Quakers Running Club

A number of the senior members of the Darlington-based club competed in the two-day Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon, this year held over the fells at Great Langdale, Cumbria.

In the Carrock Fell class, the partnership of Helen Young and Dawn Richardson completed day one in a time of 5:30:25 but sadly were forced to retire on day two when a navigational error, in the less than perfect conditions, forced them over the allotted time to complete the stage. Kev Shevels and Harry Manuel were also unlucky to be disqualified for missing the sixth checkpoint on day one despite finishing the second day in a time of 6:14:59.

The Harter Fell category saw Paul Younghusband and partner Dave England finish 30th veteran pairing in 58th position overall, with times of 5:37:45 for day one and 3:36:31 for day two leaving them a total time of 9:14:16.

In the solo Klets Classic event, Steve Lumb once again proved his navigational skills to finish sixth and first veteran recording 8:29:17 for the two days, with a finishing time of 5:32:37 on day one and recorded 2:56:40, the second fastest time of the day, for day two. The Maynard brothers, Ken and Ray, were ninth overall and second veteran pairing in the Scafell category with times of 6:06:42 for day one and 3:28:05 for day two, a total time of 9:34:47.

The seventh annual Green Tree Run, an off-road 10km, nearly saw a clean sweep for the club's ladies. Sally Rouse finished the victor by 16 seconds from clubmate Kendra White after racing neck and neck from the start. Rouse recorded 51:15 to finish 16th overall and White was 17th with 51:31. Fourth-placed Andrea Tucker took a tumble on the final descent which allowed the third placed finisher to pass her with less than half a mile of the race remaining. Tucker recorded 59:29 for 30th position overall. Other runners from the club were: Steve Smedly (27th) 58:07, Nev Wilson (28th) 59:11 and Paul Younghusband (42nd) 62:55.

The club's top male veteran runner, Ian Scott, was the winner of the Over-40 veterans category in the Road Runners Club Championship which was incorporated in this year's Derwentwater 10-mile road race.

Scott finished 20th out of the 314 finishers in a time of 59:32 to also take the second Over-45 vets prize in the open race. Dave Tarren also completed the course finishing 81st in a time of 1:08:24.

Back to the fells, the final race in the Durham Fell Challenge Series organised by the club, the Alan Lamb Memorial Fell Race saw a disappointing turn out for the junior race, especially as it was a North East Junior Championship event.

The first three home were 'old regulars' at the club's junior events and claimed first place in their respective categories to win the series awards.

All seem to have an ability for fell running especially Luke Kelton who was the clear winner, finishing in 25:12 with fellow Quakers Chris Maynard second with 28:37 and Gemma Bramley third in 32:27. Evenwood's Mathew Shaw was fourth in 35:40.

Kelton won the series novice category with a total of 40 points from club mates Alan Carter in second place and Neil Robinson third.

The intermediate category went to Chris Maynard with 57 points, well clear of Mike Lea (Quakers) and Mandale's Paul McNally third.

Gemma Bramley took the girls junior class and the Quakers pair of Carl Bedford and Danny Small tied joint first in the boys junior category with Ryan McCormack of Evenwood in third place.

In the senior race, Alasdair Tatham of the Quakers was the convincing winner of the testing 14-mile course, as he was in the first race of the series, the Doctor's Gate Hill Race, in a time of 1:40:53. Second home and first Over-40 veteran was Ken Maynard also of the Quakers in a time of 1:41:09 with last year's race winner Joe Blackett of Mandale finishing third with 1:41:36.

The ladies race winner was Kim Crowther of Evenwood in a time of 2:00:33 with Gill Mennim (NFR) finishing second and first lady veteran with 2:04:33 and Jenny Haworth of the host club third with 2:04:55. In the final series standings, the ladies race was very a close affair with Dawn Richardson of the Quakers narrowly pipping teammate Sally Rouse for the title by one point, 77 points to 76. Donna Douthwaite of Evenwood took third position with 72 points.

In the lady veteran category Mennim was the clear winner being the only competitor to do more than one event.

The ladies team prize once again went to the host club Quakers the only club to field a team.

In the senior men's category the series winner was long-time leader Andrew Henderson of the Quakers on 191 points with Geoff Watson (Elvet Striders) second on 182 points and Martin Harbisher (Crook), third on 179 points.

With only the Quakers having fielded a senior man's team in any of the races, they naturally retained the title.

