Newton Aycliffe: On Sunday, August 10 at the Middleton-in-Teesdale five-mile road race Aycliffe AC had three runners competing.

Malcolm Ingram a regular at Aycliffe ac was the race winner in a very quick 31 minutes. Michael O' Sullivan was next in his best ever placing a superb third position. Michael came home in 33minutes. John Burnside also put in an excellent run to finish in fifth place in 35 minutes.

Michael O'Sullivan's year of personal bests continued when he competed in the Kirby Steven 10 mile road race on the August 17. O'Sullivan is having a super 2003 on the roads and his time of 66.08 on a strength sapping course proved he is now able to compete with the top runners,and is reaping the rewards for all his hard training.

Quakers

On Sunday, August 10, the Darlington 10K was ran in monsoon weather.

Runners battled against wind and torrential ran as a thunderstorm hit the start of the race. However, the Quakers battled on with an exceptional turnout. Ian Scott finished 19th out of 741 competitors to finish in a time of 36:25 to claim the 1st over 50 prize, followed by Andy Henderson, 20th, 36:25 and Wayne Bramley finished 24th in 36:44 to take the 6th over 40 prize.

Other Quakers: Dave Giblin, 130th 42:21, 143rd John Edmondson, 42:47, 152nd Phil Rutter, 43:10, 155th Peter Smith, 43:17, 169th, Andrew O'Hara, 43:43, 179th Tommy Hurworth, 44:17, 181st David O'Hara, 44:22, 182nd Dave Mason, 44:24, 184th Colin Buxton, 44:32, 231st Graham Park, 45:48, 251st Simon Carter, 46:38, 253rd Keith Shevels, 46:41, 274th Fred Tennant, 47:11, 283rd John Ross, 47:25. Jean Southern was 1st Quaker lady home in 47:36, followed by Larry Gannon who acted as Beverly Moss-Gray's pacer to finish 295th in 47:36 and 47:46 respectively. Next home was Dave McLachlan, 304th, 48:10, 313th Helen Witham, 48:22, 321st Diane Vaughan, 48:38, 350th Kev Shevels, 49;12, 355th Sarah Gamblin, 49:20, 386th Terry Deary, 50:02, 391st Brendan Boyle 50:11, 435th Isabel Evans, 51:22, 456th Alan Prest, 52:02, 460th Julie Giblin, 52:12, 463rd Craig Watson, 52:26, 472nd Harry Manuel, 52:55, 474th Diane Wright, 52:57, 502nd Paul Quinn, 53:52, 503rd Ross Chisholm, 53:55, 511th Mike Horan, 54:10, 512th Robert Kirby, 54:12, 521st Richard Hughes, 54:46, 543rd John Tully, 55:27, 553rd Marcia Downer, 55;47, 643rd Sue Boyle, 62:25, 677th Vanessa Treston, 65:04, 682nd Wendy Glasper, 65:38 and 685th Sharon Towns, 66:17.

The next Durham Dales fell race will be held on Sunday, September 28. Stanhope Common Fell Race consists of ten miles over 1526 feet. Registration is from the ford in Stanhope. The course is partially marked. Experience/local knowledge/ navigation skills required. Full kit may be compulsory depending on weather. Over 18's only. Start time 11:00 am.

The Quakers Running Club have developed a new trail race to be held in Hamsterley Forest on 12 October. Called the Inov-8 after its sponsor, the race is an eight mile route along forest tracks, trails and moorland paths within the Forest. With the course visiting areas of the forest not previously visited by any race, competitors in the event are guaranteed one of the most scenic races in the North East.

Inov-8, a new company in the running shoe market, have chosen the event to be the first that they have sponsored. Based in Stanhope in County Durham, Inov-8 specialise in running shoes for the off-road market. Their innovative Mudroc shoe will be among the prizes for the winning runners.

All proceeds from the event are being donated to the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team's "Stan's Van" appeal to replace its ageing Land Rover. The team is a voluntary organisation, which provides search and rescue provision not just on the high fells and moors above Teesdale and Weardale but throughout the whole of County Durham.

Further details on the race and an entry form can be obtained from the club's website or from the organiser, Inov-8, 35 Carmel Road South, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 8DQ.

