IT'S BEEN a busy period for the members of the Darlington-based Quakers Running Club with many taking part in several events far and wide.

Steve Lumb recently took part in the Scottish Island Peaks Race, which involves sailing from Oban to Troon via Mull, Jura and Arran and includes four running sections, a 10km race around Oban, a 25-mile race up Ben More, on Mull, a 20-mile race over the three Paps on Jura and a 16-mile race up Goat Fell on Arran.

All events involved carrying KIMM style equipment and required a lot of navigation, some at night. Steve managed to finish in seventh place overall.

Temporary exile from the club, Lee Coles completed the Stockholm Marathon in 3:17 and Kendra White, who was recently crowned British Trail running champion at Notting-ham, completed the 55-mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa finishing in 8:22.

Closer to home, there was a large turnout from the club at the Newton Aycliffe 10km and fun run, this despite being the morning after the club's annual presentation evening.

In the two-mile fun run, Danny Small won in 11:46 with clubmates Neil Robinson in second place with 12:10 and Darren Flatman in fourth spot with 12:16. Others from the club that took part; 11th Julia Orr 13:05 (2nd Girl). 13th Simon Farmer 13:24. 14th Alan Carter 13:31. 16th Carl Harpin 13:38, 17th Mark Smith 13:43, 29th Gemma Bramley 15:10, 43rd Andrew Robinson 16:46.

Barry Stephenson just managed to hold off local rival Nigel Orr to claim second place in the 10km road race, finishing in a time of 33:26. Alasdair Tatham continues to regain some form after a lengthy layoff through injury to finish 6th with 34:27.

Others from the club: 25th Mick Brunskill 37:02, 44th Wayne Bramley 39:55, 60th Peter Smith 42:03, 61st Dave Giblin 42:06, 65th Steve Carter 42:19, 66th Eric Taylor 42:25, 70th Danny Orton 42:43, 75th Jack Mason 43:05, 83rd Steve Milne 43:40, 112th Jes Smith 46:44, 113th Joe O'Donnell 46:44, 128th Dave Smith 48:05, 133rd Dave McLachlan 49:04, 141st Emma Taylor 50:06, 146th John Slater 50:54, 151st Stephen Carter 51:37, 153rd Dianne Vaughan 52:08, 168th Julie Giblin 53:08, 216th Sue Boyle 57:27 (personal best), 230th Anne Moat 59:39.

On the same day, Steve Lumb and Helen Young made it a double win for the Quakers at the 28-mile Durham Dales Challenge in high temperatures. Steve was the first to finish in 4:39, and Helen crossed the line with Caroline Mears in 6:31.

The third race in the White Horse handicap series saw Maryanne McAllister first past the post, improving her time for the 5.5-mile multi-terrain course to 53:49. Helen Bridle, of Durham University, was second with 39:35, and Teesdale's Austin Marshall third in 45:17.

Other local runners were: 4th Lynne Hatton (Quakers) 49:31, 5th Trevor Needham 41:36, 6th Michael O'Sullivan (both Aycliffe) 40:36, 7th Mike Wray 37:13, 8th Joe O'Donnell (both Quakers) 39:06, 9th Mick Mullen (Swaledale) 41:24.

10th Paul Guy (Aycliffe) 35:51, 11th Steve Milne 38:05, 12th Geordie Tennant (both Quakers) 41:31, 13th Keith Wilson (Mandale) 34:17, 14th Dave Mason 37:32, 15th Barry Stephenson (both Quakers) 31:11, 16th Alan Mullis (Heaton) 41:49, 17th Steve Carter 44:01, 18th Brian Bosher 35:20, 19th Dave Tarren 38:34, 20th Scott Archbold (All Quakers) 36:52, 21st Dave Thompson 46:16, 22nd John Burnside (both Aycliffe) 37:58, 23rd Helen Robinson 46:19, 24th Tina Murray 57:03, 25th Keith Richardson (all Quakers) 35:19, 26th Colin Gibson (Aycliffe) 34:52, 27th Julie Bowe 48:17, 28th Simon Blood 39:30, 29th Dawn Richardson (all Quakers) 40:05.

30th John Smith (New Marske) 39:15, 31st Martin Mullen 39:24, 32nd Kev Shevels (both Quakers) 45:11, 33rd Ron Read (Darlington) 36:26, 34th Steve Corner (Quakers) 36:58, 35th Paul Figg (Swaledale) 36:57, 36th Peter Smith 38:57, 37th Trevor Archer 45:05, 38th Dave Whittle 40:54, 39th Grainne Archbold 57:44, 40th Bill Johnson 47:51, 41st Danny Small 37:14, 42nd Dave England 42:16, 43rd Steve Smedley (all Quakers) 42:45, 44th John Davison (Durham) 46:50, 45th Andy Downer 47:09, 46th Lee Coles 37:16, 47th Marcia Downer 60:31, 48th Jenny Haworth (all Quakers) 48:48, 49th Kimberley Read (Darlington) 44:08, 50th Dave McLachlan (Quakers) 46:16, 51st Tim Blake 54:22.

With the series at the half way stage, Simon Blood has a narrow lead of just one point from clubmate Tina Murray in second place with Trevor Needham lying third. Steve Milne is 4th, Ronnie Read 5th, Kimberley Read 6th, Austin Marshall 7th, Joe O'Donnell 8th, Helen Robinson 9th, and Steve Smedley in 10th place. The next race in the series will be on Tuesday, July 18.

With the date of the annual Darlington 10km road race being brought forward, Quakers Running Club is staging a 10km road race and fun run at Hamsterley Forest on Sunday, August 27, with all of the proceeds going to the Butterwick Hospice.

If you usually take part in the Darlington 10km race on that day why not come along and help raise some money for the hospice.

Entry forms for all Quaker events and more information about the club can be obtained from Simpsons Sports, Post House Wynd, Darlington, or the Race Organiser, 18 Arkle Crescent, Darlington DL1 5AW.

If you run, jog, jump or throw or if you intend to take part in any local events this year, regardless of the distance or the pace, why not come along and try the club's evening training sessions and take advantage of the club's specialist coaches.

Advice will be freely given by the club's 17-strong coaching staff with no obligation to join the club. Group training sessions are held at Hummersknott School, Edinburgh Drive, Darlington, every Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm, free of charge. Newcom-ers of all abilities from eight years of age and older, are welcome to attend and take part with no obligation to join.

Future events to be organised by the club are: Tuesday, July 18: White Horse Handicaps Race 4. (Darlington) 5.5 mile, 7:15pm; Sunday, July 23: Monks Moor Fell Race. (Middleton-in-Teesdale) 13.5 mile, 11am; Tuesday, August 8: Wild Goose Chase. (Pres-ton-le-Skerne, near Newton Aycliffe) 7km, at 7:15pm.

More Quakers Running Club news in next week's Advertiser