In the Over-40 category, before the race, Michael Mallen of Crook was leading the series by one point from Ken Maynard (Quakers). Mallen was intent on retaining his series title, but it was not to be as Maynard beat him by five places which was sufficient to put him one point ahead in the final results with totals of 198 and 197 respectively. Tony Hindmarch of Evenwood finished in third position with 176 points.

In the Vet 50s Andrew Laybourne of Evenwood once again finished the race in first position. This gave him four wins out of six and a maximum of 200 points for the series. Second place went to Mike Horan (Quakers) with 185 points and Alan Dickinson of Evenwood finished third with 183 points.

The Over-60 category was won by Bill Johnson of Quakers with 147 points, second place going to Joe Garbarino of NFR with 99 points. In the male veteran team race, throughout the series it had been neck and neck between Crook and Quakers but in the end Crook won by one point.

l Entry forms and results for all Quaker events and more information about the club can be obtained from the club's new web-site, http://quakers.place.cc or from 'Simpsons Sports' Post House Wynd, Darlington or from The Race Organiser, 18 Arkle Crescent. Darlington. DL1 5AW.

Darlington Harriers and AC

At the first meeting of the North Yorkshire South Durham Cross Country League held at Barnard Castle, braving atrocious conditions, Ruth Brown showed her international class in winning the senior women's race.

Club results: Under 13 Girls: Sophie Weddell 12th 13.24. Helen Moore 18th 14.37. Stephanie Weddell 20th 14.48; Under 13 Boys: Jamie Rutherford. 11th 13.48; Under 15 Girls: Natasha Springett 21st 15.24. Jenna Read 30th 16.18. Rebecca Craggs 37th 19.14; Under 15 Boys: Andrew Smith 12th 13.34. Daniel Purdie 13th 13.39. Gary Johnson 18th 14.35. (fourth team); Under-17 Men: Richard Smith ninth 22.18; Under-17 and Senior/ Vet Women: Ruth Brown Ist 18.17. Bemadette Taylor 2nd 18.49. Alison Raw 6th 19.23 (1st Vet); Georgina Rutherford 9th 19.52 (3rd Under 17) 1st Team.

Under 20/ Senior/ Vet Men: Nigel Orr 26th 29.49. John Best 28th 29.55. Martin Grainger 49th 31.07. Ron Read 85th 32.52. Hon Lee 90th 33.22. Paul Smith 96th 33.57. Dave Boyd 1 10th 35.06. Brian Hannah 127th 36.18. Steve Hutchinson 133rd 36.49. Jack Mason 136th 37.06. John Brant 160th 39.19. Dave

Cottam 171st40.44, ninth team.

l Darlington Harriers, supported by Cleveland Bridge UK. Ltd., train for the NYSD Cross Country league meetings at Eastbourne Sports Complex on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30. to 8.00pm .

l The Darlington Schools Cross Country Championships are to be held on November 23 at Eastbourne School.

DARLINGTON Norflex U-13s were unlucky to bow out of the Durham County Cup when they drew 5-5 with West Hartlepool who, as the away team, went through to the next round.

West scored first but Darlington levelled ten minutes after the break then had three tries disallowed.

In another County Cup clash, Darlington U-17s went down 19-16 to Stockton.

Darlington U-14s beat West Hartlepool 36-5 with tries from Stephen Looney, David Rogers (2), Philip Hodgson, Stevens (no first name given) and Thomas Mangle, Philip Dawson adding three conversions.

Durham County

The three outstanding ties in the Second Teams Cup, first round, lost to weather on November 4 will hopefully go ahead tomorrow. Darlington meet Hartlepool Rovers (winners away to Durham City), Billingham v Blaydon and Darlington Mowden Park v Stockton, winners in these ties play each other in the second round.

The only outstanding tie is the Third Teams Cup tie between Billingham II and Wearside II. The second round pairings are:

Durham City v. Darlington or Hartlepool Rovers, Horden v Ryton, Billingham or Blaydon v Darlington Mowden Park or Stockton, Westoe v. Consett and District.

Third Teams Cup, third round: Westoe v. Hartlepool II, Horden v Darlington Mowden Park, Darlington v. Blaydon, Gateshead v Billingham II or Wearside II.

Fourth Teams Shield, second round: Wearside III v. Consett and District, Yarm II v Westoe, Gateshead v Bishop Auckland III, Shildon Town v. South Tyneside College.