Press Report: 16th – 31st August 2024

by | Sep 6, 2024 | News, Press Reports

Photo: QRC members at Newham Grange 5k  (Courtesy of Dave M)

The 2nd half of August was busy with members taking part in a variety of races and events. Lots to celebrate including fantastic achievements at the Tom Wall NYMAC Relays at Middlesbrough and a good turnout at Quakers’ very own Mowden Meander Trail Handicap Race.

17th August: parkruns – Sedgefield, Blackhill (Consett), Darlington South Park, Hellbrun (Fürstenweg, Salzburg) and Old Railway Trail (Llangollen)

At Sedgefield, Andrew Vernon was 7th finisher overall in 20:25; at Blackhill Rebecca Devine was 2nd female finisher in 27:56 and at Darlington South Park, Marc Ellis was 6th finisher overall in 19:14.

Meanwhile, further afield at Hellbrun, David Aiken finished in 7th place overall in 20:49 and Rebecca Howard was 2nd female finisher in 23:14 and at Old Railway Trail, Dave Jones finished in 6th place overall in 20:32.

18th August: Scorton Feast 10k (10k League Race)

This multi terrain flat course is a 10k around the setting of Scorton lakes with proceeds going to charities.

Rob Dent was 1st Quaker home in 41:46, finishing in 5th place overall and 2nd in age category, followed by Rob Gillham (45:49 and 3rd in age category), Dave Murphy (46:36 and 1st in age category), Ed Griffiths (47:20), Brian McLaren (47:26), Phil Neal (48:49), Ian Hart (52:06), Alex Looney (53:134 and 3rd in age category), Diane Lockhart (53:19), Ian Burgess (53:22), Chris Clark (56:10 and PB), Helen Clark (1:02), Lucy Bendle (1:12) and Lee Morris (1:19).

18th August: Lambton Castle trail

This event offers 15 mile, 10 mile, 5 mile and Family 1 mile races on mixed terrain – the courses are moderately undulating with trails, paths, woodland tracks, fields and some brief spells on the roads in the private grounds of the Lambton Estate, Chester-le-Street.

In the 10 mile race, Steve Howell finished in 1:32 (2nd in age category) and Julie Russell in 1:49, whilst in the 5 mile race, Berni Gibson finished in 1:06 and 3rd in age category and Dan Orton completed the 15 mile event in 2:41.

18th August: World Masters Championships, Gothenburg, Sweden

The Gothenburg Athletics Association extended a warm welcome to athletes and sports enthusiasts worldwide for the 25th World Masters Athletics Championships, which took place between 13th and 25th August, with more than 8,000 participants and 16,000 events.

Steve Snook ran the 10km road race at Slottssskogen City Park, finishing in 46:20.

18th August: Scottish Half Marathon (10k also available)

The route is seriously flat & rapid. Starting just outside Edinburgh, the route runs along the magnificent East Lothian Golf Coast before finishing in the final furlong at Musselburgh Racecourse; Scotland’s oldest racecourse.

Michael Oliver completed the race in 2:11 and David Ledgerwood in 2:13.

22nd August: Quaker Trail Mowden Meander (Handicap Race)

35 Quakers took part in this trail handicap event organised by the QRC Race Development Committee and ably supported by volunteer marshals. Competitors started the route at Staindrop Drive/Edgecombe Drive, completing either 1 lap of the course (2.5 miles) or 2 laps of the course, totalling just under 5 miles. Handicaps ranged from 0 to 16.5 minutes, with groups setting off at timed intervals.

Michael Kipling was 1st runner to finish the 2 lap event in 33:24, followed by Neil Chalmers (46:59) and Marc Ellis (47:05). Marc was the fastest male (30:35) and Hayley Addison was the fastest female finisher (41:45).

Net time results: Marc Ellis (30:35), Dave Jones (32:31), Michael Kipling (33:24), Rob Dent (32:58), Chris Dowling (36:05), Simon Mulholland (37:32), Neil Chalmers (38:59), Stephen Ash (39:36), Dan Orton (40:47), David Nalder (41:30), Hayley Addison (41:45), Graham Looney (42:18), Sean Limbrick (42:45), Darren Alderson (43:31), Iain Clyde (43:43), Melissa Hird (46:21), Alex Looney (46:32), Grainne Duffy (46:51), Mel Newton (46:51), Julie Bell (47:01), Gilly Cowton (47:57), Abbie Hull (48:51), Beth Cawardine (50:13), Zoe Robinson (50:22), Sarah Burrows (50:32), David Porterfield (52:12), Brian Cowton (52:24), Adele Brown (54:20) and Berni Gibson (54:24).

