Photo: Simon Rek at Captain Cook’s Fell Race (photo shared by Esk Valley Fell Club)
Dangerous weather and road conditions meant that many parkruns and races were cancelled or rearranged. Despite this, QRC members managed to participate in a selection of events including parkrun, road runs, cross country, fell and trail races with distances from 5k to 33 miles.
1st January: parkruns – Mote Park (Maidstone), Wynyard Woodland & Darlington South Park
At Mote Park David Aiken was 6th finisher overall in 20:59 and Rebecca Howard was first female finisher in 22:29, whilst at Wynyard Woodland, Dave Jones was 4th finisher overall in 20:38. Meanwhile, at Darlington South Park, Chris Bowe achieved his 50th parkrun milestone in 29:18.
1st January: Captain Cook’s Fell Race (Esk Valley Winter series)
This 5 mile race starts at Great Ayton and heads past Little Ayton and up to the Captain Cook’s monument, over Little Ayton Moor and back towards Great Ayton.
Simon Rek completed the event in 56:07.
1st January: LDWA Hangover Hike (Dewsbury)
The LDWA Hangover Hike is based at Dewsbury, just a short distance off the M1 and offers three distances – 21,17 and 10 miles. Starting and finishing at a pub, the event also offered the usual selection of goodies at 3 checkpoints. This year there was ‘a sting n the tail’ as the last 4 miles along a canal towpath was under 2 feet of water and David had to navigate a slightly different route to get back to the finish.
David Thompson completed the 21 mile version in 5.02.
4th January: parkruns – Albert (Middlesbrough) & Hackworth (Shildon)
At Albert parkrun, Abbie Jones earned herself another PB, knocking almost a minute of her previous PB last month, to finish in 21:40 and John Yeomans celebrated his 100th parkrun milestone, completing the course in 29:40. Over at Hackworth, Dave Jones was 5th finisher overall in 21:04
4th January: Yorkshire County Cross Country Championships (Ripon)
This event took place at Light Water Valley and entrants could only take part if either living in the Yorkshire County or were born there.
Having qualified through the latter, Rob Dent added his name to the list of Quakers who have competed against the Olympic gold medallist, Jonny Brownlee, completing the 10k, 5 lap route in 48:27.
4th January: Hardmoors 30
The Hardmoors 30 is a 33 mile circular loop from Robin Hood’s Bay with runners passing through check points at Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, Ravenscar Beacon, Cloughton Wyke and Ravenscar. This year there was a diversion in place due to landslips, with the new route following the rail trail from Ravenscar to Robin Hood’s Bay instead of following the Cleveland Way Coastal path and descending into Robin Hoods Bay to then rejoin the Cleveland Way and follow the original race route through the streets of Robin Hoods Bay to the race finish.
Billy Harris completed the route in 5:20 (2nd in age category) followed by Emily Beaumont (5:52) and Wendy Colling (7:13 and 1st in age category).
4th January: Hardmoors 15
The Hardmoors 15 is a circular route that starts and finishes at Robin Hood’s Bay with checkpoints at Hawsker Road crossing and in Whitby.
Karen Dove completed the route in 5:18.
5th January: North Tyneside Trail 12K
The North Tyneside 12km is a fantastic trail run starting at the War Memorial in Whitley Bay and ending at the running track at Churchill Playing Fields. The run takes in the beautiful beach at Whitley Bay, the clifftops and coastal paths winding their way along to Seaton Sluice, through the trails and mud of Holywell Dene, along the Waggonways and ends with a lap of the running track at Churchill Fields.
There are no results for this race, well done to Quakers that ran it.
7th January: More than a run at Ormesby Hall night race – Winter night series
This was the third of the night series which it suitable for new and experienced trail runners. The route is in the grounds of the National Trust property including Pennyman Woods.
Emma Bland completed the route in 30:13 and 1st in age category, followed by Christopher Bowe (30:21 and 2nd in age category) and Claire Norman (32:15 and 2nd in age category).
12th January: The Winter Time Turner Run (Durham)
This is a 7 hour Time Challenge event which allows participants full control over the distance they want to run. The minimum distance is 5km, which is part of a full lap. Usually, a full lap is 4.37 miles (7km); however, the weather conditions resulted in a change to the course, a 3.28 mile lap and a rolling start instead of a mass start. Entrants ran as many or as few of these laps as they wished in the 7 hour time limit. The course is along a beautiful stretch of the River Wear with views of the Cathedral and is classified as a trail run. It is fully signed so no navigational experience is required.
Nigel Eddy completed the half marathon distance in 2:31 and 3rd in age category followed by Heather McLean (2:35).
12th January: Commondale Clart Fell Race
This 9km fell race is acircuit starting and finishing in Commondale, next to the pub. It starts with a long, steep climb on road out of Commondale, followed by a long drag up and across the moors, before a fantastic gradual descent on tracks, sharp left turn on a little wooden bridge and then across and down through heather to a stream, then back to road into Commondale for a short, steep downhill finish.
Simon Rek completed the route in 1:00.
Special mentions…
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!
QRC parkrun on tour
On 4th January, Quakers on Tour headed over to Albert parkrun. Next month, on February 8th, members are very welcome to meet up for The Cinder Track (Whitby) parkrun.
The Cinder Track course description:
‘The event is run along the historic tree lined Cinder Track, with the route offering majestic views of Whitby and the Esk Valley as you cross the iconic Whitby Viaduct. The newly resurfaced Cinder Track offers an ideal surface to enjoy your run, walk or jog. The start and finish are within the Whitby School (Airy Hill Site) grounds by the Oak tree. Dogs are not allowed this event.’