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.