Category: Run reports

29 brightly coloured Striders went to Stewart Park for Saturdays league parkrun. Sam has already done a write up for this so we'll move on to the other venues. Doreen Morris celebrated her 50th parkrun at Darlington with a new pb. Beth Dang did her 100th parkrun at Bushy. There were 70%+ age-gradings for Caroline Horton at Albert, Mick Fawcett at Sedgefield and Simon Russell at The Grange - Simon also getting 2nd place. Striders too at Pontefract, Riverside, Hartlepool, Blyth Links, Jubilee, Rothay Park (Ambleside) and Hamsterley Forest. Paul J

26 Striders at Stewart Park this week - as Helen Johnston celebrated her 250th parkrun. Another milestone saw Kevin Dove complete his 100th run - with Kevin getting a pb in the process. Michael Meggs and Gareth Maloney also recorded Stewart pb's. Elsewhere, our only other pb came from David Murphy at Herrington Country. Steve Cotton at Hartlepool, Emily Palmer and Stevie Cooper at Albert and Caroline Horton at Princes (Liverpool) got 70%+ age-gradings. Izzy Morgan was first lady home at Sedgefield, with Emily at Albert Park and Holly Taylor at Millenium Country (Beds) 2nd ladies to finish. Runners too at Hampstead Heath, Pontefract, Flatts Lane, Keswick, Whitby, Hamsterley Forest and North Yorkshire Water. Paul J

24 Striders and 7 dogs at Flatts Lane this week. For the humans - Steve Cotton and Suzanne Brodie recorded new pb's, with Simon Russell coming in 2nd and Michael Meggs 3rd. In the dog world - Freddie took victory after Alfred laid down and refused to run up the hills for a second time. (Alfred receiving a 5-year ban for this). Alan made his debut after recovery from injury to finish in the final podium spot. Jet put the embarrassment of wearing pants (she's in season) (incidentally, me and Dave Fender can often be seen sprinting through Yarm High Street in just our underpants and trainers) behind her to take fourth. Flo held off a late push from Charlie to take 5th and Ivy came 7th. Final dog results: Freddie (Steve…

Albert Park was the venue for Nick Martin's all-course pb. Simon Russell and Stevie Cooper recorded Albert pb's. All 3 got 70%+ age-gradings. Emily Palmer was first lady to finish. Steve Cotton and Ben Robinson at Hartlepool and Gareth Maloney at Sedgefield got 70%+ a-g's. Liz Simpson came away with a new pb at Northallerton. Joint winners of the tourism award this week - Caroline Horton's run at Hasenheide (Berlin) and Suzanne Brodie's run at Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam). Striders too at Cannon Hill, Redcar, Riverside, Stewart, Darlington, Flatts Lane, Druridge Bay, Dalby Forest and Jubilee. Hope the Striders doing the Pier to Pier run today enjoyed it. Paul J

A whopping 43 Striders attended Stewart Park on Saturday. It was a chance to give best wishes to Katie Abel who will shortly be having a baby. Amy Gallilee celebrated run number 250. Abby Barker and Caroline Horton got 70%+ age-gradings. Tom Murphy, Sam Johnston, Phil Baines, Ian Morris and Doreen Morris came away with new personal bests. Abby was 2nd lady to finish and Izzy Morgan 3rd. It was also nice to see Debbie Edwards out for another run on her road to recovery. Many Striders continue to volunteer at the local parkruns. I'm not able to keep up with who does what every week - but I did notice Mike Cleasby was on marshalling duties at Stewart. Thanks Mike. Harley, Raymond and Nancy were also in attendance at Stewart…

Conditions were perfect for Saturday's parkruns. 13 Striders went to Sedgefield where Thomas Holland, Emma Fleming and Gail Robinson got new pb's. Gareth Maloney reached a 70%+ age-grading and Izzy Morgan was first lady to finish. A further 11 Striders chose Albert Park where Ian Morris and Doreen Morris recorded pb's and James Heslop got an all-course pb. Stevie Cooper got a 70%+ a-g. Hartlepool saw Steve Cotton get a 70%+ a-g and myself reach run number 200. I would have liked my dear friend Dave Fender to be present for the milestone. Sadly, matron deemed him unfit to attend. Michelle Ince recoded a new pb and 70%+ a-g at Redcar. Tom Day at Cannon Hill, David Murphy at Jesmond Dene, Kris Allen at Crichton and Joanne Cooke at Flatts…

Four new pb's to report at a cool, breezy Darlington on Saturday. They went to Abby Barker, Sarah Winter, Kris Allen and Tom Ramsey. Abbey also reaching a 70%+ age-grading and getting a first female finish. Hackworth saw Jennie Johnston reach parkrun number 150 and Sam Johnston get a 2nd place finish. Jon Archer got a 70%+ a-g and 3rd place finish at Rothay Park (Ambleside). Simon Russell was first home at The Grange in an all-course pb. Stevie Cooper reached a 70%+ a-g at Albert. Lisa Graves at Hull, David Murphy at Windy Nook, Tristan Keates at Sedgefield, Gareth Maloney at Stewart and Suzanne Brodie at Hamsterley Forest were the other members of this week's pb club. Striders too at Albert, Durham, Redcar, Riverside, Sheffield Castle, Fountains Abbey, Druridge…

Paul’s parkrun report… 21 Striders and 5 parkrun dogs at Hartlepool on Saturday. Tom Murphy and Kris Allen got pb's - as did Jane Stohrer. Jane also achieving a 70%+ age-grading. I've been informed that the dog league finished as follows: 1 Alfred, Nick Martin, 2 Freddy, Steve Mitchinson, 3 Flo (pb), Helen Johnston, 4 Poppy, Tracy Bradburn and 5, Nancy, Emma Fleming. (Nancy subsequently receiving a 10-year ban for being carried). No excess licking was reported - just ice cream and treats aplenty. At Stewart Park James Boynton reached run number 100, with Ian Morris and Doreen Morris picking up new pb's. Sue Russell also made to 100 parkruns at Market Rasen Racecourse - where Simon Russell got a 70%+ a-g. Stevie Cooper and Caroline Horton managed 70%+ a-g's…

It was a cold crisp morning at Sedgefield on Saturday. Tom Day was visiting with his son - and 20 Striders were there to say hello. For the humans, Tom Murphy and Kris Allen picked up new pb's and Izzy Morgan was 2ndlady to finish. In the dog league we had Raymond, Charlie and Harley battling it out for supremacy. (and possibly a pug who I don't know the name of). I wasn't sure of the placings so studied their behaviour afterwards to try and pick up any clues. Harley gave Raymond a friendly lick, then started barking. Raymond began eating a polystyrene takeaway box and Charlie looked like he wanted to do the whole parkrun again. So, I was none the wiser. Perhaps the club will publish an updated…

Standing on the start line at Hartlepool I glanced across at Steve Cotton. With his headphones on, Steve was in floods of tears and had a look of steely determination on his face. But don't worry, there was nothing wrong. Steve had asked Tristian Keates for advice on getting a new parkrun pb. Tristian suggested listening to a Boyzone mix on his phone, and beginning the run with 'When the going gets tough.' It's exactly what Steve was doing. (the last time I saw such an emotional response to music was when Dave Fender was listening to Tommy Steele's 1957 hit 'A handful of Songs' before the 2017 Middlesbrough 10k) I knew immediately that a pb was pretty much in the bag. The only question was how quick it was…