The races have started to come thick and fast for members of Aycliffe Running Club as we move into Spring. Not that it has felt it weather wise!
The week started off with the first race of the Darlington 5k trail series on Wednesday 6 March, which was the Baydale Beck headtorch race. This saw runners take on a challenging course through trails, using a headtorch to light the way forward. There was an excellent turnout for the club with an amazing 23 members taking part. Representing the club were Richard Holland (23:17), Sam Keenan (24:00), James Cooper (25:02), Jimmy Agnew (26:19), Ste Dunn (26:41), Lucy Postle (26:48), Daniel Tatham (27:11), Richard Trowles (27:14), Trevor Agnew (28:42), David Stothard (28:43), Joe Dickinson (28:45), Sarah Gill (28:50), Keith Hatton (30:25), Sammie Metcalfe (31:06), Sue Podmore (33:39), Kelly Dickinson (33:52), Jean Pierre Hupin (33:56), Carley Cooper (34:00), Em Flynn (37:17), Peter Varley (37:27), Rob Nicholson (37:40), Nicola Ingman (39:18) and Ian Stothard (41:27).
On Saturday 9 March, six members travelled for the 40th anniversary of the Dentdale Run starting the village of Dent in Cumbria. There was the opportunity take part in either the 7.9 mile race of 14.2 mile race. In the 7.9 mile race, Martyn Knox (1:03:02), Salv McDonnell (1:08:09) and Trish Kay (1:13:34) represented the club with Martyn third in the men’s over 35 category. In the 14.2 mile race, Richard Campbell finished in an excellent time of 1:32:14. Cath McDonnell (2:18:04) was third in the female over 55 race. Bernadette Cooper (2:22:08), survived an early issue after falling heavily after tripping on a tree root, cutting her knee. Despite suffering with pain, she continued to complete the full race, an amazing effort.
The following day, six members travelled for the Running GP Croft Motor Circuit on the race track at Croft Circuit. Weather conditions for the race were awful, with rain and wind. That did not stop our members from taking part, showing excellent grit and determination. The runners had the opportunity of running anything from a 5k race up to a marathon. In the 10k race, Jean Pierre Hupin (1:00:11) was third in the male over 65 category. Kirsty Cameron (1:06:02) and Kathleen Tonge (1:08:19) also represented the club. In the half marathon, Carley Cooper (2:12:28 who would have been placed in the top 3 of her age category), Richard Tonge (2:27:53 and first in the male over 65 category) and Em Flynn (2:29:44 and third in the female over 45 category) representing the club. This was also the first time, that Em had managed to get below that elusive 2 hours 30 mark for a half marathon in over two years, showing the amazing progress she has made over the last year.
On Saturday 2 March, 33 members started their weekend with a parkrun, taking in the Silksworth, Sedgefield, Darlington South Park, Hackworth, Oakwell Hall and Wynyard Woodland events.
At Silksworth, Steve Williams (26:46), Evelina Dogley (28:35), and Viv Williams (31:44) completed the course for the first time. At Sedgefield, Andrew Tweddle (24:06) completed his 50th parkrun on this course setting a new personal best in the process.