Raby Castle, resplendent in late spring sunshine, was the idyllic setting for race 8 in the Club Championship.  While spectators enjoyed the warm weather, many of the 422 finishers suffered as they fought their way around two undulating laps of the castle grounds.  The heat and hills failed to prevent Michael Joyeux from recording a new 10k personal best of 38:48 and taking a superb 25th place in a strong field.  Dawn Richardson (29th, 39:37) was the third lady overall, finishing just ahead of Nick Watson (30th, 39:39) with Wayne Bramley (41st, 41:00) the fourth Quaker home, taking the maximum 50 points after age adjustment.  Next was Steve Snook (60th, 42:42) followed by Barry Mahaffey (67th, 43:15), Dave McLachlan (72nd, 43:42), Phil Rutter (109th, 45:35), Stuart Hardcastle (128th, 47:01), David Todd (133rd, 47:06), Ian Hammond (138th, 47:21), Billy Harris (164th, 48:49), Graham Park (174th, 49:03), Jeff Marriott (175th, 49:12), Jes Smith (183rd, 49:37), Richard Payne (185th, 49:43), Danny Gordon (187th, 49:47) and Jon Foulds (208th, 50:55).  Julie Jeffries (223rd, 51:49) took second Quaker lady honours ahead of Anthony Corbett (272nd, 54:37), Jackie Nicholls (277th, 54:49), Paul Howell (301st, 56:06), Sally Singleton (312th, 56:48), Nigel Walker (325th, 57:59), Diane Adkins (326th, 58:02), Annette Bullen (336th, 58:35), Suzanne Todd (343rd, 58:54), Julie Whinn (347th, 59:19), Bev Snook (358th, 60:09), Clare Dodsworth (362nd, 60:53), Alan Prest (363rd, 60:57), Anneli Simkiss (385th, 63:33), Angela Clement (389th, 63:55) and Gillian Harris (394th, 64:30). 

Last Saturday, a coachload of Quakers headed to Allendale, in Northumberland, where 21 runners from the club ran the Allendale Fair 8-miler. Despite the blistering heat, Dawn Richardson (10th, 50:37) managed to break the old course record, but unfortunately had to settle for second prize after finishing one place behind Tynedale’s Sonia Morley.  Michael Joyeux (14th, 51:07) was the second Quaker to complete the demanding course followed by Wayne Bramley (18th, 52:53), Steve Snook (21st, 54:06), Stuart Hardcastle (40th, 58:43), Dave Thompson (44th, 59:55), Phil Rutter (48th, 60:29), David Todd (61st, 61:35), Ian Hammond (72nd, 63:46), Richard Payne (83rd, 65:26), and Peter Rowley (86th, 65:37).  David Curtis (104th, 69:03) just held off Julie Jefferies (105th, 69:05) with Anthony Corbett (109th, 70:09), Jackie Nicholls (111th, 71:49), Wendy Colling (116th, 72:58), Diane Adkins (126th, 76:37), Julie Whinn (134th, 78:58), Bev Snook (135th, 78:58), Alan Prest (141st, 82:36) and Susan Limbert (148th, 104:05).  In the ladies’ team results, Quakers finished 3rd and 5th, while the men mustered three teams; taking 3rd, 5th and 6th places. 

On Sunday, two Quakers travelled to West Yorkshire for the Roberttown 7 Mile Road Race; yet another hilly course.  Diane Vaughan (71st, 53:52), the first runner in the F40 category, was followed by Richard Hughes (81st, 54:52) at the highly recommended event. 

This year’s Darlington 10k takes place on August 9th and anyone who is training for it, but is not involved with a club, might like to try one of our training sessions.  In 2008 there were 55 Quakers running the race, with a wide range of finishing times. The club meets at Carmel School on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30pm.