There were strong performances from Quakers runners at Sunday’s Acklam Grange cross-country meeting.  In the penultimate round of the NYSD season, Louise Trainor (15th), Lucy Jefferies (22nd) and Jackie Nicholls (41st) beat teams from three other clubs, to take sixth place in the ladies’ event.  Steve Snook, in 48th place, led home the men, to beat local rivals, Darlington Harriers.  Stephen Jones (53rd) was the second Quaker followed by Dave Whittle (63rd), Dave McLachlan (67th), Peter Smith (68th), Graham Park (72nd), Rob McSherry (73rd), Andrew Lambe (79th), Ian Hammond (83rd) and Danny Gordon (88th).

At the Ferriby 10-miler, Louise Trainor ran a swift time of 71:20, finishing as the ninth female and 122nd overall from almost 500 entrants.

Anthony Corbett returned to Sunderland, where dense fog replaced the snow from the previous Saturday at the 5k time trial.  With better conditions underfoot he clocked 25:44; a four minute improvement on last week’s time.

The club’s annual presentation was held on Saturday evening, when Quakers members packed Darlington Rugby Club to see Brian Martin crowned Athlete of the Year.  Brian, in his first full year at the club, transformed himself from an anonymous newcomer to a prolific racer, ending the year with a determined run at Ripon to finish joint first in the Club Championship.  Fellow champion, Wayne Bramley, took the Veteran Male Award after making a conscious effort to return to regular competitive racing in 2009.  He contributed towards an exciting climax to the championship and ran an excellent marathon in France, where he was the third over-45 male to finish at the Somme.  The Veteran Female Award was won by Dawn Richardson, who last year returned to the UK and re-established herself as one of the top local road runners.  She broke several club records and at the Somme Marathon, knocked over 25 minutes off the previous best women’s time.  Michael Joyeux retained his Senior Male Award after an outstanding twelve months, which saw him set new personal best times, as he pushed his way towards the elite at the front of the pack.  Abbie Hull won the corresponding female award, following a year in which she competed at many races, both on and off-road, always appearing to be enjoying herself.  Jackie Nicholls, another regular at a variety of races in 2009, set numerous personal bests after recovering from injury and was rewarded with the Most Improved Female Award.  Billy Harris was named as the Most Improved Male after a year of hard training provided the enthusiastic runner with some excellent times. The highlight was undoubtedly at the Somme, where he reduced his marathon pb by 26 minutes. 

Picking up awards for winning their respective 10k League divisions were Dawn Richardson, Simon Wakelin, Ian Scott, Jeff Marriott, Jackie Nicholls, Sally Singleton, Julie Crocher, Anneli Simkiss, Susan Limbert and Paul Appleton. 

The Senior Coach Award was presented to Steve Padgett, who became a level-two coach and provided the club’s members with plenty of encouragement and innovative training sessions.

A Special Achievement Award was presented to Diane Adkins for running the Parachute Regiments 10-mile course at Catterick with a 35lb rucksack on her back, despite being dragged down by laryngitis.

Several members were given Special Merit Awards.  Veteran athlete, Alan Prest was recognised for representing the club over the years and Darren Park was awarded for organising the last summer’s Cleveland Way Relay team.  Recent recruits, Sue Woodcock and Sally Eddie were nominated by Harry Manuel after taking part in the North Eastern Cross-Country Championships, while Michael Joyeux picked up his second award; for his popular Monday night circuit training sessions.

Thanks was given to both Michael Joyeux and Paul Dunn for the website, Steve Snook and Diane Adkins for managing the cross-country teams, Sarah Beadle, Vicky Park and Ian Hammond for organising the presentation night and Phil Rutter for his weekly attempts at pretend journalism.

Club statistician, Anthony Corbett along with Richie Payne and Stuart Hardcastle, received the Chairman’s Award for the hugely successful Club Championship, which saw over 100 Quakers participating and included coach trips to three events.

The much sought-after Catastrophe Award was presented to Wendy Colling and Bev Snook after carefully preparing for the Durham Dales Challenge and then, on the day of the event, proceeding to get lost.