Quakers RC

A total of 32 members of the junior section took on the Junior Great North Run course which started and finished at the Gateshead International Stadium.

In a field of approximately 4000, Carl Bedford had an excellent run to finish the three-mile course in 13th position recording a time of 18:02.

Others Quakers: Danny Small (33rd) 18:47, Luke Kelton (46th) 19:24, Danny Orton (51st) 19:35, Neil Robinson (56th) 19:50, Darren Flatman (61st) 20:02, Rob Hodgson (85th) 20:40, Lewis Moses (88th) 20:44, Julia Orr (116th) 21:32, Abigail Wilson (129th) 21:42, Simon Farmer (150th) 21:59, Darren Pearson (173rd) 22:27, Marc Smith (186th) 22:35, Gemma Bramley 22:38, Carly Smith 22:53, Michael Bond 23:48, Neil Chalmers 23:58, Kelvin Bedford 24:09, Luke Warrior 24:28, Andrew Robinson 25:01, Alexandra Snook 25:18, Carina Mooney 26:16, Helen Scott 27:26, Veronica Lee 28:33, Stephanie Bramley 28:40, Craig Chalmers 32:15, Rebecca Orton 33:01, Kirsty Orr 35:48, Ian Wilson 38:01, Ben Marriott 39:33, Amy McAllister 41:11 and Emma Marriott 43:44.

The seniors' race the following day saw 38 runners representing the club with elder statesman, the ever sprightly, Bill Frankland completing his 20th Great North Run in a time of 1:57:21. Several others recorded personal best times for the distance despite the congested start suffered by many.

Results: Ian Scott 1:17:22, Dave Giblin 1:28:43, Dawn Bramley 2:11:59, Peter Smith 1:35, Dorothy Hansom 2:24:21, Andrea Tucker 1:40:34 (pb), Mike Scott 1:48:23, Julie Bowe 1:58 (pb), Lynne Hatton 2:20, Eddie Heslop 2:11:38, Diane Vaughan 1:59, Pat Murray 1:46:02, Jeff Marriott 2:14:14, Dave Whittle 1:34:31 (pb), Michelle Meynell 1:58, Emma Taylor 1:53, Andrew Wilson 1:48, Larry Gannon 1:45:47, Julie Giblin 1:52:06 (pb), Maryann McAllister 2:11:59, Peter Hansom 2:24:22, Wayne Bramley 1:24:05 (pb), Keith Shevels 1:40:34, Mike Prior. Dave England 1:58, Paul Younghusband 2:20, Steve Milne 1:28 (pb), Lynne Heslop 2:11:32, Isabel Evans 2:00:39, Harry Manuel 1:38:42, Sarah Marriott 2:14:14, John Ross 1:28:30, Angela Place 1:58:19, Frank Dodds 2:54, Colin Morris 2:00:46, Steve Smedley 1:53 and Jenny Haworth 1:58.

The first meet of the North-Eastern Harriers Cross Country League got underway in typical cross country weather, the recent heavy rains turning the Wallsend course into a sea of wet and slippery mud making the descents on the undulating course somewhat treacherous, claiming many victims.

The first race belonged to the U-13 girls where Abigail Wilson crossed the line in 8:35 for an excellent sixth place, leading home teammates Carina Mooney who finished 26th in 9:39, Alexandra Snook who was 33rd in a time of 10:00 and closely followed by Helen Scott in 34th place with 10:06. The girls' team finished fifth overall. The U-13 boys team finished seventh with Simon Farmer running from the fast pack in the handicap system finishing in 16th place with a time of 12:43. Simon Carter was the next team member home in 13:11 for 28th place, Marc Smith 34th in 13:21 and fellow fast pack runner Michael Bond was 46th in 14:47.

Julia Orr, having just moved into the U-15 girls category, has started her challenge for the league title by totally destroying the opposition in her race. She took the conditions in her stride and won the race in a time of 11:15, some 28 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.

The U-15 boys' race saw Luke Kelton, having also moved up into another age category, show his talented form, finishing second in a time of 10:32. Teammate Lewis Moses was next home in 12th with 11:33. Next home for the Quakers team was Alan Carter in 31st in 12:41 with Neil Chalmers recording 14:49 for 39th place and Simon Weightman finishing 40th in 15:28. The team finished fourth overall.

