On Saturday 11th January, we had our Annual Club Presentation night at The Three Horseshoes in Barnard Castle. Congratulations to Ellie and Andrew, this year’s Club Championship winners, and to James, Michael, Carrie and Gail who were runners up.
The Club has had a great year, and we’re excited for what 2025 has to bring!
If you are interested in coming along to join our sessions, get in touch!
On a bitterly cold Sunday morning just before Christmas, members of Teesdale Athletic Club (TAC) travelled to Eppleby in North Yorkshire for a team event – The McTaggot Trot.
It was advertised as a fun run but it was quite competitive. All funds were being donated to a wonderful local charity – St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington.
We all stayed warm in the village hall while teams and registration were sorted out. Briefing and pre-race instructions were given ahead of the 9am start. TAC had five teams entered. The format was a 3.1 mile loop to Caldwell then Fawcet and back to Eppleby.
All team members set off together and had to stay together. After 3.1 miles, the first runner stopped and the other two runners carried on for a further loop. After 6.2 miles the second runner stopped leaving the third runner to carry on a last loop, making a total of 9.3 miles. All competitors were encouraged to wear Christmas outfits and to get into the spirit of things.
As you might imagine, there were lots of elves, Santas and Christmas puddings. There were more than 300 entrants and the race was organised by Darlington Harriers. Some of the entrants team names included The Jingle Joggers; Ho Ho Hoping to Win; Run, Run Rudolph; The Grinches Who Stole Fitness and Tinsel Trotters. It was fantastically organised and we all enjoyed a hot drink and a huge selection of cakes post race.
First team: Anna Smith, Stuart Jones and Ben Pullin; second team: Alan Bray, Jane Gill and Erica Dixon; third team: Gail Foster, Ellen Collins and Andrew Stainthorpe; fourth team: Joanne Wall and Dave Raymond; fifth team: Karen and Michael Donaldson and Mel Pullin.
On Sunday 6th October, 13 members of Teesdale Athletics Club travelled to The Acorn Centre, Acklam Grange, Middlesborough, for the first race for NYSD 2024/25 Winter League Cross Country.
It is a series of seven to eight cross-country races held locally on Sunday mornings, October to March. Typically the men run 9-10k and women 5-6k.
After a quick team-building exercise, putting up the team tent, it was time to collect our numbers and warm up. Jack Wheeler and Danny Mawer ran in the 1.75-mile under-15 race. Jack came in 9th with a time of 11.12 and Danny came in 11th with a time of 11.52.
The ladies were next in the 3.9-mile race. Ellie Cox was first back for the club in 35th position with a time of 27.31. Alison Mawer was next in 85th place, 32.33. Anna Smith 108th, 33.50. Karen Donaldson 159th, 41.56, and Gail Foster 160th, 41.57. The ladies team were 16th club overall with 387 points.
The course was over fields, paths and a section of woodland with mud and puddles. Carrie and Andrew were injured but came to support family and club members.
In the men’s race, James Emmerson was first back in 47th place with a time of 41.52. Josh Mawer was 79th at 44.27, Nigel Mawer 104th, 47.06, David Raymond 144th, 51.35, and Michael Donaldson 145th, 51.36.
The men didn’t get an overall club position as you need six members to count for this. With perfect weather conditions, this event was a great start to the cross-country season.
Members of Teesdale Athletic Club joined hundreds of runners in the annual Darlington 3k Junior Run and 10k Race held on Sunday 4th August. Thankfully the weather was a little cooler than the previous few days which was appreciated by the all entrants. There was a great family atmosphere at what is a very well organised event. Crowds of spectators lined the route, through the streets of Darlington, clapping and cheering everyone on, making it a really enjoyable run for all.
The race starts near the market place and consists of two laps on closed roads then finishes back in the market place. Even though it has a couple of inclines it is still a relatively flat course compared to the Club’s training ground of hilly Barnard Castle! The commentator at the end kept everyone going, giving runners a name check and encouraging words, as they crossed the finish line.
In the Junior 3k, Teesdale AC was represented by Jack Wheeler, with a time of 11:28, cheered on by his Mum, Carrie Wheeler and Granddad, Andrew Sainthorpe, who would later run for the club in the 10k, making it a multi-generational team effort.
In the 10k, Teesdale AC was well represented in the Senior females by Ellie Cox, with a time of 44.29 and Francesca Hume, 51:17. Carrie Wheeler also finished under the hour in the female V40 age category with a time of 57:29. In the male Seniors, James Emmerson completed the course in 37.50, whilst in the male V70 age category, Andrew Stainthorpe and Alan Bray recorded times 55:28 and 56:22 respectively.
Stuart Jones, who is one of the run leaders at the Club finished with a time of 48:08 in the male V60 category as part of his first club, Steel City Striders RC.
