By Steven Dawson
It has been a very busy week for Aycliffe Running Club with some excellent performances and PBs with a number of runners taking part in one of the most iconic races there is.
On Thursday, September 5, two members took part in a unique race in the final race of the Muddy Roads 5k series, the HMP Kirklevington 5k.
Part of the route includes running inside a prison with no electronic devices allowed.
Keith Hatton (30:32) and Sandrine Hewitt (32:30) both represented the club on the night. In the whole series Kevin Greenall finished first in the men’s over 70 category.
On Saturday, one member took part in the Howgill Harriers Great Westmorland Trail race, set in the lovely village of Crosby Garrett. Cath McDonnell (1:33:22) continued her excellent year of running for the 7.5 mile course.
On the same day, five of our Juniors took part in the Junior Great North Run.
Representing the club were Will Allison (setting a new club record of 18:23), Joe Dickinson (19:23), Jenson Paterson (20:37), Persephone Risbey (21:59) and Isabella Risbey (in a new PB of 23:56)
Sunday saw the return of the iconic Great North Run which sees runners travel from Newcastle, heading along to the coast to South Shields.
It’s a special day for any runner with a special mention to club legend John Burnside (1:56:30) who has completed every run since it was first set up in 1981.
It’s amazing doing it once but John has now completed it 43 times in a row.
There were a huge number of positives from the race with members doing it for themselves, raising money for charity or being there to support others in the race.
Two even handed out medals to the finishers at the end.
30 members took part with Gary O’Connor (1:28:12), Gareth Hamblin (1:29:11 and a new PB), Sam Keenan (1:30:35 and new PB), Kieron O’Connor (1:32:45 and new course PB), Richard Holland (1:38:02), Richard Trowles (1:40:00 undertaking pacing , duties after coming back from injury), Amy Kerman (1:41:53), Stephen Dunn (1:42:03 and new course PB), Anthony Dickinson (1:42:04), Bernadette Cooper (1:42:28 and new PB), Lucy Postle (1:47:23), Mark Bainbridge (1:53:43), Beau-Louise Mason (1:53:58 and a new huge PB and first time below 2 hours) Laura Hudson (1:55:17 and new PB), Tamara Kirk (1:56:13 and a new PB), Alan Boustead (1:56:52), Sammie Metcalfe (1:56:57), Cloe Livermore (1:57:19 and new PB), Richard MacFarlane (2:01:22), Sarah Gill (2:01:54), Zoe Whitewood (2:03:19 in a new PB) Steve Williams (2:08:16 and a new PB), Heather Bainbridge (2:13:38), Kieran Hornsby (2:14:06), Kirsty Sykes (2:17:58), Samantha Harding (2:18:47), Eve Doe (2:25:41), Nici Ingman (2:35:32) and Helen Boyd (4:21:47) all taking part.
At the same time, three members travelled to York for the Vale of York series of races.
In the 10k race, Tracey Pickering (1:13:34) was the sole representative for the club. In the half marathon, Richard Campbell (1:26:02) and Daniel Tatham (1:34:37) represented the club with Daniel achieving a huge new personal best for the distance, coming so soon after smashing his 10k PB.
