Photo: Andrew and Simon at Viking Chase Fell Run (Photo shared by Simon)
Another busy fortnight for racing with members taking part in events across all the disciplines and lots to celebrate including 20th parkrun celebrations, a great start to the Cross Country season and an excellent turn out for the Club Trip in Bruge.
5th October: parkruns – Cotsford Fields, Downsview (Toronto, Canada) and Wynyard Woodland
Today was parkrun’s 20th birthday celebration with lots of Quakers taking the opportunity to take part, near and far!
At Cotsford Fields, Rebecca Dodd finished in 10th place overall in 26:17 whilst at Downsview, Alex Looney was 3rd female finisher in 24:39 and at Wynyard Woodland, David Aiken finished in 5th place overall in 19:40 and Rebecca Howard was first female finisher in 21:29.
5th October: Kielder Half Marathon (10k and Marathon also available)
The Half Marathon route starts on Kielder Water’s spectacular dam providing an inspirational backdrop for those taking part. The route then heads in to the forest on the North Shore along the forestry road and winds away from the dam for approximately 3 miles to eventually turn and join the Lakeside Way then back across the dam and on to Leaplish Visitor Park and the finish line.
Lisa Quinney completed the half marathon route in 2:48.
6th October: NYSD Cross Country, Acorn Centre, Acklam Grange, Middlesbrough
The first of the cross country races started and finished at the Acorn Centre at Acklam Grange School, Middlesbrough.
U17, U20, Senior/Vet ladies, under 17 men and Vet men over 65 completed a 3.9 mile long route.
Lou Trainor finished in 27:01 followed by Deborah Berry (28:27), Lisa Bowerbank (29:54), Diane Lockhart (30:55), Rachel Grayson (33:31), Melissa Hird (33:57), Julie Russell (35:04), Pip Burns (37:02) and Lisa Jenkins (38:09).
U20, Senior/Vet men completed a 6.2 mile route.
Dave Jones completed the route in 45:58 followed by Rob Gillham (50:42), Michael Thompson (50:45), Neil Chalmers (52:10) and Stephen Howell (54:28).
6th October: Great Cumbrian Jarrow 10k
This road closed race is flat, fast and holds great PB potential. event which starts and finishes on Monkton Athletics Track.
John Yeomans completed the race in 59:14, earning himself a shiny new PB.
6th October: Athora Great Bruge Marathon, Half Marathon and 8k walk – QRC Club Trip 2024
This year, the organisers promised that, ‘everything will be even prettier, bigger and better for the seventh edition of the Athora Great Bruges Marathon … and who knows maybe even faster.’ The flat course – with lots of kilometres through the centre of town – is ideal for setting a personal record. Over 7,000 participants were able to enjoy their run around and across Bruges.
The start was at ‘t Zand, in the shadow of Bruges’ Concert Hall. After the starting shot, the course meanders through the beautiful Bruges city centre, followed by a well-received passage through the medieval splendour of Damme and the stretch along Damme Canal. The finish is traditionally on Bruges’ magical Market Square with participants finishing with a view of the majestic Belfry.
Helen Clark completed the Marathon distance in 4:28, earning herself a new PB.
In the Half Marathon, Marc Ellis was first Quaker finisher in 1:21, followed by Rob Dent (1:31), James Atkinson (1:34), Brian Martin (1:47), April Corbett (1:53), Chris Evans (1:56), Anthony Corbett (2:05), Caroline Lister (2:05), Paul Cockburn (2:05), Sandra Martin (2:06), Carmelita Coco (2:09), Dave Whittle (2:10), Chris Clark (2:13, 1st half), Gilly Cowton (2:13), Brian Cowton (2:14), Wendy Noble (2:31), Zoe Robinson (2:40) and Sue New (2:45).
Steve Padgett, Mel Foster, Sharon Carr, Graham Park and Dave McLachlan completed the 8k walk.
6th October: Chester Marathon
This sell out event is the 6th largest marathon in the UK, multi-award winning and 3x time winner of the UK’s Best Marathon. The route takes runners past all Chester’s iconic landmarks (Roman Walls, Cathedral, Medieval Rows, Eastgate Clock, Amphitheatre) before heading out to the stunning Cheshire and North Wales countryside and villages and returning alongside the River Dee for a finish on Castle Drive.
Dawn Richardson finished the race in 3:05, breaking her own club record as well as 20th female out of 4587 and 3rd in age category!
6th October Lets Run Pathfinder 15 miles (25 miles also available)
Starting from Commondale Village Hall, the Pathfinder Challenge is a self-navigated race with a choice of two distances – 15 or 25 miles and is open to walkers and runners alike with a maximum time limit of ten hours. The route takes entrants over the beautiful North Yorkshire moors and old drover tracks, moorland tracks and some road.
Karen Dove walked the 15 mile event in just under 6 hours.
6th October: Viking Chase Fell Race at Carlton Bank
This race starts at Lordstones Café at Carlton and is advertised as 7.5 miles, though a touch over 8 miles with 1877 ft of elevation. Simon describes the circular race as ‘4 challenging peaks in the first 4.5 miles, up & down, up & down, followed by a relatively smooth 3.5 miles to the finish and a table full of prizes at the finish line’.
Andrew Vernon completed the route in 1:24 and Simon Rek in 1:53.
6th October: Cardiff Half Marathon
The route takes runners past the capital’s most iconic landmarks. It starts outside Cardiff Castle, past Principality and Cardiff City Stadiums and takes in Penarth Marina, before crossing the barrage and heading to Cardiff Bay past the Norwegian Church and Wales Millennium Centre. A loop of Roath Park Lake is completed before the grandstand finish in Cardiff’s beautiful civic centre.
Michael Oliver completed his penultimate half marathon this year (12 of 13) in 2:08.