Gemma Bramley was the sole representative in the U-17/20 women's race finishing ninth (eighth U-17) in a time of 19:39. Fast pack runner Carl Bedford, subjected to a handicap of 2:40 was the first Quaker to finish in the U-17 men's race, finishing 15th overall in a time of 23:58 just ahead of team mate Rob Hodgson who was 16th with 24:11. Carl Harpin came home 21st in 25:46 with Danny Orton 22nd in 25:48 and Danny Small 23rd in 25:58. The team finished third.

The senior men's team, severely weakened by a clash of fixtures, finished equal third in the Division Two match. Ian Bond was the first from the club to finish, recording 35:15 for 40th place with Wayne Bramley in 84th place with 36:41. Peter Smith was 100th in 37:10, Mick Brunskill finished in 109th place with 37:17, Dave Tarren was 164th in 39:05, Graham Park recorded 39:52 for 181st place and team captain Steve Carter was 219th in 44:59.

On the same weekend a group of seven Quakers with partners travelled to Dublin for the 20th running of the Dublin City marathon although due to injuries only four of the clubs runners took part. Mike Wray just managed to out-sprint Dave Mason who recorded a personal best time for the distance, over the last 50 yards, both finishing in 3:28. Joe O'Donnell was another who recorded a new personal best despite the cold, wet and very windy conditions to finish in 3:38 and Keith Shevels completed his 78th marathon in a sedate 3:57. The next event to be organised by the club is the seven-leg Darlington Dash Trail Relays on Sunday, November 19. Entries are invited in all categories, Open Team, Veteran Team, Ladies Team, Mixed Team, Junior Team and Unattached Team.

Newton Aycliffe

The Barnard Castle cross-country saw a club record broken with a 40 per cent turnout of all members.

An astonishing 16 runners lined up in the Senior Men's race which helped the club to a gallant eighth team place overall. Top man was Ian Monkman in 30th place closely tracked by Peter Milburn 37th and Paul Guy 42nd, Colin Gibson 71st, Graham Whitchurch 77th and Tom Vinall 86th.

Other notable performances included the debut of George Reid who ran 35 mins, John Burnside 36 mins, Ian Monroe, Mike O'Sullivan and Dave Middleton all 37 mins, Rob Nicholson and John Beamson 38, with Dave Thompson and Ray Todd both under 41 mins.

The U-13 girls race saw our first ever team with the impressive Alex Newbould running 14 mins, the talented debutante Charlotte Jarps 15 mins and Jessica Scholey an excellent 16 mins.

In the U-15 girls race Kirsty Coates continued her very good progress to finish in 16 mins over the demanding course. The U-15 boys race saw the magnificent debut of Jimmy Pike finishing only three seconds behind the vastly more experienced Adam Gibson in 15th place.

The Ladies race also set a new turnout record with Aycliffe finishing in seventh place overall, led home by the outstanding Carol Moss in tenth place, Sue Milburn 21st, Cyd Upton who missed the start in 48th, Karen Newbould in 53rd and another debutante Melanie Varley in a brilliant 65th.

The Great North Run saw a very good turnout for the club with the improving Paul Guy in pole position in 78mins, Steve Wright was next in 85, John Burnside 89, Peter Towler 90, Cyd Upton 91, Dave Askew 93, Mike O'Sullivan 96, Rob Nicholson and Dave Middleton 98, Karen Newbould and Mick Beadle 1 hour 51 mins, Anne McLoughlin 1 hour 59, Jane Shepherd 2 hours 19 and Rachel Scholey 2 hours 29 mins.

The indoor winter training has started at the Oakleaf Complex (6pm) and the outdoor track sessions are at Shildon track on Thursdays.

Anybody welcome to come and try, no obligation, suitable for beginners.

Crook & District

The Vets. team produced an excellent team result at the final event of the Durham Fell Challenge series which was a 14 mile race in Hamsterley Forest, to win the series overall. Mike Mallen was second Vet. on the day and second overall in the series in a time of 1hr. 49mins, followed by Graham Bradshaw in 1hr. 53mins, Stuart Ferguson 2.05, Martin Harbisher also 2.05 and Gerry Hehir 2.10.

The club's track 5000m was won by Malcolm Ingram in 17mins 23sec and first under junior was Robin Everson in 20.27.