On Saturday 11^th 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 6^th 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.

On Sunday 3rd March Members and family of Teesdale Athletic Club made the journey over to North Yorkshire for the next leg of the NYSD Cross Country in the interesting location of Richmond Old Race Course. It was a British Horse Racing Track which closed in 1891. The Stone built Grandstand is the World’s Oldest Surviving but became derelict after WW2. The course is high above Richmond and has fantastic views over The Aske Estate  towards Aycliffe, east over Teesside and south across Wensleydale, Pen Hill and beyond. The Race was hosted by Richmond and Zetland Harriers.  The course  was mostly around the perimeter. Jack Wheeler and Jake Hooper competed in the first race U15’s at 11.30 am. Jack was 5th (19.03) and Jake 7th (25.49). Then Ellie Cox and Gail Foster completed 6k, three small laps, which started half way up the hill went round the back of the grandstand, with a long section to the bottom and then a long incline back up. There was a short muddy section but was generally firm underfoot but a bit ‘claggy’ in places. Ellie was 18th (30.00) and Gail was 79th (44.34).  Dave Raymond, Stuart Jones and Rhys Foster completed the last race of 9.6 K which was one short lap and three long.  Dave was 69th (49.02), Stuart was 74th (50.54) and Rhys was 81st (53.47). The race was well marshalled and competitors were reminded not to cut corners as disqualification could prove costly! Runners were supported by family, and cheered on and encouraged by other runners waiting for their race.

A race report with a difference, Alan took part in the Raby Castle 5k Traildog Race today. A very cold start but plenty of noise and excitement with about 120 dogs and their owners. As the title says the race was run on trails around Raby Castle and conditions were quite good; time and position doesn’t matter as Alan thinks he got the course wrong and finished early. They were treated with a medal and a goodie bag of doggy and human treats at the finish.

On Sunday 5th November, six enthusiastic members of Teesdale AC travelled to Foxrush Farm on the outskirts of Redcar for the second round of the NYSD cross country winter series. Blue skies and warm sunshine greeted the team. However, the previous days of heavy rain had left the flat course an energy sapping swampy mud fest in places, with a brief respite on some of the tracks through the woods. Erica & John were first to go in the seniors ladies and men’s V65 class, completing the 5.8km course, comprising two laps, in 35m23s and 29m22s respectively. Nigel, David, Mark & Rhys completed the senior men’s 8.6km course, comprising three laps, in 41m30s, 44m34s, 46m0s & 47m54s respectively. The feelings of exhaustion disappeared afterwards as quickly as the mud dried on running shoes & warm legs while the group recalled their challenging experiences of the run to one another and enjoyed the camaraderie.

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On Saturday 28th October, eleven of team TAC prised themselves out of bed and into a mini bus (paid for by club funds) on an early start for the journey from Barney to Ripon for Fountains Abbey Parkrun. We arrived to a typical Autumn morning (cool, dull and dank but thankfully dry) with the tree leaves above us resembling a multi-coloured quilt of green, brown, gold and orange. A short walk led us to the famous abbey ruins which peered out of the mist to reveal their commanding majestic shapes.

The 5k run comprised a short and long lap around the stunning Studley Royal grounds with its autumnal woods, peaceful paths, lush lakes, wonderful waterfalls and the river Skell tumbling through the middle.

A good field of 408 entrants participated with the following results from the TAC team:

Nigel Mawer 39th (21.07), Ellie Cox 81st (23.22), Michael Dolderson 113th (24.38), Erica Dixon 143rd (25.51), Jack Wheeler 176th (26.56), Andrew Stainthorpe 204th (28.13), Olivia Hall 206th (28.17), Carrie Wheeler 230th (29.11), David Raymond 269th (30.39), Gail Foster 329th (33.52) and Karen Dolderson 332nd (34.10)

Everyone enjoyed the run followed by well-earned refreshments in The Unicorn, a magical mysterious creature, but this one provided cooked breakfasts, muffins and bacon butties washed down by bottomless mugs of tea & coffee. Once we were all revitalised, there was still time left to explore the city of Ripon with its’ central market square, alleyways and cathedral. Tired out, we returned to Barney having agreed it a wonderful morning and vowing to make it a regular event. Now where’s the next Parkrun with a ‘spoons nearby?😂😂

On Sunday 24th September five members of TAC took part in the Wild Deer Event at Raby Castle, a race included on this year’s Club Championship calendar. This local event at Raby Castle where deer roam the grounds and with miles of epic scenery was the perfect location for the 5,10, and 15-mile runs on offer. With ample free parking, it was a short walk to the registration tent which was right next to the castle. This was also the location of the start and finish. This annual Trail event was a moderately undulating mixed terrain of rough trails, firm paths, grass paths and muddy woodland paths. At the ford, a short detour was made over the bridge.
It was extremely well organised, with route markers and marshals and perfect weather conditions.
All runners received a medal, snack, drink and event merchandise. The results were 5-mile run Gail Foster 1.03. 10mile run Mark Russell 1.22, Stuart Jones 1.28.15 mile run Dave Raymond 2.11 and Erica Dixon 2.31.