Photo: QRC members at Darlington 10k (photo shared by Kylie Rushton-Orton)
A busier fortnight for Quakers with lots to celebrate, including achievements on the track and a fantastic turn out at Darlington 10k, with a good mix of first time and seasoned runners and lots to celebrate including course and 10k PBs.
2nd August: parkruns – Darlington South Park, Marshall Drive (Brotton) & Wynyard Woodland
At Darlington South Park, Luke Hewitson achieved a PB of 21:24, shaving 10 seconds off his previous PB from February this year and Ian Burgess achieved his 250th parkrun milestone in 37:21.
Meanwhile, at Marshall Drive, Rob Dent finished in 5th place overall in 21:01 and at Wynyard Woodland, Sarah Burrows achieved a new parkrun PB of 28:40, shaving a massive 52 seconds off her previous PB last month.
2nd August: Isaac’s Tea Trail Ultra and Marathon (Relay option also available)
With 4800ft of elevation, the race route follows the footsteps of the legendary tea seller Isaac Holden and is a 37 mile loop from Allendale, via Nenthead, Alston and Ninebanks before returning back to Allendale. It is completely within the North Pennines, a stunning landscape of open heather moors and peatlands, dales, hay meadows, upland rivers, wood and intriguing imprints of a mining and industrial past.
Helen Clark completed the event in 9:31.
3rd August: Darlington 10k
Over 2,200 runners competed in the 38th Darlington 10k this year, and just under 100 of them were current Quaker Running Club members. The flattish 2 lap course has a long uphill stretch that provides challenge. It starts in Horsemarket and takes runners along closed town centre roads including Stanhope Road, Woodland Road, Carmel Road North, Coniscliffe Road, Skinnergate and finishing on High Row.
Michael Joyeux was the first Quaker finisher in 34:12 (in 20th place) breaking his own club record for his age category, followed by Marc Ellis (36:16 and 1st in age category), Darren Wright (38:03), James Atkinson (40:35), Alex Mathers (40:50 PB), Dave Jones (41:22), Ed Griffiths (41:29), Dawn Richardson (41:49 and 1st in age category), John Lloyd (42:04 set PB), Adrian Gooding (43:39), Simon Metcalfe (44:14), Abbie Jones (44:33 PB), Rachel Lister (45:12), Deborah Berry (45:19), Chris Minto (45:43), Graham Looney (46:04 PB), Piotr Swiader (46:18 set PB), Neil Chalmers (46:28), Lou Trainor (46:52 and 3rd in age category), James Stuart (47:03 set PB), Brian McLaren (47:06), Scott Beaumont (47:36), Daniel McIntyre (47:41 PB), Lewis Joyeux (48:02), Brian Martin (48:20), Ian Hart (48:24 and 3rd in age category), Dan Rushton-Orton (49:04), Diane Vaughan (49:15 and 3rd in age category), Alex Looney (50:04), Stephen Ash (50:17), Emily Beaumont (50:25), Steve Howell (50:41), Shaune Eland (50:43), David Nalder (51:21), Jonathan Eccles (51:23), Angus Welsh (51:43 set PB), Amy Storey (51:51 set PB), Rob Gillham (51:52), Ian Burgess (52:04), Lisa Bowerbank (52:13), John Harrison (52:40), April Corbett (53:29), Phil Rutter (53:39), Caroline Litster (53:49), Adam Charles (53:52), Chris Clark (54:35 PB), Simon Rek (54:55), Anthony Corbett (54:58), Paul Cockburn (55:07), Kate Shaw (55:18), Kinga Young (55:19), Helen Clark (55:38), Julie Bell (57:05), Paul Roberts (57:08), David Ledgerwood (57:42), Louise Priestman (57:47), Gill Colling (57:54), Juliette McLaren (57:50), Julie Russell (58:01), Jeff Marriott (58:38), Helen Clarke (58:38), Stuart Masterman (59:05), Barbra Barker (59:29), Diane Sparrow (59:33), Julie Whinn (59:44), Gilly Cowton (59:59), Emma Joyeux (1:00), Pip Rayner (1:00), Ross Edmond (1:00), Sarah Burrows (1:00), Chris Bowe (1:00), Phil Thornberry (1:01), Victoria Peters (1:01), Carmelita Coco (1:02), Rachel Timms (1:02), Andrew Vernon (1:03), John Yeomans (1:03), Lena Rusa (1:04), Mel Newton (1:04), Jo Neesam (1:05), Chris Evans (1:05), Graham Park (1:06), Paige Robson (1:07), Marc Colling (1:07), Lucy Bendle (1:07), Linda Burrell (1:08), Ruth Hawkins (1:08), Andy Walker (1:09 PB), Berni Gibson (1:10), Sally Singleton (1:10), Cindy Lombaard (1:10 set PB), Ian Young (1:12), Adele Brown (1:13), Rachel Fawcett (1:13 set PB), Paul Ryan (1:13), Mark Blewitt (1:14), Caroline Maychell (1:15), Stephen Moore (1:25), Sue New (1:31), Gary Read (1:31), Rebecca Jones (1:31) and Stephen Smedley (1:47).
Congratulations to Dawn Richardson, Abbie Jones and Deborah Berry who were 2nd female team of 32. In the male teams QRC were 9th of 37.
3rd August: Darlington 5k
The Darlington 5K debuted this year as part of the town’s annual running festival, offering a shorter alternative to the popular 10K. The route headed west along Coniscliffe Road, with a gentle incline before turning onto Woodlands Road and Stanhope Road and looping back towards the town centre, with the final stretch along Feethams and Church Row. Over 500 runners took part, ranging from club athletes to first-time 5K participants.
