Category: Run reports

The promise of free cake lured 26 Striders to the Darlington South parkrun on Saturday. The reason for this sugary celebration? Resident 200-metre specialist Antony Hamling was running his 200th parkrun. 5 Striders got new pb's on yet another warm September day. Those being Liz Simpson, Sue (and Robyn) Russell, Stephen Mitchinson, Ben Robinson and Tom Ramsey. A pleasant cuppa was enjoyed at the park cafe afterwards - with a singing dog adding to the entertainment. Elsewhere Steven Hall at Richmond and Gareth Maloney at Flatts Lane recorded new pb's. Emily Palmer was first lady home at Albert Park whilst Georgina King was third lady home at The Pastures. Michelle Ince continued her good recent form with a regional standard age-grading at Hartlepool. We also had runners at Sedgefield, Redcar,…

Abby Barker made a last-minute decision to run her 50th parkrun at Hartlepool. It wasn't a bad decision. I rarely state exact finishing parkrun times in these reports - this week I'm making an exception. Abby was first lady home in a time of 18.59. Only 6 women have ever ran faster at Hartlepool. (only 1 at the barrage) With an age-grading a touch under the national standard of 80% - her previous best parkrun time was beaten by nearly a minute. So...how can this be? One theory was that she was expertly paced. Another rumour doing the rounds suggested that Dave Fender had supplied her with a large crate of illegal performance enhancing drugs. I'll go with theory 3; she's a talented runner who turns up most weeks at…

26 Striders descended on Redcar this week. Once again it was ideal running conditions - overcast with the gentlest of breezes. Philip Baines celebrated his 150th parkrun in style with a first sub 22 time - an all-course parkrun best. Liking that Phil. Ben Robinson pb'd and recorded another regional age-grading. Sam Johnston made it 4 pb's in a row with a new Redcar best time. Liz Simpson was 2nd lady finisher - whilst speedster Tom Marrs marked his parkrun debut by leading the entire field home. Elsewhere it was a good day for 2 Striders at Hartlepool. Both Helen Mcilvenny and Steve Cotton ran all-course parkrun best times with impressive regional age-gradings. Great stuff Helen and Steve. Izzy Morgan got another pb at Sedgefield - coming in 3rd for…

It was another pb for the in-form Sam Johnston at Hartlepool. This time a speedy sub 20 all-course parkrun best was achieved. Tidy work my friend. I promise to leave you in peace at future parkruns... Conditions were great on the coast and very much to the liking of Nigel Radcliffe. He also got an all-course parkrun best time. Nice one Nigel. Flying the flag for the girls were Chloe Turner and Anna Carruthers who walked away with Hartlepool pb's. Adam Potter celebrated run number 150. Elsewhere it was a good day at the office for Izzy Morgan at Sedgefield. She was first lady finisher in a new personal best time. Well done Izzy. Two more pb's to report and they went to Finlay Pennington at Crichton (Dumfries) and Stephen…

12 Striders at Hartlepool - with 7 in great form. It was 2 pb's in 2 weeks for Sam Johnston and Kathryn Barnes. Beth Dang also recorded a new best time. Ben Robinson and Michelle Ince obtained regional standard age gradings. Sarah Winter and Liz Simpson were 2nd and 3rd finishers for the ladies. Excellent running folks. Stockton Town fan Daniele Meucci is just 4 runs into his parkrun career. He scored a big pb at Sedgefield - first of many I suspect. Good work Daniele. Final member of this week's pb club was Finlay Pennington at Northallerton. We also had runners at Albert, Endcliffe (Sheffield), Darlington South, Stewart, Flatts Lane, Cotsford Fields, The Pastures (Northumberland) and Marshal Drive (Brotton). Andy and Jennie Johnston took the tourism award with a…

20 Striders took a trip to Hartlepool on Saturday. Of those Kay Martin recorded a big new pb. Nice work Kay. Sam Johnston and Kathryn Barnes also got new best times. Sarah Winter was 3rd lady home. Elsewhere a handful of Striders seem to have hit form. At Albert Park David Ayton sped round to finish with an all-course pb. Philip Baines made it 2 pb's in 2 weeks with a new best at Stewart Park - and Suzanne Brodie took nearly 5 minutes off her previous best at Flatts Lane. Splendid. Final members of this week's pb club were Joseph Staton at Sedgefield and David Horton at Crosby. We also had runners at Darlington South, Rising Sun (Newcastle), Cleethorpes, Northallerton, Herrington Country and Carlisle. Paul J

Is Hartlepool becoming the new barrage? Okay, so they do have some nice ice cream shops around the marina. But come on - can they really compete with The Talpore? I think not. Stay patient folks. We've still got a bit more red tape to get through before parkrun comes home... There were 17 runners at the pseudo barrage. Of those it was the carbon plated shoes of Kris Allen that propelled him to a new pb. Phillip Baines got a new pb at Mr Fender's favourite course - Flatts Lane. I coached Michelle Ince at the club recently - and her sprint finishing was quite impressive. Wonder if it was put to use at Sedgefield where she recorded a new best time? We had runners all over the place…

Stockton Striders picked up just a single medal on Saturday. It was a bronze and went to Liz Simpson who was third lady to finish at Hartlepool. Also running at Hartlepool was Michael Burke. Michael spends a lot of time running up and down hills so a flat course must have come as a welcome change. It was obviously to his liking as he recorded a speedy sub 19-minute all-course pb. Good work mate. He then ran another 10 miles... At Albert Park Helen Mcilvenny took a decent chunk off her previous best time - getting a regional standard age-grading in the process. Down the road at Stewart Park Sue Russell also recorded a new pb. We also had runners at Bressay (Shetland), Sedgefield, Darlington South, Northallerton, Dalby Forest, Cotsford…

The only thing that could improve on the return of parkrun is the return of Paul Johnson’s parkrun reports. So here goes.... Parkrun returned on Saturday following a 5-year absence - although it wasn't back at the barrage. Not that veteran Strider Dave Fender would have been there. Dave is currently in isolation. More on that later. 20 Striders took a trip to Hartlepool where Steve Cotton and Sam Johnston recorded new personal bests. There were also new pb's for Phillip Baines and Tristian Keates at Sedgefield - and Finlay Pennington at Northallerton. Abbey Barker was the star of the show at Heslington. Abbey was first lady home in a super-fast sub 20 time - an all-course personal best for her. Great stuff. We also had runners at Albert, Redcar…

45 Striders at the barrage on Saturday - and 3 milestones. Christian Oxley reached 50 parkruns, Neil Mcgee 100 and Angela Cox 250. Neil continued his good recent form with another pb. Another Strider in fine form is Emma Fleming as she made it 2 pb's in 3 weeks. Helen Mcilvenny was third home for the ladies. Aaron A, Rachel B, Suzanne B, Karen C, Julia C, Emma F, Keran H, Andy J, Neil M, Jane M, Ben R, Liz S and Veronica T helped with volunteering. Dave Fender failed his fitness test and didn't run. Elsewhere we had 13 runners at Sedgefield where conditions were very much to the liking of Beverley Harvey, Jill Abel, Claire Taylor, Tracy Bradburn and Stella Hudson - all recording new pb's. We also…