Our new (and returning) runners who started the Couch to 5k graduated at the Darlington Park Run on Saturday 15 April 2023 having completed the nine week course they started in January.

Well done to all those who completed the programme; Andrew Stainthorpe, Jack Wheeler, Carrie Wheeler, Jasmine Cable, Kara Hunter, Ellie Cox, Trudy Layton, Julie Hall (pictured at South Park) plus Georgina McGill and Danny Mawer.

Special thanks also to Judith Rodwell for leading this year’s C25k and to Amanda Petitt and Fiona Turnbull who were part of the coaching team.

The last race in the Cross Country season and open to all club members, although it is ran on the paths in South Park, so not a cross country really! Men’s teams were made up of four runners and the women’s had three. Each runner completed 2 laps of the course (equivalent to 2 miles) before handing over to the member of the team. The course is flat and the shorter distance a little lung busting compared to the usual longer routes of 10K for cross country events.

TAC managed to get a women’s team and a men’s team together for the first time this season, which was great. Weather conditions were good for running with no wind and temperatures of 5 or 6 Degrees although those cheering teams on needed layers on! The ladies raced first with Joanne Wall taking the first leg (21.14), Gail Foster following (19.34) and Erica Dixon completing the third leg (16.27), putting the team in 12th position overall.

Josh Mawer led the mens’ race (11.49), followed by Nigel Mawer (13.12), who handed over to Rhys Foster (14.03) with Stuart Jones (14.08) bringing in the final laps, putting the men’s team in 12th position overall out of the 15 entered.

Gail Foster, Erica Dixon, Rhys Foster and Mark Russell travelled to Whitby Sixth Form College for the penultimate cross-country race of the season, with just the relays at the end of the month left to go.

The team arrived in good time and quickly realised the light breeze coming in off the coast would make standing around a chilly affair, however, it was dry and the ground appeared soft so all four were eager to get going to keep warm.

After the juniors race, Gail & Erica made their way to the start for the ladies laps, both keeping a good steady pace and powering up the embankment by the viaduct. The boys moved around the course taking photo’s and cheering them on; Erica finished in 34:03 followed by Gail in 41:48, both finding the course in fine fettle apart from a short section along the railway line.

By the time it was the boys turn, they had already seen the climb up the embankment and realised it would have to tackled three times, so they set off at a steady pace, intending push on the last lap. Both took advantage of running up the climb, gaining position over those walking and Mark came through in 47:33 with Rhys hot on his heels in 47:38.

A great, challenging course with some superb views as you go around.

Erica Dixon took part in the Cancer Research UK London Winter Run on 5 February at the end of her year long physical programme towards the Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. The event took the runners past famous London landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, Downing Street and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Erica’s time was 51 minutes 33 seconds with a pace of 5.09 minutes per kilometre. She was the 609th woman to cross the line out of 7441 entries. Her overall position was 2844th out of the total 14,000 entries and she raised £152 in sponsorship for the Cancer Research UK fund. 

Well done Erica!

Stuart Jones and Dave Raymond represented Teesdale Athletic Club at Richmond XC on Sunday 5th February. The course was 5.5 miles set over four laps of the old racecourse. The going was good to soft with fine sunny weather.
When the race started, Stuart shot out of the starting gate and pulled out an early lead. This eventually disappeared by the start of the final lap and after shadowing Stuart, Dave managed to sprint the final 50 yds and pip Stuart at the post and win by a short head! Dave’s time was 47:34 and Stuart’s 47:43.

On Sunday 22nd January, Gail and Rhys Foster made the 100 mile plus round trip to run in the Carlisle Resolution 10k race. All 404 places had been booked in advance. Also taking place were Children’s 5k and Adult’s 5k races just before the 10.15 am start of the 10k. Registration was at Carlisle Racecourse with ample parking and excellent facilities. The course was a mixture of quiet roads which were generally flat or gently undulating. The weather was initially bitterly cold with slight drizzle. The ice patches on the route at 2 miles were visible and the marshalls were on hand to advise and direct the runners, to make sure they passed this section without a problem. The race finished directly in front of the racecourse grandstand. Rhys was first back for Teesdale in 54.58 (231st place) and Gail’s time was 1.09.00 and 340th position. Rhys and Gail were presented with a great medal.

Five members of Teesdale Athletics Club left a snow covered dale for the bright sunshine of Middlesbrough on Sunday 15th January.
The location  for the NYSD cross country was the National Trust Property Ormseby Hall, a beautiful Georgian Mansion with extensive gardens and parkland which is a green oasis in the heart of industrial Middlesborough.
Erica, Gail and Louise ran two laps of the course setting off at 12noon to complete the 6.2k.The course started in a field of mud and then into a dryer section in the wooded grounds and then back into the field. One of the ladies had to double back as one of her trainers came off in the mud .Erica was first back for the club, Louise second and Gail third .Stuart was the only male to complete the 3 laps (9.6k) .Rhys sustained an injury the day before and so was unable to compete but supported the team and took photo’s. Everyone enjoyed the run. 

The first race of the Club Championship took place on 27th December 2022. Four members supported by family and friends travelled to Ripon to take part in the Jolly Holly Jog. This year registration was at the Rugby Club with a short walk to the start at Hell Wath Nature Reserve. The weather conditions  were cold and damp. 572 runners tackled the multi terrain course which led runners through Studley Deer Park and Fountains Abbey.  The volunteers and Marshals did a great job keeping the runners motivated and on the right track. Great scenery, steep inclines and muddy, slippery conditions made for a challenging and interesting run. First male back for Teesdale Athletics Club was Dave Raymond in 52.38 mins (199th) followed by Rhys Foster in 55.51 mins (253rd). First female back was Gail Foster in 1.18.45 (538th) followed by Amanda Petit in 1.22.29 (550th). Some members then went on for a late lunch at Black a Moor Inn.

After being cancelled in 2021 due to snow the Ravenstonedale 10K went ahead on Saturday 26th November in pleasantly mild conditions albeit with a strong wind to contend with. Six members represented  Teesdale Athletic Club and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. On an ‘undulating’ course Nigel Mawer came home in 45.30 mins followed by Dave Raymond in 47.41 and Rhys Foster in 51.55. Alan Bray completed in 57.46 (recovering from a calf injury) followed by Erica Dixon (59.47) and Gail Foster (1.12.18). The race was followed by hot soup in the village hall with prize giving and raffle, (great spot prizes and  organisation by Howgill Harriers). 

On a damp and foggy morning eight members of Teesdale Athletics Club drove through to Redcar to attend the second leg of the NYSD Cross Country season. The course, held at Foxrush Farm Community Woodland, was a mix of undulating fields, with ditches to cross and a section of woodland trail, with plenty of exposed tree roots to negotiate.  The ladies were first to set off, and TAC were thrilled to field a full ladies team at this event.  Judith Rodwell and Erica Dixon were joined in the 5.8km, 2 lap race, by Gail Foster, who was running her first cross country since leaving school, and Katie Mottershead, who was returning to cross country after a break during the pandemic.  Katie was first home for the girls in 32:50, closely followed by Erica in 33:15, Gail finished in 41.14 and Judith in 48:24.  The men then set off to complete 3 laps of the course, covering 8.6km.  Nigel Mawer finished in 39:49, Dave Raymond in 43:00, followed by Mark Russell in 44:57 and Rhys Foster, who was also taking part in his first cross country race for the club, in 45:11.  

The next cross country race will take place on 4th December at Summerhill, Hartlepool.