Photo: QRC members at Helmsley 10k (Photo courtesy of Simon R)
The back end of the month saw Quakers running in a variety of events including parkrun, road, trail, Canicross, marathon, Ultra marathon, championship and 10k league races. Lots of members have done really well – there have been lots of PBs, placing in age categories and QRC records broken.
18th April: Easter Coast 5 miles (Championship Race)
This fast and flat event, which was previously the Mermaid 10k, starts at Marske with runners turning back just after The Stray Café.
Dave Jones was first Quaker finisher in 33:15, followed by James Atkinson (33:59 PB), Billy Harris (35:14), Luke Hewitson (35:57 set PB), Rob Gillham (36:18), Brian McLaren (36:37), Carys Samuel (36:44 PB), Ian Hart (37:43, set PB and club record), Diane Vaughan (38:28 and club record), Deborah Berry (38:57 PB), Katherine Hackett (39:17 set PB), Lucy Coxon (40:38 set PB), Carmelita Coco (42:52 set PB), Simon Rek (43:02), Chris Clark (43:53 set PB), Paul Cockburn (43:54 set PB), Wendy Colling (44:23), Janet Bowlby (44:27 set PB), Sarah Burrows (45:09 set PB), Peter Rowley (45:45), Helen Clark (46:05), Helen Clarke (46:12 set PB), Ross Edmond (46:43 set PB) and Juliette McLaren (49:33).
19th – 21st April: Canicross – 2025 Fur Nations at Pembrey, Wales
This was a 3 day event with Alex Mathers representing Team England and achieving 1st place on the first day of the event, completing the route in 19:52. Anything could have happened on this 5.4km undulating course but Alex went on to run a very consistent 19:53 on the Sunday, securing 1st place overall in class. Monday morning saw the annual beach race, a 2 mile out and back drag race; this saw Alex finishing 2nd in class in an amazing 10:43.
19th April: parkruns – Darlington, Sedgefield & Wynyard Woodland
Congratulations to Andy Wallker who achieved a PB today, shaving 32 seconds off his previous PB in April 2022, to finish in 32:48, whilst over at Sedgefield, Chris Clark celebrated his 50th parkrun milestone in 28:17. At Wynyard Woodland, Isaac Johnson-Caddell was 9th finisher overall in 21:32.
20th April: Helmsley 10k multi-terrain challenge (Championship Race)
This is a multi-terrain race partly on road and partly on forestry track, footpaths and fields, fundraising for Helmsley Sports Club which supports the local community with a range of sports and activities.
Marc Ellis was first Quaker finisher in 9th place overall in 37:57 and 1st in age category, followed by James Atkinson (45:08), Rob Gillham (49:24), Carys Samuel (49:49 and 3rd in age category), April Corbett (52:45), Simon Rek (55:29), Wendy Colling (59:06), Helen Clark (1:00), Julie Russell (1:02), Lisa Jenkins (1:05), Chris Clark (1:05) and Anthony Corbett (1:10).
20th April: Easter 5k fun run (South Park)
Congratulations to Quakers that took part in the Easter Fun Run in South Park.
21st April: Run Durham Dalton Park Easter 10k (10k League) 5k also available
Starting near the Dalton Park Shopping Outlet, this 10km race is an adventurous route involving off road trails, tarmac paths and footpaths, starting and finishing in the Nature Reserve next to the Morrisons Store. The first and last 500m is on a trail path with the remainder on tarmac paths.
Dave Jones was the first Quaker finisher in 42:36 (3rd in age category) followed by Dale Chapman (42:54), Brian McLaren (46:34), Neil Chalmers (47:03), Rob Gillham (48:09 and 1st in age category), Chirs Minto (48:25 and 3rd in age category), Emily Beaumont (49:25 PB and 3rd in age category), Ian Burgess (51:18 and 1st in age category), Scott Beaumont (51:42), Alex Looney (53:09 and 3rd in age category), Carmelita Coco (54:28 and 1st in age category), Paul Cockburn (56:14), Chris Clark (56:58 and 3rd in age category), Simon Rek (56:38), Helen Clark (58:08), Sarah Burrows (59:01), Ross Edmond (1:01), Juliette McLaren (1:02), Jeff Marriott (1:05), Berni Gibson (1:12 and 1st in age category) and Lucy Bendle (1:14 and 3rd in age category).
23rd April: Spring Coast Road 5k
This fast and flat race takes place along the sea front at Redcar.
Dave Jones completed the race in 19:50.
24th April: Muddy Roads Middridge 5k
The first race of the Summer Series, starting at Middridge Village Hall and finishing at the Bay Horse Pub, this race has a mix of all terrain and the undulating course challenges runners, providing some scenic views, setting off along a farm track, then hitting a trail path leading to some steps and a good tarmac section. After swirling up a bridge, runners tackle the infamous ‘steps to heaven’ and once up in the top field, it is a mix of gentle inclines and a fast downhill dash to the finish right next to the Bay Horse Pub. These races are very friendly and suitable for those new to trail running.
