Photo: Chris B celebrating at Ormesby 10k’s 7th birthday (photo shared by Jeff M)
The quietest fortnight for racing for a while…the second half of July has seen Quakers taking part in road, trail and fell across all the distances from 5k to 105 miles!
16th July: Summer Coast Road 5k
This race is a fast ‘out and back’ 2 lap route along the coast of Redcar.
Diane Vaughan finished in 23:39 and 1st in age category followed by Rebecca Dodd in 25:07 (PB). (These results are gun times, not chip times so actual results will have been faster!)
17th July: Durham City Run Festival – 10k and 5k
Both the 5K and 10K races took runners through the historic heart of Durham, offering a scenic and challenging course. The route is undulating with a few steep sections that tested runners’ pacing strategies and terrain was a mix of cobbled streets, riverside paths, and short sharp climbs, especially around the Cathedral area.
In the 5k event, Dani Walker finished in 23:02 and 1st in age category.
In the 10k event, Anthony Corbett finished in 57:23, followed by Simon Rek (57:29) and Michael Oliver (1:01).
19th July: parkrun – Darlington South Park & Wynyard Woodland
At Darlington South Park, Andrew Vernon finished in 3rd place overall (and 3rd male) in 18:39 whilst at James Atkinson finished in 7th place overall in 19:32. At Wynyard Woodland, Dave Jones finished in 8th place overall in 20:41.
23rd July: Darlington Trail 5k Series Run 6 – Baydale Beck 5K
This was the 6th of the series and described as ‘trail, open to any level of ability from a club runner to a recreation runner. This route offers a mix of terrain from tarmac to woodland, mainly flat and fast but with a few cheeky inclines’.
Luke Hewitson finished the route in 22:28, followed by Julie Russell (30:05) and Chris Bowe (30:30).
24th July: Stately Trails: Aske Hall 10k (10k league and 5k also available)
Grade 1 listed, Aske Hall was built in 1066 and is set in beautiful parkland and woodland. It offers a challenging route with a very long uphill and a mix of trail, fields and woodland with lovely views across the Dales and Aske Hall grounds.
Michael Joyeux was the overall winner of the 10km finishing in 40:18 and 1st in age category, followed by Dave Jones (4tyh place overall in 45:49 and 1st in age category), James Atkinson (6th place overall in 46:09 and 2nd in age category), Simon Metcalfe (50:57), Neil Chalmers (51:10), Daniel McIntyre (52:12), Darren Wright (53:43 and 3rd in age category), Ian Hart (56:46 and 1st in age category), Emily Beaumont (58:10), Alex Looney (59:08 and 2nd in age category), Sue Sparrow (59:46), Rob Gillham (59:47 and 3rd in age category), Helen Clark (1:01), Amy Storey (1:02), Chris Clark (1:02), Anthony Corbett (1:02), April Corbett (1:03), John Harrison (1:04), Paul Cockburn (1:08), Helen Clarke (1:09), Sarah Burrows (1:16) and Lucy Bendle (1:16).
24th July: Muddy Roads – Pine Forest 5k
This was the 4th of the 6 Muddy Road series of races, taking place over at Flatts Lane.
Rob Dent was first Quaker finisher in 8th place overall in 21:25 and 2nd in age category, followed by Carys Samuel (25:35 and 2nd in age category), Abbie Jones (26:21), Sandra Cass (29:42 and 1st in age category), and Julie Whinn (36:22 and 3rd in age category).
25th – 27th July: Montane Lakeland 100
This ‘Ultra Tour of the Lake District’ bills itself as the most spectacular long distance trail race to have ever taken place within the UK. The 100 (105) mile route takes in all the Lakeland fells and features around 6300m of ascent – beginning and ending at John Ruskin School in Coniston Competitors initially head south before completing a clockwise circuit taking in the Dunnerdale fells, Eskdale, Wasdale and Buttermere before arriving in Keswick. From here, runners proceed to Matterdale and continue over to Haweswater before returning via Kentmere, Ambleside and Elterwater to the finish at Coniston. The route avoids the popular tourist summits of the area, instead weaving runners through the Lake Districts stunning valleys, picturesque fells and places few runners have the chance to tread.
Emily Beaumont finished the race in 38:02, 51 minutes faster than last year; this was her 5th completion, earning her the 500 slate; Hannah Bryan finished in 39:33.
A special shout outs to Billy Harris and Tom Chapman. Unfortunately, both retired from this very challenging route. Tom retired at Dalemain (59 miles) and Billy at Kentmere which (82 miles).
26th July: Montane Lakeland 50
Its sister race, the Lakeland 50, has 9728ft of climb and takes place over the same weekend, covering the second half of the full course. The route starts from the Northern end of Ullswater within the grand Dalemain Estate before following the Eastern shore line as far as Howtown. A quick climb and descent followed by a trek along the banks of Haweswater sees runners at Mardale Head. The route from here visits Long Sleddale, Kentmere, Ambleside, Langdale and Tilberthwaite before the final climb and descent to the finish at Coniston. There were 1263 finishers and 114 who retired.
Rebecca Howard completed the race in 12:25, setting the club record for her age category, followed by Claire Chapman (14:02 and setting club record for her age category), David Aiken (15:01) and Roy McDougall (19:23).
26th July: parkruns: Darlington South Park, Hackworth (Shildon), Hartlepool and Wynyard Woodland
At Darlington South Park, Michael Joyeux finished in 2nd place overall and was 2nd male in 16:48; at Hackworth, Rob Dent finished in 7th place overall in 20:59; at Hartlepool, Abbie Jones was 3rd female finisher in 21:43 and at Wynyard Woodland, Dave Jones finished in 3rd place overall and 3rd male in 20:06 and Nick Wadd finished in 9th place overall in 22:04.
26th July: Cotherstone 10k (5k and children’s fun run also available)
This 2 lap race raised funds for Great North Air Ambulance Service and Pancreatic Cancer and The British Heart Foundation. The event started at Doe Park Caravan site and personally timed by runners.
Dawn Richardson was the first female finisher.
27th July: Northumberland Coastal Run
Organised by Alnwick Harriers, this 14 mile run heads through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty along the Northumberland coastal path from Beadnell Harbour to Alnmouth Estuary, keeping as close to the coast as possible. The route starts on sand, then onto road, sand, trail, road and finishes on sand at Alnmouth.
Anna Harris and Andrew Walker completed the event in 2:41.
27th July: James Herriot 14k
This trail race takes place over moorland tracks and paths near Castle Bolton in Wensleydale by kind permission of Lord Bolton. £3,000 was raised for local charities and worthy causes.
Carys Samuel completed the race in 1:20, followed by Michael Thompson (1:21) and Helen Clark (1:37).
27th July: 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. This was the event’s 7th birthday!
Lou Trainor completed the event in 53:45 and 2nd in age category, followed by Chris Bowe (1:02 and Jeff Marriott (1:04).
Special mentions:
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!