It has been another busy week for Aycliffe Running Club with the races coming thick and fast. The races started with a busy day on Wednesday 2nd May which included the Neptune Relay held at Hardwick Park in Sedgefield which involved four members each running 1.7mile. The club entered a total of seven teams with the team of Tracey Surtees (10:16), Floyd Jones (10:44), Gareth Hamblin (10:29) and Steven Dawson (11:28) Total Time 42:57, finishing first in the mixed relays. One team was entered in the men’s senior race being Richard Campbell (9:53), John Surtees (9:09), Richard Trowles (9:48) and Adam Harker (10:38) Total (39:28). Two teams took part in the senior women’s event being Bernadette Cooper (12:33), Cath McDonnell (13:58), Lou Mann (15:10) and Kirsty Cameron (15:08) Total (56:49) and Em Flynn (16:24), Yvonne Blewitt (15:35), Eve Doe (17:37) and Susan Clark (19:05) Total 1:08:41.
Two teams entered the men’s over 50 race being Dave Stothard (12:21), Alan Wilks (13:23), Salv McDonnell (12:28) and Steve Williams (14:36) total (52:48) and Jean-Pierre Hupin (15:29), Rob Nicholson (15:08), John Burnside (13:13 and Jim Wilson (17:47) Total 1:01:37. One final team took part being Kathleen Tonge (14:58), Richard Tonge (15:22), Viv Williams (16:16) and Lauren Hamblin (11:49) Total 58:25.
At the same time, 18 members travelled to Darlington for the third race in the Darlington 5k trail series and the Cummins 5k. John Firby (17:59) finished first with Sam Keenan (18:50) third. Others taking part included Richard Holland (20:05), Jimmy Agnew (20:46), Ste Dunn (20:58), Lucy Postle (21:31 and second female), Trevor Agnew (23:11), Laura Hudson (23:24), Joe Dickinson (24:09), Andrew Tweddle (24:10), Sammie Metcalfe (25:21), Keith Hatton (26:35), Kelly Dickinson (29:03), Melanie Varley (29:18), Sam Harding (29:41), Sue Podmore (29:42), Nici Ingman (32:30) and Ian Stothard (35:25).
At the same time, two members took part in the monthly South Shields Mile with Angela Sutheran (7:00) and Judith Porter (9:02 and setting a new club record for the female over 70 category) representing the club.
On Sunday 6th May, five members travelled to Melmerby to take part in the Melmerby 10k. Despite the humid conditions, Rob Young (41:22), Bernadette Cooper (50:56), Salv McDonnell (53:55), Cath McDonnell (55:03) and Judith Porter (59:11 and first in the female over 70 category whilst also setting another club record) all represented the club.
At the same time, two members took part in the Newcastle-Gateshead Half Marathon with Kevin Tatham (1:53:26) and Kirsty Cameron (2:30:26) both representing the club. Three members took part in the Newcastle-Gateshead 10k with Dave Stothard (53:50), Steve Williams (1:01:58) and Ian Stothard (1:13:21) all completing the event.
On Sunday 28th April, the Junior Section was well represented in the CDAN Spring festival taking place at Shildon Athletics Stadium. In the Under 9’s Floretta Donoghue finished as first female and third overall with athletes taking part in four different events. Alfred Ramsay and Archie Taylor also represented the Under 9’s. In the Under 11’s Farrah Swainston, Jensen Paterson, Joe Dickinson, Elijah McLuckie and Elijah Turnbull all represented the club. Two juniors represented the club in the Under 13’s being Trinity Donoghue and Luke Thompson.
In the Under 15’s events, the club was well represented with Charlotte Clay, Maisie Kilpatrick (joint third in the girls’ events), Abbie Robinson, Persephone-May Risbey, Bridget Mosher, Hannah Birschuk (joint third), Lexi Renton, Kadie Searle and Lewis Wood all taking part. In the Under 17’s event, Henry Mosher finished first with Elizabeth Rose Clay first girl and Isabella Risbey, second girl. Also fourth in the boy’s events was Iwo Socha. The weather conditions were awful on the day which is testament to the Junior Section and despite those conditions, with a strong turnout and some excellent performance, the team performance secured 2,804 points and second place overall, an amazing performance.
If you are feeling inspired, and are interested in joining the club, you can turn up for one of our sessions. More information is available on our website www.ayclifferunningclub.org.uk or our Facebook page. If you would like to chat with someone, then you can email ayclifferunningclub@gmail.com. If interested in the Junior Section you can email arc.juniorsection@gmail.com. Make this year the year you or your children get into running and join us to keep it going for many years to come.