In the ‘new this year’ 1 lap event, Jane Dowling finished in 26:18, followed by Sally Singleton (33:08), Gemma Bragg (33:42), Kylie Rushton (33:51), Lisa Alderson (35:56) and Michael King (35:56).

22nd August: Monthly mile – Event 5 (South Park)

Organised by Darlington Harriers, this event is part of a series of 6 that take place in South Park. The next one will take place on 19th September.

Results to follow

22nd August: Muddy Roads Newham Grange 5k

This trail offers a picturesque combination of terrain including a one mile loop around the farm before continuing through the scenic woodland area. It starts on tarmac and soon takes you to the trails.

First Quaker to cross the finish line was Rob Gillham (22:14) followed by Dave Murphy (22:20 and 1st in age category), Lou Trainor (22:40 and 1st in age category), Diane Lockhart (25:23 and 3rd in age category), Chris Clark (26:17), Sandra Cass (26:18 and 2nd in age category), Wendy Colling (27:02 and 3rd in age category), Helen Clark (27:12), Gill Colling (28:50 and 2nd in age category), Julie Whinn (29:16 and 3rd in age category), John Yeomans (29:56) and Matt Jackson (33:00).

24th August: Gateshead 10k trail

The Gateshead Trail 10k is both scenic and fast on wide paths and trails and only a few inclines.  The route snakes though the beautiful Derwent Walk Country Park with a double loop at the top of the course which means runners are never far from other runners and won’t get left behind.

Chris Evans completed the race in 56:13, followed by Jeff Marriott (1:01) and Zoe Robinson (1:10).

24th August: parkruns – Darlington South Park

At Darlington South Park, Rebecca Howard was first female finisher in 21:13 and Shaune Eland shaved 3 seconds off his time in July 2022 to achieve a new PB of 22:34.

24th August: LDWA Smugglers Trod

This ‘Walk’ was the final and 35th that has taken place each August Bank Holiday Saturday. Starting at Fylingthorpe Village Hall, Robin Hoods Bay, the route covers moorland & pasture footpaths, mainly coastal scenery, with modest undulations. There are two routes, the longer is 25 miles and a shorter version is 17 miles.

Emily and Scott Beaumont completed the long route in 6:24, whilst in the short route, Malcolm Hewitson finished in 4:12, followed by Wendy and Marc Colling and Roy McDougall (5:01) and Gill Colling and Phil Rutter (5:49),

25th August: Saturn – The Time Turner and GNR Training Run, Durham

This is a 7hr Time Challenge event which allows runners full control over the distance they want to run. The minimum distance is 5km, which is part of a full lap. A full lap is 4.37 miles (7km) and runners can complete as many or as few of these laps as they wish. The organisers give out distance pins for all runners who do a half-marathon, mega half marathon, marathon, 50km or Ultra in the time limit which can be attached to the medal ribbon. Saturn events have really friendly organisers and their aid table has a great selection of snacks!

The course is along a beautiful stretch of the River Wear with views of the Cathedral. It is fully signed so no navigational experience is required.

Nigel Eddy ran a Half Marathon distance in 2:17.

25th August: More than a Run Ormesby 10k

This 10k event takes place monthly on the 4th Sunday of the month in the grounds of Ormesby Hall. (No need to book – simply show up on the day) The run briefing is held at 8:55am in front of the mansion with the run starting at 9am. The route takes runners up through the farmland and woods, down the drive and through the Pennyman Woods. The terrain consists of tarmac and gravel driveways, field margins and woodland trails.

April Corbett finished the route in 52:41 (1st in age category), followed by Anthony Corbett (56:01) and Jeff Marriott (1:14 and 3rd in age category)

25th August: Stanhope 10 miler (Championship Race)

This run takes place in the heart of the Durham Dales with a hilly start out of Stanhope, heading towards Bollihope and moving onto Hill End before returning back to the Stanhope showfield. Money raised is donated to Quinn’s retreat for those bereaved by suicide.

