On a very cold and dry Sunday 19th January, Janet Stables and Mandy Harrison represented TAC at a North East Marathon Club event at Hardwick Park, Sedgefield. It was a stunning route through the park and along the lake. It was an event which allowed runners to complete as many 1.5 mile laps as they wish in a 6 hour period. Both runners are steadily building their miles and chose to run 6 miles. Janet completing in 1 hour 14 minutes and 22 seconds and Mandy in 1 hour 14 minutes and 28 seconds. It was somewhat warmer when they completed their run in the scenic park. A well organized and supported event.
Teesdale Athletic Club were competing in the latest cross country races in the NYSD series which were held in the grounds of Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough on Sunday 19th January. Ormesby Hall is a Georgian mansion surrounded by 250 acres of open parkland and farmland which is mainly flat and could make for easy cross country running. Factor in rough grass, mostly waterlogged and turning to sloppy soup with the drier areas just thick mud, then the going gets tougher! On a cold but sunny day Teesdale juniors Alexander Howard and Ralph Hoskyns-Abrahall were up for the challenge and bravely set off in the first race for under 11s. Completing the 1.5k lap the Teesdale pair were well placed in the large spread of young runners finishing with wet feet and just a little bit muddy. Skye Archer and Caroline Moss represented Teesdale AC in the 6.2k ladies race with two larger laps to explore more of the wet fields and muddy paths through the woods. Skye was first home for Teesdale, admitting to have enjoyed the experience, with Caroline finishing shortly after. Steve Moss completed three of the same laps running in the 9.4k mens race and concluded it was a very challenging cross country course due to the wet and muddy conditions.
In what proved to be as much a battle against the conditions as the (admittedly!) formidable course, 5 Teedsale AC runners departed home at 7am on Sunday 12th January to travel south for the Temple Newsam 10 Mile Trail Race, otherwise, and affectionately, known as the “Tough Not Timid” Temple Newsam TNT Race. Such is the burgeoning popularity of this event, in only its 5th year it sells out within hours of places being released and this is perhaps little surprise as the race starts against the imposing backdrop of the magnificent Tudor Jacobean Temple Newsam House and sets runners away through the Capability Brown designed grounds which encircle the House. Thereafter runners are confronted by an undulating course which weaves its way through the East Leeds environs before returning them to a finish again close to Temple Newsam House.
Most participants were anxious to know what conditions they would confront, having been made aware in the days running up to the race that certain sections of the course were flooded and that on occasion they would have to contend with wade depths of over 18 inches. The continuing heavy rain through the latter part of the week ensured that the flooded parts of the course worsened and conditions were slippery underfoot throughout almost all of the 10 mile distance. It should be said though that the testing conditions, rather than dampening the atmosphere, seemed to bring an infectious buzz of enthusiasm amongst all participants and contributed to what was almost universally acclaimed as an outstanding trail race, fantastically organised, and marshalled by volunteers who seemed to be having as much fun as the runners!
Without exception the Teesdale AC runners thoroughly enjoyed their day and all indicated a desire to do battle with the TNT in 2021. First home for Teesdale AC was Andrew Cawley posting a time of 1 hour:43:38, closely followed by Barbara Crawley in 1 hour:44:20. Simon Pettitt completed the course in 1 hour:47:28,and was followed thereafter by Judith Rodwell in 1:52:47 and Amanda Pettitt 1 hour 58 :47.
On Thursday January 9th Andrew Aislabie took part in the Walt Disney Dopey Challenge which took place in Florida, USA. The Challenge consists of a 5k race on the Thursday, a 10k race on the Friday, a half marathon race on the Saturday followed by a full marathon on the Sunday.
Andrew had wanted to do this challenge for a few years but knew the training would have to be right and it would take up a lot of time for 6 months or so.
Having arrived in Orlando on the Tuesday Andrew attended the Expo on Wednesday to collect his race number.
The 5k race was first with a 3:00am alarm clock on Thursday morning for a 5:30am race start in the dark. The weather was pretty warm, the course a bit narrow and very busy through Epcot. Andrew paced himself pretty steady and finished in 30:12.
Friday morning was another 3:00am alarm and 5:30am start for the 10k race. Warmer than the day before and finished in 57:42. 1,294th out of 12,572.
Saturday morning same alarm and start times for the half marathon but a different start location and bigger corrals. Andrew was at the front of corral B, which meant he got away fairly quick. The weather was hot, about 20 degrees C at the start. Andrew ran this one really steady as he had the full marathon still to do. Finished in 2:07:15 and 1,947th out of 21,661.
Sunday was the big one, a full marathon and an earlier start time of 5:00am so the alarm was set for 2:00am. It was already 20 degrees C when Andrew left the hotel and it just got hotter. The race went pretty well but it was very hot. The sun came up when Andrew was at the 13 mile point and by the time I finished it was 25 degrees. Finished in 4:42:15 and 2,206 out of 14,106.
