Photo: QRC parkrun tourists at Fountains Abbey (Photo courtesy of Diane)
Another bumper edition with lots to celebrate! QRC members have taken part in a range of events across all the disciplines during the first half of May including road, trail, fell, Canicross, 5k, 5 mile, 10k, half, marathon and ultra distances as well as our Mowden Meander handicap event with lots of great achievements and PBs.
3rd May: Canicross Fur Nations Trophy at Shipley Country (5k each day)
Alex Mathers and Helen Clark represented Team England at this England leg of the Fur Nations trophy which took place in Shipley Country Park, Derbyshire.
Alex Mathers achieved 2nd in class (17:55/16:47 for Sat/Sun combined) and 1st in class on Monday in 16:32.
4th May: Hartlepool Marina 5 miler (Championship Race)
A flat, all-tarmac, road race starting and finishing opposite the Wingfield Castle (ship) on Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool. The course takes runners down Maritime Avenue and up onto the promenade for an out and back run beside the sea (all on the tarmac promenade).
Rob Gillham was first Quaker finisher in 37:28 and 3rd in age category, followed by Helen Clark (44:39), Chris Clark (45:46), Lisa Jenkins (46:04 PB) and Ian Young (57:36).
4th May: Melmerby 10k (10k league)
Starting in the village of Melmerby, the undulating route takes runners through quiet and scenic picturesque villages before returning back to Melmerby.
Dave Jones was first Quaker finisher in 40:43, followed by Rob Dent (40:47), Ed Griffiths (41:09, 3rd in age category and PB), James Atkinson (42:25), Brian McLaren (44:33), Carys Samuel (45:19 and 2nd in age category), Neil Chalmers (45:22 PB), Scott Beaumont (45:53), Chris Minto (46:21), Ian Hart (47:09, 1st in age category and club record), Simon Metcalfe (47:26), Emily Beaumont (48:15 PB), David Nalder (48:31 and 2nd in age category), April Corbett (50:08 and 3rd in age category), Anthony Corbett (52:49), Sue Sparrow (52:41), Carmelita Coco (54:16), Paul Cockburn (54:51), Sarah Burrows (57:04 PB), Helen Clark (57:50), Juliette McLaren (1:07) and Lisa Quinney (1:08 PB).
4th May: Newcastle-Gateshead Marathon and Half Marathon (10k also available)
This road closed course takes in the famous landmarks of Gateshead including Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Sage Gateshead, BALTIC, Tyne Bridge, Swing Bridge and finishing in the iconic Gateshead International Stadium and finishing by running around the track and crossing the finish line cheered home by family and friends.
In the half marathon race, Chris Neesam was first Quaker finisher in 1:55 and setting PB), followed by Grainne Duffy (2:15), Jo Neesam (2:16 and setting PB) and Vicki Peters (2:28 and setting PB).
4th May: Kirbymoorside 10k
This undulating road race is staged annually to raise money for Kirkbymoorside and Gilamoor Primary Schools.
Rob Gillham completed the race in 48:18, followed by Ian Burgess (51:49) and Helen Clark (1:04). Shout out to Rob and Helen who had completed Hartlepool Marina 5 miler earlier in the day!
6th May: Ormesby Hall evening 5k
This was the first event of the Summer Night Series.
Chris Bowe completed the event in 28:15 and Jeff Marriott in 31:46 (3rd in age category)
7th May: Locke Park Pie and Peas (Championship Race)
This Redcar based 5 mile race is organised by New Marske Harriers and uses 5 laps of a 1 mile loop.
Marc Ellis was first Quaker finisher in 4th place overall and 1st in age category in 29:01, followed by Brian McLaren (35:34), Neil Chalmers (35:45), Rob Gillham (36:19), Ian Hart (37:31, 1st in age category and club record), Diane Vaughan (37:50, 2nd in age category and club record), April Corbett (40:02 and 2nd in age category), Anthony Corbett (42:40), Wendy Colling (43:52), Helen Clark (44:25), Sarah Burrows (45:25) and Juliette McLaren (50:40).
8th May: Mowden Meander
Organised by QRC Race Development Committee and supported by member volunteers, the Mowden Meander handicap event offered 1 lap of 2.5 miles or 2 laps totalling 4.9 mile.