Well done to Diane Vaughan who ran both the 5 and 10k. Diane was 2nd female in 23:22 (2nd in age category (2/92) followed by Abigail Wilson (31:19), Dave Murphy (33:27), Wendy Noble (34:07), Janet Waite (40:00) and Sharon Carr (42:16).
3rd August: Run The Raid Lindisfarne Half Marathon
This point-to-point half marathon retraces the legendary Viking raid of Lindisfarne in 793 AD. Runners began in the coastal town of Spittal, heading north along undulating trails and coastal paths. The route featured a steep climb early in the race, followed by rolling terrain, scenic stretches along gravel tracks and sandy paths, a dramatic crossing of the Lindisfarne Causeway, with views of the castle in the distance and a final scramble up a steep incline to finish near Lindisfarne Castle. The race was timed to coincide with safe tidal access to Holy Island, adding a unique logistical twist to the day.
Michael Oliver completed the event in 2:20 and Andrew Walker in 2:36.
4th August: NEMAA Inter-Area Track and Field, Monkton, Jarrow
Viv Hardwick was presented (for the 3rd year) with a gold medal for North East Masters M70 Leagues in Sprints and silver for the Middle Distance at Monkton Stadium, Jarrow.
Viv completed the 800m in 3 minutes 32.9 seconds (1st in age category).
5th August: More Than a Run Summer series 5k
This event takes place in the grounds of Ormesby Hall.
Chris Bowe completed the route in 28:36 and 1st in age category, followed by Jeff Marriott in 32:23.
6th August: Darlington Trails Woodham Burn 5k
A new event, the looped course started near the event tent at the end of Wolsey Close, winding through the scenic Woodham Burn green corridor. Runners enjoyed a mix of compact trail paths and open grassy stretches, with gentle undulations and shaded sections under tree cover.
Chris Bowe completed the route in 27:53, followed by Jeff Marriott in 29:33.
6th August: Sessay Swift 6k
This fast, one lap road race starts and finishes in the village of Sessay near Thirsk.
Marc Ellis finished the race in 21:16 and 2nd in age category, followed by Alex Mathers (23;34), Billy Harris (26:34), Rob Gillham (27:39), Lou Trainor (27:47), Ian Hart (28:18 and 1st in age category), April Corbett (30:19), Simon Rek (31:15), Anthony Corbett (31:09), Helen Clark (31:21), and Wendy Colling (32:17).
7th August: Quayside 5k (10k also available)
This race route is an out and back on a very flat and fast course along the River Tyne from the Newcastle side of the Millennium Bridge to Newcastle Business Park, under the famous Tyne Bridge and returning to cross the iconic Gateshead Millennium Bridge to finish in Baltic Square.
Diane Vaughan completed the race in 23:02 and 2nd in age category.
9th August: parkruns – Darlington South Park, Newbiggin-on-the-sea, Albert (Middlesbrough)
At Darlington South Park, Graham Looney achieved his 50th parkrun milestone, finishing in 29:50; at Newbiggin-on-the-sea, Jo Neesam achieved her 100th parkrun milestone in 30:43 and at Albert, Sarah Burrows achieved another PB, shaving another 53 seconds off her time last week to finish in 27:47.
10th August: Darlington Trails 5k: S&DR 200 Anniversary Run
This one-off commemorative race followed a fast and flat 5K course ideal for all abilities. The route included a picturesque stretch along the River Skerne, passing under the iconic Five Arches and the ‘Five Pound Note’ bridge, famously featured on the £5 note and marking the site of the first passenger train journey in 1825.
Kate Shaw completed the event in 26:07, followed by Jo Neesam (29:35), Ruth Hawkins (32:37), Chris Bowe (33:53) and Lucy Bendle (34:24).
10th August: Hardmoors Farndale 10k and Half Marathon (Full Marathon also available)
This event starts at Hutton-le-Hole, heading west towards Gillamoor and through Rudland Rigg open moorland before heading down off the hill towards Farndale and back to Hutton-le-Hole.
Karen Dove completed the half marathon (16 miles) in 4:39 whilst in the 10k (8-9 miles), Dave Jones was 4th finisher overall and 1st in age category in 1:09, followed by Rebecca Dodd (1:29) and Martin Smart (1:31).
14th 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 runners to the trails.
First Quaker to cross the finish line was Rob Dent in 20:12, followed by Carys Samuel (34:47 and 1st in age category), Rob Gillham (24:52), Abbie Jones (25:13 and 2nd in age category), Lou Trainor (25:21 and 2nd in age category), April Corbett (26:55 and 2nd in age category), Anthony Corbett (27:04), Chris Clark (27:24), Sandra Cass (27:53 and 1st in age category), Helen Clark (28:15), John Yeomans (30:06), Julie Whinn (30:15 and 3rd in age category) and Berni Gibson (35:12).
(Overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners are excluded from category tables in the results)
Special Mentions
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!
Well done to those who took part in the QRC tourism at Marshall Drive on 2nd August. The next one will be at Heritage Coastal Path at Easington on 6th September.
Course Description and Facilities:
The start is adjacent to a large car park on an open grassed area. The route then passes under a railway bridge to the costal path and follows a figure of 8 route with open cliff top views.
There is a café near to the car park entrance, which is opposite a children’s play area. There are a few picnic tables next to the car park. Adjacent to the car park is a mining heritage display walk showing the history and geology of the area.
There is a men’s urinal to the right hand side on the main road from the A19, Seaside Lane B1283 about 1/2 mile from the A19 and 1/2 mile west from the start line. It is in a small purpose built brick outhouse next to the bus shelter. In addition, there are limited toilet facilities near the start line at the Pay Note café.