Members of Aycliffe Running Club have been busy with lots of races being covered.  The local park runs are continuing to be well supported. At Darlington Park run on Saturday 03/05/14 Mark Wade finished in 18:19 and a new PB, Justin Hindmarch was next in 20:07 and also a new PB, next was Nigel Holmes in 20:14, Sue Milburn in 23:17 and Ally Chesney in 30:01
There was a good turnout from Aycliffe Running club for the Spring Coast Road 5K road race at Redcar on 30/04/14 and despite very windy conditions some very good times were recorded. Nigel Holmes was first to finish for Aycliffe in 20:24 closely followed by Justin Hindmarch 20:30, Peter Smith 20:37 and John Burnside 20:59. Kelly Smith was Aycliffe’s first lady to complete the course in a good time of 22:10 and she was followed by Rob Nicholson 23:24, Susan Milburn 23:39, Penny Johnson 24:57, Trish Kay 25:31, Ross Garland in a new PB of 26:22, Diane Savage 25:25 and Bev Philippo 28:36.
Three members of the Club completed the Sunderland Half marathon on 04/05/14. The route was changed from last year and started and finished at the Stadium of Light following a course through the city centre, river Wear and the sea front.   First to finish for Aycliffe was Martyn Knox in a great time of 1:25. Clare Rose recorded a new PB of 1:51 and Kat Aspey also a new PB of 2:08
On Sunday 04/05/14 Peter Milburn from Aycliffe Running Club took part in the first Reeth 20K trail race a new trail running event in scenic Swaledale. The course was a challenging 20k circular route, heading up to and along the hidden dale of Apedale, before returning across the river to Reeth.  Peter completed the course in 1:45:48 and was 28th position out of 128 runners.
Trish Kay headed to the Lake District at the weekend for the Keswick Half marathon on Sunday 04/05/14.  The race is described as one of the most scenic half marathons in the country and follows a hilly course from Portinscale village through the Newlands Valley into Littletown, along the foot of Catbells to Grange and then followed the road into Keswick to finish at The Rugby Club. The race was well marshalled and there was a lot of support around the course from walkers and cyclists. Trish thoroughly enjoyed the challenging route and finished in 1:55, 3rd F50, and 269 out of 504 finishers.
The Annual Tees Barrage 10k run was held on Monday 05/05/14. The course is on cycle and footpaths circumnavigating the river Tees. Starting on Navigation Way,runner’s head towards the Newport Bridge. After going under the bridge, they run up onto the footpath at the top, then travel north. Within 500 yards they turn right, again passing under the bridge, continuing along the north shore footpath, back towards the barrage. The 4K marker is just before runners reach the White Water rafting course, parallel with the Wetland Nature Reserve.
The course then heads back along the riverside path passing under the Princess Diana Bridge. As they continue along the footpath on Riverside Road they pass the old mine sweeper, formally used by the Sea Cadets, arriving at the Millennium Bridge.
After going over the bridge the course heads back along the river around the inland waterways connected by a number of small bridges.  Robert Young was first to finish for the Club in 43:44 followed by Kelly Smith 46:52, Peter Smith 46:52,  Paul Stretton 47:40 and Judith Porter 53:04.
Entries are now being taken for Newton Aycliffe Annual  Fun Run and 10K run to be held on 15/06/14.  For details see www.ayclifferunningclub.org.uk       http://www.ayclifferunningclub.org.uk/raceform_14.html