Athletics

Quakers Running Club are celebrating the outstanding success of their Under-15 boys cross country team. The team competing for the first time in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cross Country League have won every trophy possible for their age group. In October, the boys began their run of successes by winning the "Darlington Harriers Trophy" at the first meeting of the season, the cross country relays which were held on home ground at Darlington's Eastbourne Sports complex. This was followed up over the next few months where over a span of six league meetings they recorded four first, one second and one third team finishes to be declared league champions and see them awarded the "Norman

Smith Trophy

In addition to the team's success in the league, Luke Kelton took the Under-15 boys individual championship title and Lewis Moses finished in the runner-up spot. The NYSD road relays meeting held at Locke Park in Redcar on March 24 the final event of the season saw the team take their last trophy where they finished in first, third and sixth team places in their race to receive the Friarage Arts Cup.

Quakers chairman Mike Horan said: "We are very proud of the boy's

achievements."

The Veteran Men's team also achieved victory finishing second place in their race.

Full results: Under 13 Girls (3 x 1mile): Abigail Wilson, 6.00 mins, Stephanie Millar, 7.05 mins, Rachel Carter, 7.32 mins (8th place). Under 13 Boys (3 x 1 mile): Andrew Robinson, 6.46 mins, Wayne Kelly, 7.10 mins. Under 15 Girls (3 x 1 mile): Julia Orr, 5.43 mins, Gemma Phillips, 6.49 mins, Alex Snook, 5.47 mins (4th place). Under 15 Boys (3 x 1 mile): A team: Lewis Moses, 5.02 mins, Neil Robinson, 5.23 mins, Luke Kelton, 5.11 mins (1st place). B team: Lee Moss, 5.34 mins, Simon Farmer, 5.51 mins, Alan Carter, 5.28 mins (3rd place). C team: Michael Bond, 5.55 mins, Daniel Moore, 5.46 mins, Simon Carter, 5.59 (6th place). Jun/Sen/Vet Men (4 x 2 miles): Veteran Men: Dave Giblin, 11.37 mins, Wayne Bramley, 10.45 mins, Peter Smith, 12.21 mins, John Ross, 11.54 mins (2nd place).

On Friday, 29 March, three members of the club competed in the Bydales 10.

Gordon Richards was first home for the club in a position of 2nd vet and

15th overall out of 93 runners in a time of 1:03:22, followed by John Ross, 1:07:22, 30th, and Terry Deary, 1:24:26, 87th.

On 23 March, four of the club's senior members took part in this years Cleveland Survival, an orienteering event over a 26-mile course which must be completed within a 12-hour time period.

Julie Giblin, Diane Vaughan, Helen Hancock and Pat Murray upon receipt of race instructions had to initially find the race registration point given to them in the instructions as a map reference. Upon investigation this year's start turned out to be at Goathland village hall right in the middle of television's "Heartbeat" country.

After necessary minimum equipment checks the four were released to navigate their way across the moorland of North Yorkshire using maps, compass and their navigational skills.

The seven check points along the route, as well as providing some well

earned (and needed) refreshments, took competitors through heather, deep mud, forests and very steep ascents some of which it is reputed a mountain goat would think twice about attempting!

The intrepid four crossed the line as a team after successfully navigating

their way round the course without missing a single check point finishing in 44th, 45th, 46th and 47th places (Helen, Diane and Julie were also 2nd, 3rd and 4th women home respectively) with a very respectable time of 5 hours 39minutes.

On March 23, Abigail Wilson and Julia Orr travelled up to the notoriousPrudhoe course to compete in the final meeting of the North Eastern HarrierLeague, Abigail competing in the Under-13 girls age group finished in a respectable 8th place with a time of 12.52mins and Julia finished 6th in the under 15 girls event in a time of 16.02 to take the leagues 3rd place individual trophy for her seasons efforts.

On March 24, Danny Small and David Tindale travelling to the Pendle AC Open Meeting for their second Track and Field meeting of the new season. The meeting proved very rewarding and provided an insight into what may lie ahead for the two this year with Small and Tindale both breaking club records and also recording new personal best performances in their favoured

events.

Senior Men's 100m: David Tindale: 2nd, 12.0s CR & PB, Danny Small: 3rd, 12.1s PB. Senior Men's 200m: Danny Small: 3rd, 24.6s CR & PB, David Tindale: 4th, 25.6s

On Sunday, 3 March, 3 members of the club travelled to the Lake District to compete in the Haweswater Half Marathon, naturally over undulating

territory, Alisdair Tatham finished a creditable 4th, out of 192 runners in

a time of 1:14:59. Next home for the club was Ian Scott, 8th overall in a

time of 1:17:21, followed by John Ross, 57th, 1:35:39.

Also in March, Gordon Richards competed in the Bath Half Marathon finishing in a time of 1 hr 26 mins.

In conjunction with Forest Enterprise, the Quakers are once again staging their popular Hamsterley Forest Run and Fun Run. This year the event is being timed to coincide with the Golden Jubilee weekend and is being held on

Sunday 2nd June.

The race is one of the club's community events with all proceeds raised going to the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland. Last year almost 200 people took part in both events and raised over £1200 for the Hospice. A sum of over £6 per runner. This year's target is to raise £2000.

The main race is approximately 10k in length and is open to all runners over the age of 16. The fun run is 3k long and again is open to all runners

although an adult must accompany entrants under the age of eight around the course.

Entry forms can be obtained direct from the Hospice at Macmillan House, Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6JU or from Harry Manuel, Hamsterley Forest Run, 18 Arkle Crescent, Darlington DL1 5AW