Photo: QRC members taking part at The Muddy Roads Pie and Peas 5k at Trimdon (Photo courtesy of John)
A very busy start to the month with Quakers taking part in lots of races and events from 5k upwards including parkruns, fun run, road runs, trail and fell runs, as well as Championship and 10k league races.
3rd April: Easter Coast Road 5 mile (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.
Michael Joyeux was first Quaker finisher, achieving the club age category record, 6th overall, 2nd in age category and male in 27:35, followed by Marc Ellis (29:48 and 3rd in age category), Dave Jones (33:22), Carys Samuel (37:11), Katherine Hackett (38:16 PB and 1st in age category), Lou Trainor (38:28), Sue Sparrow (39:06 Set PB), David Thompson (44:09 and 2nd in age category), Zoe Robinson (44:21 Set PB), Chris Clark (46:11), Sharon Ellis (46:12 PB), Gilly Cowton (51:58), Adele Brown (51:49), John Yeomans (52:06 Set PB) and Wendy Noble (53:10).
4th April: parkruns – The Demesnes (Barnard Castle) & Riverside Kamloops (Canada)
At The Demesnes, Alex Mathers finished in 10th place overall in 20:48 and at Riverside Kamloops, Sandra Cass was 2nd female finisher in 27:36.
5th April: Helmsley Multi-Terrain 10k (10k league)
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 5th place overall and overall and 1st in age category in 38:30, followed by Matthew Birchenough (40:43 set PB), David Aiken (43:58), Rebecca Howard (46:06 and 2nd in age category), Phil Neal (47:27), Graham Looney (48:10), Lisa Bowerbank (50:49), Brian Martin (51:36), Katherine Hackett (51:45), Sue Sparrow (53:00), April Corbett (55:39), Alex Looney (58:18), Rachel Grayson (58:49), Chris Clark (59:01), Simon Rek (1:00), Sharon Ellis (1:00), Graham Park (1:04), Sandra Martin (1:07), Darren Alderson (1:08), Wendy Noble (1:12), Lucy Bendle (1:14) and Anthony Corbett (1:15).
5th April: Leeds Running Festival – 5k, 10k and Half Marathon available
Leeds Running Festival takes place in Roundhay Park, one of the largest city parks in Europe, with lakes, woodland, gardens, and rolling parkland. The event offers an undulating, multi‑terrain course with mostly tarmac paths plus some gravel and dirt sections with a mix of downhill starts, mid‑course inclines, and flat lakeside sections.
Michael Oliver completed the Half Marathon distance (four laps of Roundhay Park and a short out and back) in 2:11.
5th April: Darlington Trails Easter Egg Fun Run at South Park
Congratulations to Quakers that took part in the Easter Fun Run in South Park.
There are no results for this event.
8th April: Pie and Peas 5k trail at Trimdon Grange (Championship Race)
This Muddy Roads event is a beautiful scenic route with a mix of all terrain running down an old railway track then snaking through the beautiful woodland. The course starts on a flat open field, before heading off down a trail path onto a big open field. Once off the field, the route then snakes around beautiful woodland area and onto an abundance of nature with tree stumps and roots along the pathway. The route takes runners around a pond then up a hill, before finishing on the field.
Carys Samuel was first Quaker finisher, finishing in 24:33 and 2nd in age category, followed by April Corbett (31:13), John Harrison (32:03), Chris Clark (32:17), Anthony Corbett (32:39), Wendy Colling (33:26 and 3rd in age category), Diane Lockhart (34:00), Mark Colling (37:52) and Lisa Quinney (38:22).
11th April: parkruns – Darlington South Park & Thorp Perrow
At Darlington South Park, Dawn Richardson was 3rd female finisher in 21:43 and Sue Sparrow achieved a new PB of 23:18, shaving 18 seconds of her previous PB in September 2022.
At Thorp Perrow, Rob Dent was 3rd finisher overall and 3rd male in 20:26 and Rachel Lister was 7th finisher overall and 1st female in 23:25 whilst Carys Samuel was 2nd female finisher in 23:28 and celebrated her 100th parkrun milestone.
11th April: Punk Panther Ripon Stinger (35 miles, 20 miles and Half Marathon available)
Starting and finishing in Studley Roger close to the historic city of Ripon with its great cathedral, this race mainly follows the Ripon Rowel route, visiting wooded valleys and historic sites such as the spectacular World Heritage site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Water gardens. It also takes in the tranquil River Skell’s Valley of the Seven Bridges and the beautiful St Margaret’s Church and Hackfall Woods.
Karen Dove completed the 20 mile route in 7:07.
11th April: Stanhope Trail races (15 miles and 10k+)
Organised by Greener Miles, these races start and finish in Stanhope, in the Durham Dales and take in The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and UNESCO Global Geopark: a stunning landscape of open heather moors, dramatic dales, tumbling upland rivers, wonderful woods, close knit communities, glorious waterfalls, fantastic birds, colourful hay meadows, stone-built villages, intriguing imprints of a mining and industrial past and distinctive plants.
Michael Thompson completed the 15 mile event in 2:45 and Julie Russell in 3:32.
