• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      You’re Hiyed! The CIC that’s breaking down job barriers

      You’re Hiyed! The CIC that’s breaking down job barriers

      Getting Human Resources back to basics – with HR2day’s free audit offer

      Getting Human Resources back to basics – with HR2day’s free audit offer

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      ‘Topping out’ celebrated at multi-million pound Aycliffe development

      ‘Topping out’ celebrated at multi-million pound Aycliffe development

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

      More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

    • Cricket
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN TORCH
Home
News

GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN TORCH

June 21st, 2012 Glen Robertson News 2 comments 2891

top banner

By Glen Robertson

One of the torchbearers through Newton Aycliffe admits to being “taken aback” with the support she received at this weekend’s Olympic torch relay through the region.

Sophie Hughes (pictured above), from Bishop Auckland, picked up the flame just after the Blue Bridge on Sunday in front of her family, friends, her running club and thousands of Newtonians.

And the 21-year-old admits to feeling overwhelmed at the reception she received on the day.

“It was fantastic,” she told Aycliffe Today. “It was a really amazing experience.

“I was taken aback with the reception I received in Newton Aycliffe. I was quite nervous at the start of the day but the enthusiasm of the crowd and seeing my family, friends and the running club there to support me was amazing and helped me feel much calmer.

“I was overwhelmed at the support. I couldn’t believe how many people actually came to see the torch. I just wish it could’ve lasted longer. It went too fast!”

She was nominated to be a torchbearer by her proud dad, Richard, for all the charity work she does. When she was informed she was on a shortlist she admitted to being surprised, but never expected to be selected as one of the 8,000 carriers.

She said: “I got an email from Samsung saying I had been nominated, and that was the first I knew about it. But I still didn’t expect to be picked and was overwhelmed when I was.

“I was really honoured to be selected.”

The keen runner, who studies Conservation and Restoration at Lincoln University, also revealed she had been inspired by her fellow torchbearers after spending all day Sunday with them.

“I met so many inspirational people,” she said. “It was great meeting them and hearing their stories during the day.

“We were all very supportive of each other, clapping and cheering each other as we got back on the bus after our turn with the torch. It was a special day.”

Miss Hughes was born in Newton Aycliffe and lived in Ainsty Hunt for a couple years. She now lives just down the road in Bishop Auckland, where she is a member of the Evenwood Road Runners.

“They have been really supportive of me,” she said when asked about the running club. “Without their support I wouldn’t have been running all these years. I was really grateful that they came to support me on Sunday.”

She has been a member of the club for eight years and runs twice every week with them and a further once by herself. She enters the Great North Run every year, raising money for a different charity each time.

The first four years saw her raise money for Cafod, the Rainbow Trust, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Alzheimer’s Society. This year she will raise money for Children with Cancer.

Her personal best is 1hr 24 minutes. She has shaved 22 minutes off her time since her first outing in the event. To help raise money for her running in the past, she has sold cakes at the Hamsterley Hoppings, a tradition she will carry on this year.

“I’m planning on making cakes again this year,” she said. “I enjoy making them and they’ve been really popular in the last few years so I’ll be doing it again. They help me a lot with my fundraising.”

To sponsor Sophie in the Great North Fun, visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=sophie12

RELATED NEWS:

In Pictures: The Olympic Torch In Aycliffe

Crowds Flock To See Olympic Torch

“One Of The Best Days Of My Life”

 

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article DARLO APPEAL REJECTED
Previous article STRENGTHENING FAMILIES

Related News

Young people encouraged to share views on crime News
July 24th, 2025

Young people encouraged to share views on crime

Measures to control HMOs to be considered News
July 22nd, 2025

Measures to control HMOs to be considered

£1m funding to target local crime hotspots News
July 7th, 2025

£1m funding to target local crime hotspots

2 Comments

  1. Dave
    June 21, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    Great report Glen, its really good to see young people contributing to the community in this way. Very well done Sophie, your a credit to our region. Your parents should be very proud of you.

    1. tania
      June 22, 2012 at 6:57 pm

      Well said Dave!

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

Jul 24th 2:06 PM
News

Young people encouraged to share views on crime

Jul 23rd 8:25 AM
Business

You’re Hiyed! The CIC that’s breaking down job barriers

Jul 22nd 1:32 PM
News

Measures to control HMOs to be considered

Jul 22nd 12:58 PM
Sport

More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

Jul 21st 4:25 PM
Business

Getting Human Resources back to basics – with HR2day’s free audit offer

Jul 14th 6:06 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Jul 8th 5:00 PM
Business

Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

Jul 7th 11:02 AM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Jul 7th 9:22 AM
News

£1m funding to target local crime hotspots

Jul 4th 2:45 PM
Community

Aycliffe students visit Knife Angel on photography trip

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive

Get our latest news direct to your inbox every Friday - subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Subscribe Now