Darlington Quakers were well represented at the Carlton Challenge, the opening race of the Esk Valley Fell Summer Series over Carlton Moor. 12 members of the club took to the fells to complete the 4.8 mile course in some very respectable times. Nick Wadd was first Quaker home in 39:33 followed by Andrew Knox in 43:22 and Ian Bond in 45:25. First Quaker lady home was Lucy Jefferies in 52:29 with Wendy Colling taking second place in 54:29 followed by Sandra Park in 61:41. The Quakers ladies won the women’s team event, making them the first Quakers in the history of the club to be awarded a first team place in a fell race. No pressure, Quakers men!

Personal bests were the order of the day for three of the Quakers who took part in the Spring Coast Road 5km race in Redcar, hosted by New Marske Harriers. Michael Joyeux ran the course in 18:12 while Daniel Crane came home in 23:27. Simon Rek, running in his first race for the Quakers, finished in 21:53.

The second race in the 5k Tees Valley Trail Series organised by NYMAC also continues to be a draw for Quakers seeking out personal bests with Ben Bourne securing his pb of 21:13 on the hilly course at Pinchinthorpe in Guisbrough Woods.

Well done to the 11 members of the Quakers who travelled to the capital to take part in the London Marathon. The trip was well worth the effort for Dave Thompson who took almost 5 minutes off his personal best to finish in 3:25:49 and in doing so set a new club record for Men’s Vet 55 category. Louise Trainor, despite recurrent injury, continues to deliver some excellent finish times, completing the marathon in 3:23:28, narrowly missing the Ladies 40 club record by 1 second. Other finishers were: Diane Vaughan 3:56:09, Richard Hughes 3:57:36, Peter Rowley 4:01:26, Suzanne Todd 4:37:53, Julie Wynn 4:43:14, Michelle Boshier 4:52:34, Keld O’Shea 4:57:11, Diane Adkins 5:00:50 and Rachel Maddison 6:03:56.  

While some of the Quakers had their sights set on London, Charlie Bogg and Annette Clarke were looking to the hills as they competed in the 24 mile 3 Peaks Fell Race in the Yorkshire Dales. The gruelling 5 hour course saw the pair climb 5300 feet summiting Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside & Ingleborough before returning to Horton in Ribblesdale. Over on the Cumbrian Fells, Nick Wadd and Nick Watson took part in the 2010 Anniversary Walt fell race near Keswick. The weather was kinder than the 11.5 mile route that climbed 3000ft over the peaks of Robinson, Hindsgarth, Dale Head, High Spy and Cat Bells. The pair crossed the finish line together in a time of 2hrs 13mins 21secs and 90/270 position.