The focus of this week’s racing was the Great Run events in our area.

First up was the Great Tees events in Stockton. These took place on Saturday with mini, junior 4k and 10k races.

One of our juniors, Sophie Fleming, participated in the junior 4k race completing this in a time of 19.36.

In the main 10k race we had two members taking part. First up was John Surtees in 36.08 with Trish Kay completing the race in 49.10.

Also on Saturday was the mini and junior Great North Runs and we had a lot of our members take part in this. Firstly three runners took place in the mini great north runs. These were not timed. Felicity Lineton completed the 2k race and Mia Hynes and Savannah Hannan both did the 1.5k.

Next up was the Junio Great North Run of 4k which was completed by: Fearne Brischuk 19.25, Persephone Risbey 23.50, Millie Greathead 24.21, Kennedy Hannan 24.27, Isabella Risbey 26.21, Lilly Parsonage 28.24, Izzy Hannan 28.49 and Gracie Wilson 33.07.

On Sunday it was time for the biggest half marathon in the world, The Great North Run. Aycliffe Running Club had 13 members taking part in this race, some for the first time, some having previously run the race and one member John Burnside taking part in his 39th Great North Run having run every year since the race began.

First home for ARC was Mark Wade in 1.27 followed by Richard Holland in 1.38.26, Mark Bainbridge 1.51.47, John Burnside 1.51.56, Heather Morgan 1.56.34, Lisa Dowell 2.19.05, Richard Tonge 2.20.53, Ian Baronowski 2.28.07, Nici Ingman 2.32.38, Nichola Ellis 2.50.59, Simon Mathew Turner 2.51.13, Lindsey Brown 2.51.13, Eve Doe 2.56.05 and Marie Rudd 3.38.10.

For anyone interested in joining the club, you can simply turn up at one of our sessions, all of which start from the Oakleaf Complex in Newton Aycliffe. Monday night is beginners run at 6.30p.m., Tuesday is endurance/speed session from 7.00 p.m. and Thursday is a track session and this takes place at Shildon Track. Further details can be found on our website or facebook pages or alternatively you can message the club via facebook for more information.