* The Quakers Running Club train on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings, 6.30 pm from Hummersknott School, Darlington. All abilities and ages welcome. For further details see www.quakersrunningclub.co.uk.

Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

The two lap Harrogate Town Centre 10k Road Race again attracted a large field, with 770 finishers. Ten Harriers travelled for the event, which was won by Philip Sly, an unattached runner, in a time of 30.37 minutes.

Harriers: Stephan Tomaszewski finished in 134th place in 41.21, Ernie Huck 154th in 41.46, Alan Harman 216th in 43.59, Geoff Bullock 256th in 44.57, Paul Goacher 269th in 45.20, Peter Scanlon 413th in 49.13, Ian Codling 470th in 51.20, Lesley Ann Welford 484th in 51.36, Cath Lumb 487th in 51.43, and Marian Codling 690th in 61.49.

John Yates travelled to Storminster Newton for a holiday 5k and finished in fourth place in a time of 18.36 minutes. Typically for this summer, the temperature was high and the course was very hilly!

The Kirby Stephen Run over ten miles, was run in slightly cooler conditions, but it was again a very hilly course, and there were 93 finishers. Unattached runner Stephen Hepples was the winner in 55.34 minutes.

Harriers: Peter Scanlon finished 53rd in 1.23.11, Ian Codling 65th in 1.27.04, Fiona Wilson 76th in 1.30.55 and Marian Codling 92nd in 1.46.21.

The inaugural running of the York Millenium Bridge 5K was won by Darren Bilton of Leeds City in 15.06 minutes.

Harriers: Alan Somers was in 55th place in 20.28, Sarah Somers 122nd in 25.27 and Pamels Sherlock 154th in 29.22.

The fast, flat course allowed many of the runners to see the Millenium Bridge for the first time.

The latest Fell Race was at Langdale End and was won by Ricky Wilson of Scarborough AC in 38.20. Caroline Pollard was 24th, and 1st lady finisher, in 50.46, Alan Wikeley 26th in 51.34 and Ernie Huch 37th in 59.20.

Richmond and Zetland Harriers

There were only two athletes from Richmond and Zetland Harriers in the Junior 3.5K Road Race which preceded the recent Sherwoods/Darlington 10K but they were the best two. Philip Fitzpatrick and Scarlett Gray were male and female winners and each took home a magnificent trophy.

The race started in warm weather at 9.45 am with dark clouds on the horizon and they were both home, Philip in 11:50 and Scarlett 11th overall in 13:41, before the heavens opened.

Martin Scaife was a clear winner of the 10K despite the summer storm but his time of 31:01 reflected having to race through floodwater up to his calves. He was right about the weather when he said: "It was horrendous, really crazy, like a monsoon."

Behind him, Peter Grime of Durham University and John Hunter of Loftus battled with each other as well as the elements with Grime edging home second in 32:37 and Hunter taking third and first Vet 40.

Fourth place David Lockett of Salford Harriers almost missed his prize as he mistakenly ran with his 10-year-old cousin's Fun Run number and the Organisers wondered if he was a bandit.

The Club had eight runners in the 10K and pride-of-place went to Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo, finishing in 35:43 for 14th place and 4th M40 on his first outing as a Vet.

He was backed-up by Brian McNabb, 30th in 37:15 and Ian Scott, 32nd in 37:25 to take 3rd team prizes and unofficially 1st Veteran team.

Mike Brooks was fourth Harrier, 4th M55 in 38:32 and 58th place overall, his best-ever result as an over 50 despite the adverse conditions. Ed Devlin was a little less fortunate time wise as he missed the magic 40-minute mark by just six seconds, having stopped to help a disabled athlete who had fallen in the floodwater.

Shane Gray continued his fantastic first competitive season finishing in 87th place with another PB - 30:14.

Colin Sewell was pleased with his time of 42:03 and 121st place considering the conditions and how long he has been away with the RAF and colleague Sarah Gregory was similarly happy to see her name on page 2 out 6, 254th from 741 finishers in 46:45.

This weekend; the 10th Annual Tartan Games are at Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday with first event at 11 am and on Sunday the Senior Men are competing at the Dorothy Hyman Stadium at Cudworth near Barnsley in the Final of the Inter-Clubs Knockout Pate.

* www.rzh.org.uk