It was good running through the various parks and the organisation and crown support was fantastic. Andrew finished with 6 medals in total, including the Goofy Challenge for completing the half and full marathons and the Dopey Challenge for completing all 4 races.
The following Sunday Andrew was in Naples on the West coast of Florida and had entered the half marathon. Another hot day with a 7:00am start. A nice flat course, Andrew finished in 1:56:06 and 494th out of 1,409. Andrew was really pleased with that considering it was only a week after the Dopey Challenge. There was free beer to all the finishers.
Three runners represented Teesdale A.C. At the Stuart Pailor Memorial Trail race on Sunday 5th January.
Held in the village of Hart this 5.5 mile multi terrain race began on a downhill onto Trail which then lead into dene with “challenging “climbs!
After previous days of rain the conditions underfoot were challenging, especially across fields.
The temperature was low and the wind biting but the sun came out to make an enjoyable, very scenic, well supported race.
There was a full field of experienced runners with obstacles including two stiles to negotiate. Narrow single track, water and steep inclines made for an interesting run.
Andrew Crawley was first back for the club in a time of 50:45, followed by Babs Crawley who was close behind in a time of 51:34 and Amanda Pettitt finishing in a time of 59:11, all very commendable times for such a tough race.
Five runners represented Teesdale AC at the Jolly Holly Jog on 29th December. Held within the grounds of Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey, this is a tough hilly 10k course mainly on tracks but with about one third of the course on quiet roads. On a sunny day the views were spectacular and very little wind the weather was nearly perfect. Barbara Crawley came in first for TAC in 58.26, followed by Andrew Crawley in 59.38, Judith Rodwell 1.06.22, Fiona Turnbull 1.13.16 and completing the course for the first time, Jane Mardon in 1.33.20.
On 22nd December 8 TAC members went to Chopwell Woods to take part in the first Wild Deer Christmas Trails. Mandy Harrison and Janet Stables competed in the 4 mile trail, coming in together in 57.22. In the 10 mile, Josh Crawley came in 31st place with a very impressive 1.27.24. Andrew Crawley was next in 1.54, Barbara Crawley 1.55.49, Judith Rodwell 1.55.52, Simon Pettitt 2.19.46 and Amanda Pettitt 2.20.16. Judith
The 114th North Eastern Counties Cross Country championships were held on December 14th at Alnwick. Amongst the runners representing many regional clubs, Steve Moss lined up at the start line wearing Teesdale AC’s red and white vest. Actually he was also wearing a long sleeved T shirt, and a hat and gloves as there was a bitter freezing cold wind. The courses were set through grassy fields and woods around Alnwick Pastures with several muddy sections, some short tough climbs and two fast descents. Views of Alnwick castle rewarded runners’ efforts multiple times in the three lap men’s 12k race. The weather probably put many runners off as the numbers were lower than usual with 271 senior men running compared to 346 last year and a record of 414 in 2016. Steve took 1:05:18 finishing in 237th position
Junior athlete Alexander Howard represented Teesdale Athletic Club in the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cross Country league race at Acklam, Middlesbrough on Sunday 8th December. Running in his first cross country race, Alexander tackled the 2k course for under 11s with great enthusiasm and relished the slippery mud and deep puddles. He was not fazed by the cold windy conditions, and pushed hard up the final hill making progress within a competitive pack to finish in an excellent 9th position in 7:49.
Skye Archer who coaches the Teesdale junior training group commented “Teesdale AC are very proud of Alexander’s performance and hope to see more juniors representing the club”.
Teesdale seniors also enjoyed the tricky conditions at Acklam with Judith Rodwell in her first adventure on a cross country course joining old hands Katie Mottershead and Skye Archer in the women’s 5.8k race. Katie was first home for Teesdale in 46th position in 29:41 with Skye at 76th in 34:35, and Judith 79th and first in her age group in 35:41. Steve Moss finished 91st in 51:41 in the 10k men’s race.
There was a great turn out from the Teesdale Athletics club members for the Ravenstonedale 10K on Saturday 30th November. Running conditions were good, a fresh and crisp winter’s day with some very welcome glimpses of sunshine. After a cold night it was icy underfoot in places so care had to be taken on the undulating course. The well organised run was challenging but very enjoyable with beautiful scenery and good support from villagers. First in for the club was Steve Moss in 44:48. Steve also won his age category (MV60). Steve was followed by Katie Mottershead with 53:20, Babs Crawley 55:42, Katy Smith 57:02, Vicky Bainbridge 57:13, Andrew Crawley 57:47, Judith Rodwell 1:00:28, Amanda Petitt 1:04:03 and Simon Petitt 1:04:04. The run was followed by a prize giving ceremony and a well-earned cup of hot steaming soup provided by the race organisers the Howgill Harriers