Marc Ellis finished 2nd in place overall, 2nd male and 1st in age category in 1:07, followed by Lou Trainor (1:22, 1st female and 1st in age category), Rob Gillham (1:24), Sandra Cass (1:35), Wendy Colling (1:38), Carys Samuel (1:38), Helen Clark (1:39), Alex Looney (1:41), Robert Kirby (1:44) and Darren Alderson (1:44).

29th August: Tom Wall NYMAC Relays at Stewart Park, Middlesbrough

Teams of 4 compete with each team member running one mile and in and around the paths of Stewart Park (almost the first mile of the parkrun course). The course is well signed and marshalled.

Team 1 for the F160 consisted of Lisa Bowerbank (7:22*), Julie Russell (7:18*), Helen Clark (7:46*) and Rebecca Dodd (7:38 PB) – they finished in 30:04.

Team 2 for the F160 consisted of Lou Trainor (6:19 and matched club age record), Diane Lockhart (7:34 PB), Alex Looney (7:03*) and Carys Samuel (6:27, PB and club record) – they finished 3rd in age category in 27:23.

Team 3 for the M200 consisted of Jeff Marriott (9:48), Darren Alderson (7:57), John Harrison (7:06*) and Chris Clark (7:28*) – they finished in 32:19.

Team 4 for the M200 consisted of Ian Burgess (6:41), David Nalder (7:29 and club record), Raymond Reed (7:04*) and Dave Murphy (6:35) – they finished in 27:49.

Team 5 for the MOpen team were unfortunately a runner short and consisted of Marc Ellis (5:28 and club record), James Atkinson (6:05*) and Isaac Johnson-Caddell (6:03*).

Team 6 for the MOpen consisted of Dan Orton (7:19*), Steve Howell (6:59*), Paul Roberts (7:51) and Neil Chalmers (6:34) – they finished in 28:43.

Team 7 for the FOpen team consisted of Louise Priestman (7:36*), Abbie Jones (6:56*), Lucy Coxon (7:00*) and Rebecca Howard (6:29*) – they finished in 28:01.

*Well done to members who set their mile PB.

31st August: parkruns – Darlington South Park and North Yorkshire Water Park

At Darlington South Park, Dave Jones finished in 8th place overall in 19:46, whilst at North Yorkshire Water Park, Chris Clark bagged himself yet another PB, this time shaving off a whopping 1 minute and 39 seconds from his PB a fortnight ago, to finish in 25:33.

Special Mentions…

Muddy Roads Summer 5k Series

The Muddy Roads Summer Series consisted of 5k events at Middridge, Saltburn, Lordstones, Pine Forest and Newham Grange Farm. Results are based on a points system calculated from runners’ personal performances. To qualify, the best times are taken from 4 races out of the first 5. (Any runners in overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd were excluded from the category tables). Some great achievements for Quakers!

Lou Trainor finished in 8th place overall, 1st in the overall female category and technically 1st in age category, Diane Lockhart was 2nd age category, Sue Sparrow and Wendy Colling were 1st and 2nd respectively in age category and Gill Colling and Julie Whinn were 2nd and 3rd respectively in their age category whilst Rob Gillham finished in 7th place overall and 3rd in age category and Dave Murphy was in 10th place overall and 1st in age category.

It has since been announced that Quakers also won the club prize – well done to everyone that ran in the Summer series, your combined efforts resulted in prize winnings of £100 which will be added to the club’s charity pot.

Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!

Congratulations and well done to Lisa Quinney, who achieved her 25th parkrun milestone on 31st August in 35:40 and Michelle Dale who completed her 50th volunteer milestone on 17th August.

Congratulations to Phil Rutter, Anthony Corbett, April Corbett and David Stewart who took part in Bushy parkrun’s 1000th event on 31st August. It has been confirmed that this was a Guinness World Record for the most people attending a single parkrun with 6204 people taking part. What an amazing experience!

Well done to our parkrun tourists who took part at North Yorkshire Water Park this month. The next one will be at Hackworth (Shildon) on 7th September followed by Whinlatter Forest on 21st September.

Hackworth course details:

Three clockwise laps of the route, (mostly paths with a short grassy section) returning to the start each time. At the end of the third lap, follow the straight stretch to the finish. (No dogs allowed)

Whinlatter Forest course details:

A hilly run through Whinlatter Forest Park taking in the beautiful scenes of Derwentwater and the surrounding mountain ranges. One lap with a loop, using trail surfaces, the start and end are close to the main car park. The course may not be suitable for buggies – please contact the team in advance for further advice on the course.