Anyone for a leisurely Sunday outing to the Yorkshire Dales? Not likely if you were one of the 27 Darlington Quakers runners who opted to take part in this year’s James Herriot Trail Race in Wensleydale. The 14k trail route (bordering on fell in parts) is a real challenge with its tough climbs and rocky descents, but this did not deter some of the leading Quakers from clocking up some excellent times. Brian Martin, settling nicely back into the super form he displayed last year, was first Quaker home in 65:59 followed by Barry Mahaffey in 69:12 and Billy Harris in 69:54. Lucy Jefferies led the Quakers’ women home in 76:00 with Wendy Colling following in 86:40 and Jackie Nicholls in 90:04. Thankfully, this hard race did have its compensations, not least of which was the superb post-race rendezvous to nearby Leyburn where the party of Quakers had the opportunity to replace the carbohydrates and fluids lost on the hills!

Continuing with their hectic race schedule, Darlington Quakers Running Club fielded 3 teams in the Adidas Thunder Run. The requirement here is that runners complete as many 10k laps as possible in 24 hours either as a solo entry or in teams of 2, 3-5 or 6-8. Armed with head torch for the night running, ‘Team Roy’ McDougall, the Quakers solo entrant, kept his promise to complete 100km (60 mile) over the 24 hour period, while endurance duo Annette Clarke and Dave Thompson completed enough laps to see them take second place in the mixed doubles team event. The team of 8 Quakers, consisting of Michael Joyeux, Anthony Corbett, Nick Watson, Sarah Beadle, Diane Adkins, David Curtis and Mark and Wendy Colling, also were a credit to the club by completing 250 km (150 mile) in 24 hours. A special ‘thank you’ goes to Susan Curtis for supporting ‘Team Roy’ to run 4 of his 10 laps - the equivalent of a marathon.

 Going solo, 'Team Roy' McDougall

 Nine Quakers travelled up to Beadnall Bay on the beautiful Northumberland coast to take part in this year’s 14 mile Coastal Run. Despite the blustery conditions, Steve Snook was the first Quaker to cross the finish line on the beach at Alnmouth in a good 1:44:11 followed by Mark Colling in 2:05:25 and Wendy Colling in 2:09:35.  Other finishers for the club were: John Wynn 2:22:24, Julie Wynn 2:24:52, Sandra Park and Michelle Boshier 2:25:03, Carol Penney 2:31:26 and Penny Lamont in 2:43:20. The Sunderland 5k race, which incorporated this year’s North East 5k road championships, saw three Quakers on the start line. Diane Vaughan was first Quaker home in 22:06 followed by Julie Wynn in 25:58 and Diane Adkin in 27:33. 

The Quakers’ 10k league tables continue to make very interesting reading following this week’s Victorian 10k in Redcar. First home for Quakers was David Todd in 40:34, followed by Pete Smith in 41:46 and Ian Scott in 45:21. Despite being hampered by injury, Louise Trainor was first home for the Quakers’ women in 45:58 which secured for her 6th female overall and 3rd in F35 category. Diane Vaughan was also amongst the prize winners, finishing an excellent 1st in the F45 category and 8th female overall. Other Quakers who did the club proud were: Darren Stockdale 46:13  Peter Rowley 47:15, Mark Robinson 48:43, Richard Hughes 48:55, Jeff Marriott 51:45  (along with baby in buggy), Nicola Jervis 52:38, Sue New 1:02:07 and Graham Park in 1:02:08. 

Those dedicated Quakers who are drawn to the fells (and let’s face it, you need to be dedicated to contemplate this type of running!) took on the Cock Howe and Beyond fell run, the latest in the Esk Valley summer fell series. Six Quakers embarked on the circular 6.1 mile route starting and finishing at Chop Gate in the North York Moors. Andrew Knox led the Quakers home in 52:30 followed by Ian Bond in 54:20 and Stuart Hardcastle in 57:16. Richard Payne continues to demonstrate good form on the fells by finishing in 63:30. Daniel Crane and Ian Davison took a slight detour to finish in 119 minutes, although this result has only strengthened the pairs' resolve to check the map carefully next time!

A large contingent of Darlington Quakers runners revved up for this year’s Pitstop 10k Race at Croft Circuit and quite a few were not to be disappointed when it came to the post-race prize-giving.  Michael Joyeux and Brian Martin led the club home in sub 40 minute times, clocking up 39:30 and 39:48 respectively , with Brian taking 2nd  prize in the vet male 50-59 category.  Noel McLay’s 42:55 time bagged him 1st vet male 60 prize while Diane Vaughan finished as 4th female overall in 45:09. Ben Bourne took full advantage of the fast course to record a 10k personal best of 44:51 while Jackie Nicholls took 1st prize for vet female 35-39 with a time of48:26. It was good to see a return to form for Bev Snook who finished in a very respectable 50:54. Sue New also had lots to celebrate by recording her first sub 60 min 10k, finishing in 58:31. 

42 Quakers on the start line at Kilburn Feast are testimony to the event’s reputation for being one of the most popular 10k races of the season. The undulating course did not stop the Quakers from once again making their mark at the prize- giving, with Dawn Richardson finishing as 2nd female overall and best in age category. Lucy Jefferies also received a prize for finishing as 7th female overall and the pair completed their successful afternoon’s racing by taking the Ladies Team prize alongside Diane Vaughan and Jackie Nicholls. Match that, Quakers men!  7 Quakers were among the 3000 plus runners at BUPA’s Sunderland 10k, which is one of 15 events in the club’s 10k league. First home for the club was Ian Scott in 45:04 followed by Mark Robinson in 46:44 and Jeff Marriott in 47:09, his fastest 10k time for 3 years. Other finishers included Derek Clulow 53:58, Craig Watson 54:22, Ian Davison 55:07 and Fiona Dixon in 58:43. 

The hills once again beckoned for Quakers endurance trio, Charlie Blogg, Annette Clarke and Dave Thompson as they took on the 40 mile course of the Lyke Wake Walk. Despite the warm conditions, Dave finished in 7:51, 16 minutes faster than his best time for this event to date, while Annette and Charlie crossed the finish line in 7:58, quite a feat as Charlie sustained a thigh strain 18 miles into the race.  

Peter Rowley was the sole representative of the Quakers at the inaugural West Cumbrian Run. The 10 mile event, ran in memory of PC Bill Barker who died in the Cumbrian floods earlier this year, follows a very undulating course from Cockermouth to Workington. Peter put in an excellent performance by coming home in 1:17:23,  96th out of 460 finishers, which secured him first place in the male 55 age category.