It was again a week with racing during the week.
First up was John Surtees who travelled to the Monkton Stadium for the North East Grand Prix for North East Counties Athletic Association. On this occasion John was competing in the 10,000m which is 25 laps of an outdoor track. John completed this in 35.15.11
Closer to home ARC had 9 teams competing in the Neptune Relays. These are hosted by Sedgefield Harriers and take place at Hardwick Park taking in the main lake before looping round the Serpentine Lake. It was a record number of entries with 121 teams competing in total on what was a lovely spring evening.
First team home for ARC were Mark Wade, Floyd Jones, Dez Fielden and Richard Holland in a total time of 37.38, they were followed by Andy Talbot, Lee Wren, Matt Heron and Mark Bainbridge 40.40, Richard Campbell, Trevor Needham, Alan Wilkes and John Burnside 43.12, Sandra Collins, Michelle Jane, Julie Nisbet, Michelle Scott 47.32, Stuart Joyce, Peter Smith, Richard Tonge and John Richardson 47.36, Trish Kay, Tracey Surtees, Heather Fenwick and Trish Kay (again) 50.53, Becki Pedelty, Anne Kellett, James Wilson and Warren Raine 56.32, Lindsey Brown, Bev Phillippo, Denise Evans and Jan McLuckie 59.54, Kathleen Tonge, Jane Burnside, Sam Baronowski and Sandrine Boinet-Hewitt 1.00.27.
On Saturday we had a few members take part in the Run Durham Hamsterly 10k hosted by Run Nation. This was a course that was mostly uphill for the first half before a good descent in the second half of the race. Mark Wade was first home for the club in a time of 37.48 which put him 2nd place overall (also 1st in his age category). He was followed by Paul Dalton in 39.51, Sandra Collins 54.24 (1st in her age category V50), John Young in 1.01.31 and Kathryn Waterworth in 1.02.47.
On Sunday the first venue was Washington with a couple of members taking part in the Washington Trail Race. This is a very undulating trail race which is part of a series of races known as the trail Outlaw Series. First home was Carley Gibson in 1.12.46 and Sandrine Boinet-Hewitt in 1.12.49. Linda McNamee also took part in this race but was running for her first club Hunwick Harriers. She completed this in 1.12.43.
We also had Andy Talbot take part in the Blackpool Half Marathon staged by Flyde Coast Runners. Andy completed this course in a time of .30.13 and was first in his age category V55.
The main focus of this weekend however, was on the London Marathon for which we had 5 members taking part. Susan Cranswick was first home in 3.55.35, followed Andrew Lumley 4.07.33, Ian Baronowski 4.58.35, Heather Morgan 4.42.03, Sam Elwell 5.29.31.
For anyone interested in joining the club, you can simply turn up at one of our sessions all of which start from the Oakleaf Complex in Newton Aycliffe. Monday night is beginners run at 6.30p.m., Tuesday is endurance/speed session from 7.00 p.m., and Thursday is a track session and this takes place at Shildon Track. Further details can be found on our website or facebook pages or alternatively you can message the club via Facebook for more information.
