By Steven Dawson
It has been another very busy week for Aycliffe Running Club with some excellent performances.
On Wednesday, July 19, two members took part in the New Marske Harriers Summer Coast Road 5k. Dave Blewitt (22:11) and Yvonne Blewitt (28:12), both represented the cub. This was also a new 5k personal best for Yvonne.
On Thursday, July 20, nine members took part in the Gerry Kearsley handicaps which is a race run over multi-terrain around Fishburn and Bishop Middleham with the intention that members are set off at different intervals so that everyone finishes at a similar time.
There was a double cause for celebration with Laura Hudson who recently joined the club, winning the event in a time of 54:52. Richard Towles continued his excellent form achieving the fastest time on the night of 40:07.
Also representing the club were Shelley Ramsey (55:54) who finished second, Sammie Metcalfe (53:40), Gareth Hamblin (42:57), Gary O’Connor (42:39), Sue Podmore (57:05) John Burnside (51:33) and Shaun Dodd.
On the same night, four members headed out for the Silksworth 5k set in Sunderland. Representing the club were Dave Blewitt (21:53), David Stothard (24:41), Yvonne Blewitt (29:26) and Ian Stothard (33:54).
On Sunday, one member took part in the Run Northumberland Super Fast Half Marathon.
David Stothard completed the course in a time of 2:09:00. At the same event, Ian Stothard completed the 10k race, finishing in a time of 71:40.
On the same day, one member took part in the Durham Coastal Half Marathon with Sandrine Hewitt finishing in awful weather conditions in a time of 2:49:33.
On Saturday, 29 members started their weekend with a parkrun, taking in the Albert Park, Prudhoe Riverside, Sedgefield, Stewart Park, Darlington South Park, Hackworth, Keswick, Leazes and Denton Dene events.
At Albert Park, Angela Sutheran was the sole representative for the club finishing in a time of 23:39. At Prudhoe Riverside, David Stothard (27:13) and Ian Stothard (35:32) both completed the course for the first time.
At Sedgefield, Tracey Pickering completed the course in a time of 33:47 which was a new personal best for this course.
At Stewart Park, Mark Bainbridge completed the course in new personal best of 24:27 for this event.
At Hackworth, Richard Trowles (18:56) continued his excellent week of finishing first in a new personal best, the first time he had managed to get below the magical 19-minute mark.
Bernadette Cooper finished as first lady, in a time of 23:16. Keith Hatton also hit a landmark by completing his 50th parkrun at Hackworth. finishing in a time of 28:42. Craig Robinson (54:11 ) completed his 75th parkrun, volunteering as a tail walker.
At Keswick, John Surtees finished third in a time of 16:49.
At Denton Dene Carley Gibson (28:36) and Em Flynn (32:39) continued their parkrun tourism, completing the event for the first time.
If you are feeling inspired and are interested in joining the club or want to take your running to the next level, you can turn up for one of our sessions. Or email [email protected] to ask for more details.
