JUST ABOUT everyone headed off road at the weekend, apart from two Quakers who managed to find a road run in much sunnier climes.

The North East Cross Country Championships took place up at Durham, on a very hilly course at Aykley Heads, where the weather was certainly much kinder to the runners this year! In the men’s event, which covered 12K over three identical laps, Alex Kiel was first home for the club in 42:57 followed by Michael Thompson (52:04), Rob Dent (52:39), Darren Wright (53:03), Steve Snook (54:53), Gary Read (57:15), Graham Park (1:00:12), Fred Tennent (1:03:56), Rob Gillham (1:05:43), Darren Alderson (1:07:27), David Ledgerwood (1:11:15) and Jamie Pratt (1:16:54). In the women’s event, which was run over a two-lap 8K distance, Michelle Boshier and Anna Hardy finished the race together in 45:45.

The fourth race in the Stockton Winter 5K trail series took place over at the Wynyard Woodland Park, which saw two Quakers finishing in the top three. Alex Kiel crossed the line first in 17:00, with Kyle Cook coming home third in 18:06. Next to finish were Rob Dent (21:01), Ty Hankinson (23:49), Peter Rowley (24:53), Darren Alderson (27:41), Matt Jackson (31:32), Lucy Bendle (32:33), Richard Payne (33:17), Sharon Carr (36:26) and Lisa Alderson (36:38).

Meanwhile down in West Yorkshire, the usual trio of Annette Clarke, Charlie Bogg and Dave Thompson were out on the hills once again, this time at the unusually named Regular Irregular race, which started and finished at Holmfirth. Over a three lap route which covered 23 miles and took in 5000 feet of climb, the three finished together in 5 hours 22 minutes.

Flying the Quaker flag overseas, in the Canary Islands, were Andrew Vernon and Sarah Watson, who completed a very hot 10K race in Lanzarote in 45:46 and 57:38 respectively.

The previous week had seen the Eskdale Eureka fell race near Castleton, an 8 mile route which took in 1500 feet of climb. Marc Ellis completed the undulating route in 1:10:07 along with Ian Bond (1:13:55), Simon Rek (1:28:31), Jamie Norman (1:32:46) and Fred Tennant (1:39:00).

In the Saturday morning parkruns, Marc Ellis finished at South Park in 17:21 (PB) followed by Dave Jones (18:18), Brian Martin (18:48), Luke Minall (21:21), David Todd (21:37), Michael Oliver (22:33), Rebecca Howard (22:50), Peter Rowley (23:43), Lindsey Lester (24:11), Shaune Eland (24:13), Nigel Eddy (24:36), Gary Read (24:37), Rebecca Bowes (24:39), Neil Harrington (25:00), Andrew Dixon (25:04), Gavin Armstrong (25:04), Elizabeth Kennedy (25:10), Lewis Boshier (25:49), Michelle Boshier (25:50), Sue Woodcock (26:33), Barbra Barker (26:37), Colin Smith (26:56), Chris Land (27:20), Lee Morris (27:35), Olly Moore (27:35), Fin Fox (28:23), Claire Norman (28:53), Michelle Scruby (29:38), Mark Trowles (30:20), Sharon Carr (30:36), Grainne Duffy (30:41), Nichola Jordan (31:00), Lucy Bendle (31:46), Michelle Dale (32:02), Paul Ryan (32:05), Lisa Alderson (33:42, PB), Rachel Ryan (35:17), Adrian Dent (40:26), James Simpson (42:24) and Iain Clyde (42:25).

Over at Tees Barrage, Emily Beaumont and Karen Dove finished there in 31:57 and 35:30 respectively. Further afield, Dawn Richardson did the Sheffield Hilsborough run in 20:35, Michael Ladyman completed the Liverpool Princes Park run in 21:24, while Peter Commane headed down to the Brighton Preston Park run, finishing in 20:27.

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