THE CLUB held its annual relay event last Tuesday evening in memory of our dear running friend and colleague, Clive Golledge.  Despite it being one of the hottest days of the year, the event attracted 52 teams from clubs all over the region who showed their support for Crook AC and Clive.  Each team of three had to complete the 2.2m multi-terrain course and for the first time this year, there was also five junior teams competing.

The overall winners were Blackhill Bounders team 7 finishing in a cumulative time of 41.38 closely followed by Quakers team 23 in 42.10 and Aycliffe team 1 in 43.58.  A big thank you to all teams that came along to support the event.

It was the penultimate North East Masters Athletics Association (NEMAA) track and field event at Monkton Stadium on Monday evening.  The men’s squad stretched their lead at the top of the table to 682 points after five meetings – an impressive 197 point lead of second place North Shields Poly. 

After collecting 111 points on the night, the ladies also extended their lead at the top of their table to 518 points – 166 points clear of second place Tyne Bridge Harriers and with only one meeting left, we look odds on favourite to take this year’s men’s and ladies team championship titles.

At the inaugural Durham City 10K, Mike Simpson was first Crook runner home in 39.07 in pos 21 followed by Stephen Mills in 47.28 in pos 140, Rachel March in 49.13 in pos 202, Gerry Hehir in 50.20 in pos 224, Chris Clynes in 52.00 in pos 272, Steve Manifold in 55.25 in pos 397, Joanne Allison in 55.28 in pos 400, Lynsey Manifold in 59.15 in pos 539, Alan Welsh in 56.48 in pos 595 and Paul Smith who was dressed as St. Cuthbert in 55.51 in pos 609.

Men’s club captain Robert Teasdale headed to Redcar to compete in the Marske 5K finishing in 17.40 in pos 25. Fresh from racing in Georgia, Markhim Lonsdale competed in the North East Grand Prix at Gateshead running a new PB time of 22.94 in the 200m to come second.  Lauren Etchells also PB’d in her 200m race finishing in 28.98.

On Sunday, a handful of Crook members ran in the 13.3m Northumberland Coastal Run from Beadnell to Alnmouth.  First runner home was Wayne Pearson in 1.29.56 in pos 42 followed by Geoff Hewitson in 1.37.30 in pos 102, Kevin Saville in 1.46.00, Jason Marr in 1.48.11 in pos 250, Paul Brennan in 1.48.44 in pos 264, Helene Pratt in 1.51.40 in pos 334, Eric Moore in 1.55.25 in pos 419, Paul Smith in 1.56.25 in 438, Aidan Stephenson in 1.57.46 in pos 461, Gerry Hehir in 2.00.00 in pos 493, Michael Lloyd in 2.00.16 in pos 497, Neil Douthwaite in 2.17.59 in pos 773 and ‘time-on-me-feet’ Bill Ford in 2.28.28 in pos 847.

In the Saturday morning parkruns, Jason Allison finished in pos 5 in 19.10 at Riverside followed by Jason Bridgewater in pos 8 in 19.35 and Paul Brennan in pos 67 in 24.10.  At Durham, Brian Ford finished in pos 116 in 26.48 followed by Paul Smith in pos 183 in 30.00 while at Blackhill, Paul Best finished in pos 3 in 19.40.  At Rising Sun, Joanne Hope and Caroline Teasdale both finished in 29.02 in pos 106 and 107 respectively while at Hackworth, Elizabeth Wood finished in pos 7 in 23.06, Steve Manifold in pos 14 in 25.16, George Cawkwell in pos 20 in 28.06, Lynsey Manifold in pos 21 in 28.16 and Chris Clynes in pos 22 in 28.17.

In the Junior parkrun at Sedgefield on Sunday, Caitlin Carr was first home in pos 4 in 9.24 followed by David Edwards in pos 6 in 9.35 and Neve Watson in pos 9 in 10.11.

Crook AC meet every Tuesday and Thursday evening at Peases West, Crook at 6.15pm.  Junior sessions are held on Thursday’s at 6.00pm.  For more information, please visit www.crookac.co.uk or follow us on Twittter at @crookac

Submitted by Craig Downs