ALL QUAKERS headed off the roads at the weekend, with several racing in memory of a fellow local runner.

The third event in the Stockton Winter 5K series took place at a fairly muddy Cowpen Bewley. The run, which was the memorial race for Gavin Duffy, the late Billingham Marsh House runner, was won appropriately enough by his younger brother Luke. First home for the club over the two lap route was Marc Ellis in 18:53 (and in seventh place overall), followed by Rob Dent (21:37), Daniel Orton (22:03), Andrew Vernon (22:19), Gary Read (23:11), Louise Trainor (24:02), Ty Hankinson (27:06), Sarah Watson (28:18), Danny Gordon (28:30), Lewis Boshier (29:06), Juliette Mclaren (29:10), Michelle Boshier (29:35), Jamie Pratt (30:45), Matt Jackson (31:24), Lucy Bendle (33:36), Sharon Carr (35:56), Emily Beaumont (37:37), Karen Dove (37:51) and Lisa Alderson (38:53).

Running in the dark were Emily Beaumont and Michelle Boshier, who completed the Chop Gate Night race. On a circular 9.6 mile route which started and finished at Chop Gate itself, and took in Carlton Bank along the way, they finished together in 2:59:36.

In South Wales, Dave Thompson and Annette Clarke took part in the Brecon Ultra, a 46 mile race held in the Brecon Beacons national park. On a route which took in fields, trails and even a canal towpath, they finished together in 11 hours 3 minutes.

The previous week had seen the latest of the Hardmoors trail race series, on this occasion at Goathland, which saw runners braving some chilly and snowy conditions. In the marathon event, Emily Beaumont and Michelle Boshier went round the course together, finishing in 7:43:15, while in the half marathon race, Michael Joyeux kept up his winning streak for the series, crossing the line first in 1:39:17.

The cold weather played havoc with the parkruns at the weekend; the icy conditions leading to several being cancelled, including the one at South Park. As a result, the only runner to actually finish a local run at the weekend was Stephen Moore who ran at Albert Park in 22:50. Flying the Quaker flag overseas was Carol Penney who had no such issues with the weather in South Africa, completing the run in Cape Town in 35:56.

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 (photo by Karen Newton)