Around 4000 runners participated in the Run Sunderland Festival on Sunday 7th May. Aycliffe Running Club was represented in the 10K and Half Marathon events. The routes started in Keel Square and took in the sights of Sunderland City Centre, the National Glass Centre, Wearmouth Bridge, Sunderland Marina and Roker Park. The course had lots of twists and turns and conditions were cold and very windy making it quite a challenge at times. In the 10K Robert Young was first to finish for Aycliffe in 43:20, followed by Trish Kay in 49:58 and John Young in 58:57.
In the Half Marathon Dave Blewitt finished in 1:41:56, Martha McBarron was 1st in her category of female over 60 in a time of 1:45:13, followed by Sandra Collins in 1:50. Then came Lisa Sheldon in 2:05:05 and Ian Baronowski in 2:12:28. On Wednesday 10 May George Dixon finished 10th at the Locke Park pie and peas 5 miler in 30:22. On Saturday 13 May we had 22 members of Aycliffe Running Club participating in park runs with three recording new personal bests. Park runs are free weekly timed running events which take place nationwide. Local events take place weekly at Hardwick, Hackworth and South Parks. These are open to runners of all abilities. Find out more on the park run website.
On Sunday 14 May Tommy Scott and Trish Kay ran in the Pier-to-Pier race. This is approximately 7 miles depending which route you choose. The race started on the beach at South Shields pier and then followed cliff top paths past Marsden Grotto, Souter Lighthouse and finished on the beach at Roker Pier. Tommy Scott finished in 47:22 and Trish Kay in 59 minutes. On the same day Judith Porter completed the Ripon 10 miler in a time of 1:41:47.
At the annual Raby Castle runs on Sunday 21 May Isaac Boys represented Aycliffe Running Club junior section in a new 3K race. Isaac had a great run and finished in 6th position in 12:14. Other members of Aycliffe Running Club competed in the undulating 10K race which is a 2 lap course set within the grounds of the Raby Castle Estate. First to finish for ARC was Martyn Knox in 43:27 followed by Dave Blewitt 45:48, Martha McBarron 50:09, Trish Kay 51:27, Heather Fenwick 57:07, Denise Evans 60:40 and Ian Baronowski in 63:42. Aycliffe Running club are hosting their annual 10K and 3K races on Sunday 18/06/17. For more information visit their website at www. ayclifferunningclub.org.uk/about-aycliffe-10k-a
