By Paul Dalton
Icy conditions led to a large number of Saturday’s local parkruns being cancelled, but the club were still represented at the Albert, Stewart and York events.
The conditions didn’t hinder David Stothard or Gareth Kyle. David managed to run a Personal Best (PB) at Albert parkrun (27:38), and Gareth registered a new best of 20:46 for Stewart Park.
The weather rarely has such an impact on cross country (XC) and Saturday afternoon saw the first race of the weekend’s XC ‘double-header’.
The fixture at Thornley Hall Farm, Peterlee, was the latest in the North-Eastern Harrier League.
In the Women’s race, which took place over 6.4K, Carley Cooper was the club’s sole representative. Carley completed the race in 45:04.
In the Men’s race, which took place over 9.6K, John Firby was the first runner home for the club, completing the race in a time of 43:36 (a net time of 41:06 after starting from the mid-pack).
Dez Fielden was the next member home, in a time of 47:19 (a net time of 44:49).
Stuart Joyce, who is starting to relish XC, completed the race in 54:51, just ahead of Peter Tennick, who finished in 55:24. Shaun Dodd was the final Aycliffe runner home, in a time of 56:47.
On Sunday the second XC fixture of the weekend took place at Ormesby Hall in Middlesbrough.
In the Women’s race, which took place over 6.8K, Lauryn Hellewell was the first lady home for the club, in a time of 29:55.
Melanie Rowland continued her strong showing over this XC season, finishing in 35:02, with Kelly Dickinson crossing the line in 39:21.
In the Over 65 Men’s race, also held over 6.8K, Trevor Needham kept himself in medal contention, bagging himself a third placed finish in 29:03.
In the Senior and Veteran Men’s race, which was held over a distance of 10.2K, John Firby was once again first home for the Club, in a time of 37:05, followed by Dez Fielden in 39:16, and Richard Campbell was not too far behind in 39:57.
Richard Holland completed the race in 45:19, just ahead of Martin Turnbull (45:27) and Peter Tennick (46:23).
Shaun Dodd completed his second run of the weekend in 49:17, just in front of Peter Jarps, who finished in 49:39.
Martin Knox crossed the line in exactly 52 minutes, with David Stothard completing the Aycliffe contingent in 1:03:17.
If you have any queries about the activities of Aycliffe Running Club, visit ayclifferunningclub.org.uk, or contact the club’s Secretary, Donna, at [email protected].
Above picture by Stuart Whitman.
