Last Sunday 15 members of Aycliffe Running Club travelled to Cumbria to take part in the Ravenstonedale 10K. The race is organised by Howgill Harriers, who take their name from the nearby range of hills called the Howgills.
The weather was ideal for running, dry with no wind but rather chilly. The beautiful scenery soon takes mind off the agony of the 2 mile climb at the beginning of the race. Then there is always the reward of the 1 mile descent back into the village at the end, where there is hot soup waiting to be served at the Kings head pub.
Lee Wren, one of the clubs best runners was suffering with stress fracture, but as the photo shows, he seems to have found a way of keeping his weight off the injured leg for most of the race and got round the course in 42m:34s in 42nd place. However, Dez Fielden, who is having Achilles problems, was still determined to finish under 40 minutes and did this easily in 38:50 and was first home for the club in 16th position.
Other notable performances came from Susan Milburn, 1st F 0/55 and 84th overall in 48:54, Judith Porter, 1st F 0/60, and 129th overall in 54:47, and Anne Kellett who surprised herself with a time of 57:03, 146th.
Other results were – Peter Milburn – 26th – 40:32, Martin Knox – 30th – 41:22, Peter Smith – 63rd – 46:00, Sandra Collins 76th – 47:43, Michael Brunskill – 83rd – 48:51, Shelley McCormack – 95th – 50:06, Trish Kay – 104th – 51:19, Kat Aspey – 155th – 58:07, Beverley Phillippo – 162th – 59:20, Ray Todd – 169th – 61:34.
The following day seven of our athletes were engaged in the cross/country event at Croft.
In the ladies race Penny Johnson was the only representative from the club and finished 43rd in the time of 32:59.
In the senior men’s race, Martin Sedgwick was first home for the club, 92nd in 40:26, followed by Kevin Greenall, 93rd in 40:40, Colin Gibson, 95th in 40:55, Alan Wilkes 103rd in 44:59, Rob Nicholson 105th in 46:17, and Dave Thompson 106th in 49:48.
On the same day Chris Forster competed in the Blythe Sands Run,
This 5 mile event uses a handicap system according to age and gender. Race instructions simply read “Keep the North Sea on your left on your way out and on your right on the way back”
Chris got a revised time of 39m:32s