6th October: Run Yorkshire Roundhay Half Marathon (5k and 10k also available)
Roundhay Park in Leeds, is one of the biggest city parks in Europe with more than 700 acres of parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens. This run is 1 lap of the park including the lake and a climb up to the Mansion House.
Lucy Bendle completed the route in 2:31 (2nd in age category).
12th October: parkruns – Riverside (Chester-le-Street) and Flatts Lane
At Riverside parkrun, Juliette McLaren completed her 50th parkrun milestone in 31:06 whilst at Flatts Lane, David Aiken finished in 2nd place overall and 2nd male in 21:49 and Rebecca Howard was 7th finisher overall and 1st female in 23:22.
13th October: Royal Victoria 8km (Half marathon, Marathon and 5k also available)
This ‘there and back’ race starts and finishes at the Legislative Grounds in downtown Victoria in Canada. It is almost flat and heads out towards Dallas and Beacon Hill Park before turning round and heading back past Frie and Bellville.
Alex Looney completed the route in 38:22.
13th October: San Francisco Deviant Brewing 10k
This race was a there and back with refreshments available from the Bay Area brewery before, during and after the run.
Scott and Emily Beaumont completed the route in 57:53.
13th October: Royal Parks Half Marathon
This stunning course threads its way through the beauty and majesty of four Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens and past iconic landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall. Although there are some gentle undulations it’s a generally flat course, making it fantastic for both beginners and experienced runners.
Lucy Bendle completed the race in 2:28 and Linda Harrington in 3:09.
13th October: Coxhoe Trail Run 10k
A scenic route full of interest and undulating over old railway lines and quarry paths between Coxhoe and Kelloe in County Durham. The route starts at public byway (Coxhoe Hall), entering the path leading to Old Kelloe Way and following the sign posted Limestone LinX route (loop shaped), ending back near the starting point.
Sandra Cass finished the route in 56:56, followed by Wendy Colling (1:00) and Gill Colling (1:06).
13th October: Leeds Abbey Dash 10k
This event takes place between Leeds city centre and Kirkstall Abbey and back on a flat course perfect for runners of all ages and levels, with a fun atmosphere that makes for a memorable day.
Brian Martin completed the route in 48:09 followed by Sandra Martin (53:26 & club record), Caroline Litster (54:35) and Sue New (1:08).
13th October: Richmond Castle 10k – 10k league race
This race starts and finishes in the Batts Riverside Park area and is all on roads apart from a very short section on grass in the Batts. Runners pass the River Swale waterfalls before crossing the river at Green Bridge and climbing Sleegill. Runners follow a short circuit round Catterick Garrison then return into Richmond and circling Richmond Castle on Castle Walk before enjoying a fast downhill finish.
Michael Kipling was first Quaker finisher in 42:01, followed by James Atkinson (45:56), Adrian Gooding (47:35), Martyn Farnsworth (47:50), Rob Gillham (48:36), Neil Chalmers (49:03 & set PB), Graham Looney (49:19), Ian Hart (51:29), Stephen Ash (53:45), Ian Burgess (54:05), April Corbett (54:27), Diane Lockhart (54:36), Anna Harris (56:00), Helen Clark (57:03), Peter Cowan (57:20), Anthony Corbett (59:28), Janet Bowlby (1:00), Simon Rek (1:02), Julie Winn (1:03), Julie Bell (1:03), David Porterfield (1:07) and Mel Newton (1:07).
13th October: West Coast Half Marathon (Preston)
Starting in Preston, the route passes Preston Docks onto the Guild Wheel, then runs through Freckleton into Warton then onto Lytham St Annes for the grand finish at Fairhaven Lake. The race HQ and meeting point is at Fairhaven Lake, with a shuttle service in operation to take runners to the starting point at the docks in Preston.
This was Michael Oliver’s 13th and final half marathon of his challenge this year – he finished in 2:07.
13th October: Turnpike Trot 10k
Starting from the Danby Visitor Centre, this race is staged in the beautiful North York Moors amongst some of the most stunning scenery in the UK.
Karen Dove completed the race in 1:36.
13th October: Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is known for its flat and fast course. The race starts and finishes in Grant Park and travels through one of the world’s most magnificent cities. The course takes runners across six of the Chicago River’s bridges, stretching from Sheridan Road in the north to 35th Street in the south. The race also passes through historic parks and boulevards on the West Side, including Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, and Douglass Park. The route continues west past United Center, veering southwest through Little Italy and Bronzeville, before concluding back in Grant Park. Runners enjoy the support of 1.7 million spectators as they run through 29 neighbourhoods.
David Ledgerwood unfortunately took a tumble but managed to complete the route in 6:35.
Special mentions:
All things parkrun…
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!
Well done to QRC parkrun tourists who ticked York off their list on 5th October. The next outing will be at Flatts Lane on 2nd November.
Flatts Lane information
An undulating 2 lap course on well-established paths and tracks around Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park. Starting close to the Visitor Centre, the route heads along the old railway before heading through the woods back to the Visitor Centre and the start of the second lap. On completion of the second lap the finish is clearly visible in front of the Visitor Centre.
A steep hill up a gravel path and some low steps descending to the visitor centre make this a challenging course for buggies. Trail shoes recommended, especially in wet weather. Toilets located in Visitor Centre Children’s play area. Coats and bags can be left in the visitor centre at owner’s risk.
Lyke Wake…
Condolences and commiserations to Claire Chapman who completed her 60th crossing of the Lyke Wake during the weekend of 12th and 13th October – this is equal to the female record number of crossings. A fantastic achievement!
Running for England…
Congratulations and well done to Dawn Richardson who has achieved her goal of running all 3 qualifying distances for England in the same year (10k, Half marathon and Marathon). Dawn has qualified to represent England at Swansea next year.