Aycliffe Running Club was in action again last Sunday in the Serpentine 6.5 mile Trail Race.
As the title suggests this is a multi-terrain race starting and finishing at Sedgefield Cricket Club.
After a brief tour of Hardwick Country Park the route makes its way across fields to almost reach the village of Bishop Middleham. After two sharp right turns the runners find a welcoming drinks station and the route is now pointing in the direction towards the finish and the Knotty Hill golf course is the only other point of interest before the park area comes into view.
Dez Fielden was the clubs only age grade winner, finishing 4th in the excellent time of 37m:59s, followed by Mark Wade, 10th in 40:28 and Peter Milburn 22nd in 43:12.
Graham Atkins was next over the line, 35th in 44:37, followed by Dave Blewitt, 54th in 47:35 and John Burnside, 55th in 47:44.
Sandra Collins was the first lady finisher for the club, 65th in 49:03, followed by Susan Milburn, 95th in 52:32 and Kevin Greenall, who has had months off through injury looks to be back on track and finished 97th in 52:52.
Rob Nicholson and Gary Minns had a bit of a tussle in the latter part of the race, Rob being the eventual victor finishing 102nd in 53:21. Gary finished two places adrift in 53:29 and no doubt will be wanting to get his own back next time.
It was also a fairly close thing between the next two ladies. Trish Kay was 108th in 54:27 and Penny Johnson 114th in 55:07.
There was a bit of a lull before the next two runners Dave Mackenzie and Elaine Morgan crossed the line. Both were new to the course but took to the challenge well, Dave finished 164th in 62:18 and Elaine was 176th in 66:58.
Finally, Ray Todd experienced an unexpected loss of fitness and struggled to get round the course in a disappointing time of 73:18.
On the Saturday, Richard Johnson was the club’s only representative in the Great Langdale Half Marathon, which is in the Lake District.
This is an exceptionally hilly course with some parts of the course climbs being 1:3. In spite of this Richard finished in the excellent time of 1:45:19, and 65th out of 277.
