WHILE MOST Quakers braved the autumn weather at the weekend, two runners found somewhere to race that was decidedly more sunny.

In Portugal, Olly Moore and Gemma Marshall both took part in the marathon event being held in Porto, completing the 26.2 mile route in 5:06:33 and 5:47:26 respectively.

Closer to home there was a huge turnout of black and white at the latest championship race, the Guy Fawkes 10 mile at Ripley Castle, where despite the very hilly course, some runners were able to set new personal bests. First home for the club was Paul Dalton in 1:02:21, followed by Marc Ellis (1:03:03, PB), Dave Jones (1:09:13), Ian Readman (1:10:23), Gary Read (1:13:01), Katherine Hackett (1:14:18), Andrew Vernon (1:14:36), Louise Trainor (1:15:07 and finishing second in her age category), Steve Snook (1:15:24), Steven Major (1:15:34), Phil Rutter (1:16:51), Billy Harris (1:18:37), Andrew Walker (1:21:23), Michael Oliver (1:22:47), Graham Park (1:22:54), David McLachlan (1:24:23), Lindsey Lester (1:24:55, PB), Paul Pomfret (1:26:29), Stephen Moore (1:26:33), Simon Rek (1:27:58), Wendy Colling (1:28:20), Rebecca Bowes (1:29:33), Rob Gillham (1:29:51), April Corbett (1:30:44), Sandra Cass (1:31:35), Julie Whinn (1:33:12), Dale Chapman (1:35:20), Andrew Dixon (1:35:23), Jamie Norman (1:35:31), Michelle Boshier (1:35:51), Pamela Barrass (1:37:34), Clare Westwood (1:39:02), Gill Colling (1:39:21, PB), Sue New (1:39:23, PB), Mark Colling (1:39:23), Tracey Plaskitt (1:40:05), David Ledgerwood (1:42:41), Anna Hardy (1:42:52), Ian Hammond (1:43:59), Leigh-Marie Padgett (1:49:47), Lisa Jenkins (1:55:17), Sharon Carr (2:03:33), Roy MacDougall (2:03:35) and Michelle Dale (2:03:35). 

Further south at the Leeds Abbey Dash, held on a fairly fast out and back route into the city, Michael Joyeux completed the 10K distance in 33:00 along with Dawn Richardson (39:41), Diane Vaughan (45:59), Francis Connolly (46:55), Darren Alderson (51:43), Diane Adkins (53:05), Lee Morris (1:00:16), Lena Rusa (1:05:57), Lisa Alderson (1:11:25, PB), Linda Harrington (1:14:23) and Neil Harrington (1:14:23).

The second race of the Tees Trail Winter 5K series took place, this time at the new venue of Billingham Beck Park. Alex Kiel won the race, finishing the fairly muddy two lap route in 16:33. He was followed in by Rob Dent (21:01), Peter Rowley (25:24), Danny Gordon (27:01), Lucy Bendle (30:29), Emily Beaumont (38:27), Karen Dove (39:43) and Jan Waite (40:14).

A few runners also headed off road at the weekend too. At the Kilburn Kanter, held on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, Annette Clarke, Charlie Bogg and Dave Thompson braved sleet, hailstones and windy conditions, to finish the 24 mile route in 4 hours 53 minutes.

At the Helvellyn Trail Challenge, held along both footpaths and bridleways, and which went into the foothills of Helvellyn itself, Rebecca Howard completed the 15K route in 2:00:26.

Also in the Lake District, Robert Kirby was the sole Quaker at the Derwentwater 10 mile race near Keswick, completing the run there in 1:34:51.

In the Saturday morning parkruns, Kyle Cook was first across the line at South Park in 17:31 (PB) followed by Dave Jones (18:46), Paul Dalton (20:26), Ed Griffiths (20:45), Daniel Orton (21:00), Phil Rutter (21:26), Louise Trainor (21:33), Billy Harris (21:55), Iain Clyde (22:21), Gary Read (22:22), Fred Tennant (22:22), Stephen Moore (22:39), Lewis Boshier (23:05), Dale Chapman (23:06), Lindsey Lester (23:08), David Whittle (23:12), Danny Gordon (24:45), David Ledgerwood (25:39), Michelle Boshier (26:05), Rebecca Bowes (26:05), Abigail Willson (26:57), Jamie Pratt (28:05), Gill Colling (28:11), James Simpson (28:42), Sally Singleton (28:51), Lee Morris (29:17), Chris Land (29:32), Lisa Johnstone (30:31), Grainne Duffy (30:33), Paul Ryan (30:56), Mark Trowles (31:16), Fin Fox (32:43), Rob Gillham (38:26), Jan Waite (38:36) and Sharon Carr (42:33).

Ty Hankinson did the run at Hackworth in 24:17, while Peter Rowley completed the Bramhall run, near Stockport, in 24:26.

Quakers Running Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30pm at Abbey Road Playing Fields. For more information visit our website: www.quakersrunningclub.org.uk

Submitted by Rob Dent