Last weekend’s cold snap brought extra challenge for Quakers’ runners taking part in the Clay Bank East Fell Race. With temperatures around zero, Andrew Lambe ran well to complete the 9.1 km course in 52:36. Ian Bond came in second in 54:12 with Anthony Corbett close behind in 55:00. Abbie Hull flew the flag for the Quakers’ women, finishing in 58:56.

The fifth fixture in this season’s NYSD cross country series at Acklam saw a decent turnout for the Quakers. In the women’s race, Lucy Jefferies put in a good performance to finish the 3.4 mile course in 23:55, as did Louise Trainor (24:01) and Corinne Murray (27:02), which saw them take 4th team place. Little separated Julie Jefferies (29:19) and Bev Snook (29:37) with Diane Adkins following in 34:31. In the men’s race, Sean McIntyre continued to establish himself as one of the Quakers’ front runners, completing the 6.8 mile course in 42.38. Brian Martin pulled out his usual solid performance to finish next in 45.10 while Graham Park also had a good race, finishing in 46:41. Other finishers for the club were: Steve Snook (47:10), Darren Stockdale (47:35), Peter Smith (48:17), Danny Gordon (54:14) and Daniel Crane (64:13).

Stuart Hardcastle, Richard Payne and Eddie Griffiths finished 1, 2 and 3 for the Quakers at the Gerry Kearsley Winter Handicap Run, a multi-terrain race on trails organised by Sedgefield Harriers around Fishburn and Bishop Middleham.

Quakers’ runners made a huge splash of black and white at this year’s Brass Monkey Half Marathon, when 43 club members gathered on the start line for the fast, flat course around the outskirts of York. Andrew Laing put in a blistering run to come home first for the Quakers in 1:25:19 with Nick Mason also looking impressive, crossing the finish line in 1:28:26. Sean McIntyre churned out yet another excellent performance and bagged himself a personal best with his 1:30:10 finish time. McIntyre was one of 10 Quakers to notch up personal bests for the distance; the others were: Mark Robinson (1:31:22), Colin Wild (1:31:43), Rob Dent (1:38:52), Peter McCrossan (1:42:28), Stephen Moore (1:44:35), Stephanie Gee (1:51:37), Abbie Hull (1:52:04), Diane Gardner (2:08:05) and Sandra Martin (2:19:38). Dave Thompson (1:36:56) showed that he can perform just as well on the road as on his beloved hills by smashing the Vet 60 club record, slicing 5 minutes off the existing time, whilst Louise Trainor broke the Female Vet 40 record which she already held, clocking (1:32:46). Well done also goes to Lyndsey Lester, Allyson Sanderson and April Corbett for completing their first half marathons in 1:48:44, 2:07:18 and 2:08:02 respectively.