Seahouses athlete storms to victory in Northumberland Coastal Run

Seahouses athlete Carl Avery retained his Northumberland Coastal Run crown, with an emphatic victory in today's race.
Race winner Carl Avery is flanked by second-placed Marc Fenwick (right) and third-placed Sam Hancox (left).Race winner Carl Avery is flanked by second-placed Marc Fenwick (right) and third-placed Sam Hancox (left).
Race winner Carl Avery is flanked by second-placed Marc Fenwick (right) and third-placed Sam Hancox (left).

The Morpeth Harrier won the unmeasured half-marathon in 73mins 35secs - nearly four minutes ahead of the rest of the field. It is believed to be one of the biggest victory margins in the race's history.

The 29-year-old was delighted to win Alnwick Harriers' flagship event for the second time in a row. In actual fact, it was the third time in as many years that he has stormed to victory in the Beadnell to Alnmouth run, but he was disqualified in 2014 for racing with someone else's number.

Race winner Carl Avery is flanked by second-placed Marc Fenwick (right) and third-placed Sam Hancox (left).Race winner Carl Avery is flanked by second-placed Marc Fenwick (right) and third-placed Sam Hancox (left).
Race winner Carl Avery is flanked by second-placed Marc Fenwick (right) and third-placed Sam Hancox (left).
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Avery finished ahead of second-placed Marc Fenwick (77mins 26secs), of Tyne Bridge Harriers, and third-placed Sam Hancox (77mins 31secs), of Morpeth Harriers.

There was delight for host club Alnwick, as club legend Jo Gascoigne-Owens took the ladies' title - following her triumph in 2013. The 37-year-old from Alnmouth completed the course in 87mins 18secs, just ahead of challenger Michelle Nolan (Gateshead Harriers), who crossed the line 24 seconds later. Last year's winner Emma Holt (Morpeth Harriers) was third female, in 88mins 19secs.

The event once again proved popular, with all 1,260 places for this year's Coastal Run snapped up in about 18 hours.

One runner had to be airlifted to hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance after collapsing on the home straight, along the beach at Alnmouth.