1 lap option (2.5 miles)
| Pos | Name | Time | Handicap | Net Time |
| 1 | Abbie Wilson | 28:00 | 00:00 | 28:00 |
| 2 | Hazel Bentley | 28:00 | 00:00 | 28:00 |
| 3 | Sharon Carr | 28:58 | 00:00 | 28:58 |
| 4 | Rachel Fawcett | 29:01 | 00:00 | 29:01 |
| 5 | Stephen Smedley | 29:38 | 00:00 | 29:38 |
| 6 | Heather Brackenbury | 30:19 | 00:00 | 30:19 |
| 7 | Michael King | 30:42 | 00:00 | 30:42 |
| 8 | Gemma Cordey | 42:00 | 00:00 | 42:00 |
| 9 | Mel Newton | 42:00 | 03:45 | 38:15 |
2 lap option (4.9 miles)
| Pos | Name | Time | Handicap | Net Time |
| 1 | Stephen Ash | 44:57 | 06:30 | 38:27 |
| 2 | Luke Hewitson | 45:48 | 11:15 | 34:33 |
| 3 | Marc Ellis | 45:50 | 16:30 | 29:20 |
| 4 | Neil Chalmers | 46:17 | 11:15 | 35:02 |
| 5 | Dave Jones | 46:26 | 15:00 | 31:26 |
| 6 | Dale Chapman | 46:52 | 13:30 | 33:22 |
| 7 | Rob Dent | 47:02 | 15:00 | 32:02 |
| 8 | Chris Clark | 47:59 | 05:00 | 42:59 |
| 9 | Chris Dowling | 48:05 | 09:30 | 38:35 |
| 10 | Dawn Richardson | 48:24 | 15:00 | 33:24 |
| 11 | Dave Thompson | 49:00 | 08:00 | 41:00 |
| 12 | Carmelita Coco | 49:00 | 06:30 | 42:30 |
| 13 | Chris Wright | 49:21 | 06:30 | 42:51 |
| 14 | Rob Gillham | 49:36 | 11:15 | 38:21 |
| 15 | James Atkinson | 49:46 | 15:00 | 34:46 |
| 16 | Alex Looney | 50:38 | 09:30 | 41:08 |
| 17 | Paul Cockburn | 50:45 | 06:30 | 44:15 |
| 18 | Julie Bell | 52:08 | 05:00 | 47:08 |
10th May: parkruns – Darlington South Park, Hackworth (Shildon) and Fountains Abbey
At Darlington South Park, Michael Joyeux finished in 1st place in 17:19 whilst Ed Griffiths completed his 250th parkrun milestone by finishing in 6th place in 19:03, shaving 19 seconds off his previous PB from December 22. Meanwhile, Diane Vaughan completed her 50th parkrun milestone in 23:55 and Ian Hart broke the club age category record in 22:52.
Over at Hackworth, Rob Dent was 2nd male finisher in 2nd place overall in 20:25 and at Fountains Abbey, Stephen Smedley celebrated his 50th parkrun milestone in 39:55.
11th May: Leeds Marathon
The race started and finished at Headingley Stadium with a route that included a circular path around Woodhouse Moor and passing through Adel, Lawnswood, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and Otley, with runners experiencing some of Leeds’ most scenic countryside with a loop around Golden Acre Park before returning to the Stadium.
Emma Bland completed the race in 5:04, followed by Barbra Barker (5:25), Diane Sparrow (5:25) and Sarah Burrows (5:41).
11th May: Leeds Half Marathon
The race started on St Michael’s Lane and finished inside Headingley Stadium with the route heading out via Cardigan Road, Victoria Road and loop around Woodhouse Moor towards Leeds City Centre.
Pip Rayner and Emma Joyeux completed the course in 2:28
11th May: Sunderland Half Marathon and 10k
This is one of the biggest closed road running events in the North East, with 5,000 participants taking to the city streets across a range of distances including the Half Marathon, flat and fast 10k and 3k. The route goes through the city and along the sea front, with one of the famous bridges providing a stunning backdrop to both distances.
In the 10k, Chris Neesam ran a PB time of 49:58, Jo Neesam set her 10k PB at 1:00 and Lisa Quinney finished in 1:11.
In the Half Marathon, Janet Bowlby finished in 2:08, followed by Michael Oliver (2:10) and Chris Bowe (2:32).
11th May: The Chianti Classico
Organisers suggest that the backdrop of this event is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy – the Florentine Chianti Classico area. Among the wonders that entrants encounter along the way are: the new Antinori Cellars, the ancient Abbey of Badia a Passignano, the historic centre of Greve in Chianti, the medieval village of Montefioralle, the Castle of Verrazzano and the Castle of Gabbiano.
Carys Samuel completed this very hilly trail (slightly longer than a half marathon) in 2:41.
11th May: Hardmoors White Horse
The Hardmoors White Horse Trail event offers three circular races held at Sutton Bank Visitor Centre in North Yorkshire, featuring marathon (approx. 28 miles), half marathon (approx. 17 miles) and 10K (approx. 8 miles) distances.
Scott Beaumont completed the marathon in 7:06, Karen Dove completed the Half Marathon in 4:38 and Dave Jones was 3rd finisher and 1st in age category in the 10k in 1:01.
15th May: Stately Trails: Constable Burton (5k and 10k)
At Constable Burton you will find a beautiful Grade I listed Georgian house set amongst extensive formal and woodland gardens in the heart of Wensleydale. DalesRunner bring runners and walkers the opportunity to complete a 5km or 10km on stunning trails through this exclusive estate!
April Corbett completed the 10k event in 1:01 followed by Anthony Corbett (1:03) and Lisa Jenkins (1:32).
Special Mentions:
All things parkrun…
Congratulations and well done to our Class of 2025 Beginners who graduated at Darlington South Park parkrun on 17th May, supported by QRC coaches and member volunteers.
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!
Thank you and well done to Diane Lockhart and Michael King, who have recently achieved their 25th volunteer milestone.
Well done to QRC parkrun tourists who ran at Fountains Abbey on 10th May. The next parkrun tourism is on 14th June at Windy Nook.
Windy Nook course description:
Three laps around the footpaths of the nature park on a mixture of trail, gravel and tarmac pathway, starting and finishing the middle of the Windy Nook Nature Park.
Toilets and café available inside the Whitehills centre and the event starts on the path near the middle of the Windy Nook Nature Park.