Rob Dent was first Quaker finisher and 3rd in age category in 21:10 followed by Carys Samuel (23:45 and 3rd in age category), Abbie Jones (24:23), Rob Gilham (24:35), April Corbett (27:18), John Harrison (29:21), Julie Whinn (31:31 and 3rd in age category) and Matt Jackson (34:01).
24th April: Monthly Mile
The monthly mile takes place in Darlington’s South Park; this was the 2nd of the series.
Alex Mathers was first Quaker finisher in 5:51, followed by Dave Jones in 5:51, Ian Burgess (6:51), Viv Hardwick (7:20 and club record) and Sally Singleton (10:31 & club record).
26th April: parkruns – Darlington South Park, Mile End (London), Etna (Italy), Jubilee, Wynyard Woodland and Sedgefield
Lots to celebrate this week! At Darlington South Park, Marc Ellis was first finisher in 17:26, breaking the club record; James Stuart achieved a new PB of 22:33, shaving 2 minutes and 4 seconds of his previous PB in Feb 25 and Jonathan Eccles completed his 50th parkrun milestone in 24:01.
Further afield, at Mile End, Andrew Vernon achieved a PB of 18:21, shaving 46 seconds off his previous PB at Darlington South Park in September 2015; at Etna, Carmelita Coco was 3rd female finisher in 29:57; at Jubilee, Michael Thompson was 7th finisher overall in 23:36; at Wynyard Woodland; Dave Jones was 2nd finisher in 20:08 and at Sedgefield, James Atkinson was 10th finisher in 22:04.
26th April: Madeira Trail Marathon (other distances available)
The routes are mostly composed of paths, trails, footpaths, levadas (irrigation channels), paved forest roads and small stretches of asphalt. The routes use public roads both on-road and off-road, across farms and villages and use service roads that pass through private properties.
Dawn Richardson completed the route in 5:50.
27th April: London Marathon
The world-famous London Marathon route has remained largely unchanged since the inaugural race in 1981. Starting in the South of Greenwich, the largely flat course heads East before folding back towards the centre of London, encompassing many of the Capital’s most mesmerising landmarks, old and new, finishing in The Mall. This year was the biggest ever, with over 56,000 athletes taking part – a new Guinness World Record!
Mike Kipling was first Quaker finisher in 3:03, followed by Billy Harris (3:42), Brian Martin (3:45), David Thompson (4:24), Sandra Cass (4:37), Anthony Corbett (5:15), Sarah Watson (5:16), Michael Oliver (5:17), Barbra Barker (5:34) and Phil Thornberry (6:01).
27th April: Manchester Marathon
The UK’s flattest major marathon, the Manchester Marathon is one of the UK’s premier running events, famous for its fast and friendly route.
Rebecca Devine completed the race in 4:29 (PB) followed by Lucy Coxon completing her 3rd marathon of the year (4:36 PB) and Ray Reed (4:54).
27th April: Hamsterley Forest (10k league)
This route is made up of woodland paths and beautiful forest trails, with runners rewarded with magnificent views across the forest and North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Simon Metcalfe completed the route in 56:00 and Claire Norman in 1:09.
29th April: Cockfield Chase
Cockfield Chase is designed as a beginners’ fell race, organised by Durham Fell Runners and licensed by the Fell Runners Association (FRA). All runners are welcome (age 14+), whatever their ability or experience, as long as they think you can safely get around the 7km off road route. It’s half race, half social run. The first lap is a group run to see the route – 3.5km, starting at 7pm. The second lap is the race – 3.5km, starting immediately as the first runners finish the first loop. No map is required and runners are shown the route on the night.
Hannah Bryan completed the lap in 22:56.
30th April: Darlington Trail Run 5k – West Park
This was run number 3 of the 5k series, taking part at West Park.
Luke Hewiston completed the race in 23:33, followed by Ian Burgess (26:29), Julie Russell (30:19) and Chris Bowe (31:34).
Special mentions:
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!
Congratulations and well done to Marc Ellis who achieved an 86.71% age grading at Darlington parkrun last weekend. This is a big step up from his previous best which was 84.33% and puts him in equal first place with Dawn Richardson (down to 100th of a percent) for the best ever age grading by a Quaker at Darlington parkrun. Quite an achievement when you bear in mind that there have been over 20,000 runs by Quakers at Darlington parkrun.
Congratulations and well done to Helen and Chris Clark who completed Rat Race Croatia. This consisted of a 31mile run/hike on Day 1, 2 miles SUP and 40 mile bike ride and 6k run/hike on day 2 and a 20 mile sea kayak with a 6k run/hike in the middle. This was Chris Clark’s first ultra distance too.