11th April: Wensleydale Wander (12 or 23 mile options)
This circular LWDA event (suitable for walkers and runners) starts in Grove Square, Leyburn and finishes at Wensleydale School. Both challenges go along Love Lane to The Shawl and into Warren Wood towards Redmire. The shorter route follows the river to Wensley Bridge towards Gel Pool over Middleham Bridge to the junction, before joining the longer route back to Leyburn; meanwhile, the longer route continues through fields to Back Lane, towards West Witton. Participants follow Green Gate to High Lane towards Penhill, along Common Hill on to The Low Gallops and past Ever Bank, before heading through West Field Lane and East Whitton towards Spennithorne and across Ulshaw Bridge following the river bank, back towards Leyburn and the finish at Wensleydale School.
In the 12 mile event, Rebecca Howard and David Aiken were 6th and 7th finishers overall and Rebecca 2nd female finisher in 1:44, followed by April and Anthony Corbett (2:21), Phil Thornberry, Diane Lockhart and Darren Alderson (2:43), Chris Bowe (2:47) Malcolm Hewitt (3:02), Melissa Hird (3:55) and Richard Hughes (4:02).
Meanwhile, Dave Thompson completed the in the 23 mile event in 5:14, followed by Julie Bell (5:37) and Mark Colling and Roy McDougall in 7:13.
12th April: London Landmarks Half Marathon
Starting in Whitehall, the fast and mostly flat route takes runners through central London and showcases many iconic London Landmarks, including Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, The Thames embankment, Tower Hill, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, Somerset House and the Bank of England, finishing at Trafalgar Square.
Paul Ryan and Rachel Fawcett completed the race in 2:49, with Rachel shaving a massive 18 minutes off her previous PB.
12th April: Yorkshire Trail Runs – Bramham Park (5k, 10k and Half Marathon available)
Organised by Wild Deer, these events take place in Bramham Park, near Wetherby on well-established trail paths, takin in the estate’s statues, buildings and scenic views.
Ed Griffiths completed the Half Marathon distance in 1:48.
12th April: Charm Bracelet Marathon (Half Marathon also available)
Heading south from Redcar following the King Charles III England Coast Path, runners finish in Whitby, passing through Marske, Saltburn, Skinningrove, Boulby, Staithes, Port Mulgrave, Runswick Bay, Kettleness and Sandsend. The ‘Circle’ sculpture is in between miles 7 and 8, affectionately known as The Charm Bracelet and inspires the marathon name. This year there was a slight deviation at Runswick Bay due to tide timings which resulted in a slightly longer course of approximately 28 miles with over 3,000 ft of elevation.
Paul Dalton finished the event in 5:07 and 2nd in age category, followed by Rebecca Jones (5:53), Juliette McLaren (6:24), Lisa Jenkins (7:02) and Hannah Alderson, Vicki Peters and Helen Clarke in 7:20.
12th April: Baildon Boundary Way Half Marathon (West Yorkshire)
The Baildon Boundary Way Half Marathon is a multi‑terrain, very hilly 13.5‑mile trail race around Baildon Moor, offering a mix of woodland paths, moorland tracks, towpaths, countryside trails and some tarmac. The route is known for being undulating and challenging, with around 180m of elevation gain, giving runners a mix of climbs, technical sections and scenic open‑moor views. It’s a single‑lap course with a cut‑off at 8.7 miles, and is widely described as a tough but rewarding trail experience with stunning landscapes throughout.
Deborah Berry completed the event in 2:11.
12th April: Boston Marathon in Lincolnshire (10k and Half Marathon also available)
The Boston UK Marathon in Lincolnshire is a flat, officially measured, road marathon with PB potential. The course starts at Boston Market place and finishes at Boston College. The route is on open roads with 30 mile speed restrictions in the town and at least 20 miles on rural roads passing through small villages.
Rebecca Dodd completed the event in 4:07, achieving a new PB by 22 mins.
12th April: Lakeland Paws Tour de Whinlatter – Canicross event (9k and 12k events available)
Taking place in Whinlatter Forest, both routes are mainly on wide forest trails with little or no technical ground, therefore 2 dogs are allowed. Offering stunning views, the two routes are identical until almost at the end of the 9k event, where the 12k route takes over and has a little sting in the tail.
Alex Mathers and Kate Schweizer took part in the 9k event; Alex (running with Erik and Daisy) came 2nd overall and 1st in age category with a time of 38:15, followed by Kate (running with Chase) who was 2nd in age category in 59:15.
15th April: Darlington Trails West Park 5k
This event was the 2nd of 7 that make up the 5k series and is described as a short, friendly trail race with a mix of tarmac and woodland paths, making it accessible but still varied. It is mainly flat and fast, with a few cheeky inclines that add interest without making it overly tough. Terrain shifts between smooth, runnable surfaces and light trail sections, giving a good balance for both newer runners and those chasing a quick time.
Danny McIntyre finished in 3rd place overall and 3rd male in 19:50.
Special Mentions:
parkrun…
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!
parkrun Tourism…
Well done to QRC parkrun tourists who ran at Thorp Perrow on 11th April. The next parkrun tourism is on 9th May at Millfield.
Millfield course description can be found here:
Let’s Run Round…
A shout out for Billy Harris on completing the Let’s Run Round, a tough, scenic 29‑mile (46 km) circular challenge starting and finishing at the Let’s Run shop in Great Ayton. The route is mostly off‑road, covering mixed terrain including moorland trails, forest paths and rugged hills. It features around 4,400–4,450 ft of ascent, making it a demanding round with long climbs, technical descents and exposed sections across open moorland. Runners complete the loop by following a set of key checkpoints, and those who finish can have their GPX verified to earn the official Let’s Run Round badge.