the Jarrow club were third.
Noble was prominent in the mixed field with 21st position in 39:11, almost two minutes ahead of Heaton's Jo Zoppi.
Shields's Michelle Ford was fourth in 41:56, and first in the over-35 section.
Heaton finished first women's team from Jarrow, who had Vicki Thompson eighth in 44:27 and second over-35, Claire Nessworthy 15th in 49:10 and Maria Marshall 17th in 51:51.
Former leading Jarrow junior Georgia Campbell finished 18th in 49:11, representing Newcastle University.
Shields's Paul Doxford was 13th in 37:58 and fourth over-45, with Mark Hood, of Jarrow, 14th in 38:11, and Lynsay Lavery, also of Shields, 18th in 39:01.
Graeme Thompson was 26th for Jarrow in 40:28, with Bob Seaton junior 28th in 40:41, Craig Deacon 36th in 41:31 and Bryan Anderson 39th in 41:52.
Shields's Paul Slater was 44th in 42:11, with Jarrow's Mike Joyce 48th in 42:19, and third over-50, David Mills was 49th in 42:23, and Bob Seaton 54th in 43:18 and third over-55.
Jarrow's Frank Dockerty finished first veteran over-70 in 66th with 45:18. Mark Slesser was 67th in 45:26, with Alan Slesser 69th in 45:37, and James Ford 76th in 46:29.
Paul Grainger, from Shields, was 77th in 46:31, with Jamie Scorer 90th in 48:19. Barry Pascoe was 107th for Jarrow in 52:12, with Anne Marie Shields 108th overall, but 21st lady and fifth over-35 in 52:17.
Shields's Bob Pinkney finished 113th in 53:12 and fourth over-70, while Ken McDonald, 115th in 54:30, was first over-65 and James Anderson was 131st in 58:09 and fifth over-70.
Jarrow youngsters dominated the fun run of 4km by taking the first three positions.
Shaun Barras, 14, was first in 13:22, 23 seconds clear of Tristan Peel, 11, with Matthew Fearn, 14, third in 14:04.
Shields's Luke Clark finished fourth in 14:50, with Jamie Scorer seventh in 16:04.
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
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