QUAKERS CAME together as one at the weekend to remember our friend Neil Harrington, who sadly passed away last week. Almost 100 black and white vests turned up at the parkrun in South Park to run the course together; the group headed by his wife Linda and their daughter Rachel. Several other members also turned up to either volunteer or support on the day, in what was a fitting tribute to someone who will be a much-missed member of the club.

The Snake Lane 10 mile race took place at Pocklington, which Neil was due to have run, and where the event organisers kindly dedicated the race to him. In some fairly blustery conditions, Michael Joyeux finished in third place in 55:43 followed by Paul Dalton (1:00:51), Daniel Orton (1:09:55), Rob Dent (1:10:08), Brian Mclaren (1:15:05), Steven Major (1:22:17), Anna Hardy (1:31:36), Andrew Dixon (1:32:17), Juliette Mclaren (1:32:17), Gemma Hammond (1:35:43), Paul Ryan (1:43:58) and Lisa Jenkins (1:48:59).

This year’s National Cross Country Championship took place at Wollaton Park in Nottingham. Over a predictably muddy course, Louise Trainor covered the 8K women’s distance in 37:20, with Rebecca Howard in 40:08. In the men’s race, which was held over 12K, Darren Wright finished in 54:54, followed by Michael Thompson (59:01), Andrew Vernon (1:01:45), Graham Park (1:06:19) and Fred Tennant (1:11:49).

At the Bolton Abbey Trail Festival, a multitude of races were on offer spread over two days. In Saturday’s races, Nicola Wells completed the half marathon distance in 1:56:11. On the same day, three took part in the ultra event, covering 32 miles and taking in 3000 feet of climb. Annette Clarke was the first lady to finish the race in 6:08:18, followed by Dave Thompson (6:12:58) and Charlie Bogg (6:52:43).

Michael Oliver was the sole Quaker to head to Harewood House at the weekend for the half marathon race there. On a muddy off-road route held within the estate itself, he came home in 1:53:42.

Further north, Michelle Dale took part in the Northumberland Coastal Trail half marathon, which started off from Bamburgh Castle, finishing the route along the coast in 2:39:02.

Also running a half marathon, for the first time in twenty years, was Grainne Duffy who completed the multi-lap race held at Oulton Park, near Chester in 2:27:22.

The sixth race in the Stockton Winter 5K Trail trail series took place over at the Billingham Beck Country Park. Darren Alderson completed the two lap route in 26:42 along with Mark Trowels (27:35), Danny Gordon (27:42), Lucy Bendle (35:53) and Lisa Alderson (37:43).

In other parkruns, Paul Dalton was first across the line at Hartlepool in 18:09 along with 26:52, while at Tees Barrage, Darryn Wood and Abigail Willson finished in 37:09 and 37:34 respectively. Further afield at Beeston, Sarah Watson, Sue New and Andrew Vernon all finished together in 34:18, while at Halifax, Mike Brown ran there in 22:24 along with Caroline Moses in 29:55. At Newby Bridge, Peter Rowley completed the run there in 26:08, while Sally Watson ran at Penrose in 36:44.

An excerpt from the poem read by the run director at South Park on Saturday:

I am the runner, been out on a run,
It only seems like minutes since it had begun,
Sadness it’s over, but I’m glad I can rest,
No niggles or injuries, that is the best.

Submitted by Rob Dent (photo by Karen Newton)