Thirteen Quakers took on the Wensleydale Wedge last weekend, a tough 23 miler starting and concluding in Ascrigg, North Yorkshire. Dave Thompson, Charlie Bogg, Annette Clarke and Sharron Pearson shared a 4hour 28min finish time, with Pearson taking 44 minutes off last year’s time. Abbie Hull finished not far behind in 4:49 while Roy MacDoughall put in a good performance to finish in 5:04. April Corbett, taking part in her first event over 15 miles, recorded a very respectable 5:51 alongside Anthony Corbett, Wendy Colling and Diane Gardner, with Gardner also crossing the finish line 47 minutes quicker than last year. Mark Colling, Sandra Cass and Michelle Boshier completed a good day’s racing for the Quakers when they completed the course in 6:05.

In sharp contrast, half a dozen Quakers lined up in Middlesbrough’s Albert Park to run the weekly 5k time trial. Lucy Jefferies was just outside her sub 20 minute target time, recording 20:02 on the results sheet with Eddie Griffiths only seconds behind in 20:07. Stephen Moore, with over 100 park runs to his credit, crossed the finish line in 21:32 with Peter Rowley following in 21:47. John Brant had a good run to finish in 23:56 followed by Matt Jackson in 27:54.

Peter Rowley was also in action on Sunday in the Lightwater Valley 10k challenge, a multi terrain trail race made more difficult by the foggy conditions. Despite the poor visibility, Rowley enjoyed a 46:31 finish time.

Clay Bank West, the fourth fixture in the Esk Valley Fell Club winter series, took place last weekend with 6 Quakers on the start line. Despite the relatively short course, the race was not without challenge, least of which was the 900 feet of ascent. Andrew Knox came home first for the Quakers in 40:13 followed by Ian Bond in 42:26 and Mark Robison in 43:00. Darren Stockdale took 46:33 to complete the course with Danny Gordon and Peter McCrossan following in 53:16 and 53:30 respectively.