By Steven Dawson
It has been another very positive week for Aycliffe Running Club with some excellent performances.
This started with the second race in the Muddy Roads Summer Series with the Saltburn 5k trail where five members represented the club.
John Surtees finished third in the race in a time of 18:05. Tracey Surtees continued her excellent form, finishing as first female in a time of 20:56. Also taking part were Matt Muir (20:10), Sarah Gill (26:02) and David Stothard (28:08).
On Saturday 20 May, one member took part in the Grim Up North 20-mile Beautiful Bluebell Bash at Temple Newsam in Leeds.
Richard Campbell took on the undulating multi-terrain course in style winning the race in a time of winning the race in a time of 2:40:15
On Sunday 21 May, 12 members took part in race 1 on the Darlington Trail Series with the Baydale Beck 10k.
Richard Trowles continued his excellent weekend of running finishing third in a time of 40:26. Also representing the club were Gary O’Connor (45:50), Richard Holland (45:50), Gareth Hamblin (46:46), Stuart Joyce (47:05), Dave Blewitt (51:02), Tamara Kirk (56:18), John Burnside (56:55), David Stothard (1:00:50), Tracey Pickering (1:12:31), Cliff Pickering and Ian Stothard (1:25:57).
The most important part of the race was the all-important recovery afterwards at the food van. It is always important to refuel after a race.
At the same time, four members took part in the famous Pier to Pier race which starts at the Pier in South Shields, before working your way down to the coast finishing at Roker Pier.
Rob Young (51:41), Kelly Dickinson (1:16:13), Kathleen Tonge (118:38) and Richard Tonge (1:19:01) all represented the club.
On 13 May, one member travelled overseas to compete in the Zafiro Ironman 70.3 in Alcudia, Mallorca.
This saw runners compete in a gruelling long distance event with Dan Shoulder managing to complete the 70.3km event in a time of 6:00:54, an amazing achievement.
On Saturday, 18 members started their week with a parkrun taking in the Sandwell Valley, Sedgefield, Darlington South Park, Hackworth and Hartlepool events.
At Sandwell Valley, Viv Williams set a new personal best for the course in a time of 30:18.
At Hackworth Richard Trowles, finished second setting a new personal best for the course of 19:12.
Gareth Hamblin was fifth in a time of 20:48 which was also another personal best for the course.
Even more important was one of the members doing their bit to support the runners with some well-deserved homemade flapjacks and extra rich brownies to replace those lost calories.
More details about Aycliffe Running Club are at ayclifferunningclub.org.uk.
