ATHLETICS: Quakers Running Club Report w/e 25 September

The first of the two championship races took place down at Snape on Saturday, which as well as doubling up as a league race, also saw two Quakers finishing in the top ten. First to finish the multi-terrain 10K distance was Kyle Cook in 39:30 (and in eighth place overall), followed by Rob Dent (41:08 and in tenth place overall), Gary Read (42:15), Steven Major (44:14), Brian McLaren (44:37), Rebecca Howard (46:11), Graham Park (48:05), Phil Clarke (50:22, and second in his age category), Simon Rek (51:03), Jeff Marriott (51:49), Anna Hardy (54:18), David Ledgerwood (56:06), Wendy Noble (56:36) and Sue New (56:54).

The following day saw a large turnout for the second of those races, the Redcar half marathon, held on a double out-and-back route along the trunk road and down to Marske. Michael Joyeux was first home for the club over the 13.1 mile distance in 1:17:41, and in seventh place overall. Next to finish were Paul Dalton (1:21:04 and second in his age category), Dave Jones (1:24:26, PB), Dawn Richardson (1:28:06, first in her age category and the second female finisher overall), Gary Read (1:29:13, PB), Michael Thompson (1:30:33), David Todd (1:31:56), Mark Robinson (1:31:58), Chris Minto (1:34:41), Andrew Vernon (1:36:44), Paul Pomfret (1:45:55), Rob Gillham (1:46:15), David Whittle (1:48:57), Gavin Armstrong (1:49:45), Stephen Moore (1:49:48), Sarah Watson (1:51:54), Rebecca Bowes (1:51:56), Andrew Dixon (1:56:52), Julie Whinn (1:57:14, third in her age category and also  breaking the club record for that category too), Steven Johnston (2:05:05), Jeff Marriott (2:05:58), Sally Singleton (2:06:01 and first in her age category) and Sarah Bayles (2:40:17). Also taking place that morning was the 5K event which saw Lewis Boshier and Michelle Boshier finishing in 25:46 and 25:55 respectively.

Those runners not in search of points headed further afield for some much longer distances. In Scotland, two runners travelled up to the highlands for the Loch Ness marathon. On a route which ran virtually the entire length of the loch itself, before finishing in Inverness, Michael Oliver set a new PB of 4:13:04, while Jamie Pratt completed his first race over the distance in 5:08:47.

The third and final Dales Trail event of the year, the 40K race took place over at Semer Water in Wensleydale.  On a route which ended up stretching to an actual marathon distance, Michelle Boshier completed the hilly off road route in 5:51:33, with Anthony & April Corbett not far behind, finishing together in 6:10:00.

Five Quakers headed out to Mallerstang in the Yorkshire Dales for this year’s RAB Mountain marathon. All runners took part in the long score course, where runners have a certain amount of time to gain points for each checkpoint reached, with penalties for any late arrivals. Over a combined total of 13 hours, Abbie Hull and her friend finished in 80th place, with Andrew Lambe & Darren Wright in 85th and Annette Clarke & Charlie Bogg in 93rd.

In the Saturday morning parkruns, Alex Kiel was first across the line at South Park in 15:56, followed by Ricki Hotton (19:55), Ed Griffiths (21:28), Nick Wadd (22:28), Neil Harrington (25:17), Brian Dixon (26:27), Kevin Barnett (27:30), Gemma Hammond (27:46), Lee Morris (28:44), Pamela Barrass (28:52), Lisa Johnstone (29:49), Michelle Scruby (31:02), Michael King (32:38), Jan Waite (36:19), Linda Harrington (38:26) and Adrian Dent (38:54).

At Albert Park, Mike Brown finished in 20:48 along with Stephen Moore in 22:38, while over at Sedgefield, Wendy Colling completed the run there in 26:46, with Sandra Cass (26:46) and John Whinn (30:13). Among the tourists, Peter Rowley ran at Keswick in 25:27, while Darren and Lisa Alderson did the run at Princes Park, Liverpool in 27:51 and 37:31 respectively.

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