Author: Stockton Striders Media

This was the week that Paul Johnson’s sub 19min Tees Barrage quest got a little bit closer with another PB and in the process he was the first runner home. Indeed Striders David Fender and Michael Burke, also in a new PB, grabbed 2nd and 4th home respectively. Not to be outdone on the PB stakes, Lindsey Spires picked up yet another one and Fiona Taylor, on her difficult second run, also PB’ed. There were 15 strider runners at Tees Barrage and I think I counted at least five volunteers. Elsewhere, we had two runners at Stewart park and Katie Abel set a new PB here whilst being third female home. Neil McGee and Darren Mitchell were amongst the six Striders at Albert park and both picked up new PB’s.…

Yet again, we had Striders spread wide and far this week. The plaudits have to go to Gillian Borthwick as she completed her 50th run whilst completing Hartlepool. Elsewhere, Helen McIlvenny set yet another PB at Albert park. Michael Burke, Katie Abel and Mike Cleasby tried out Stewart park, Darlington and Fountains Abbey respectively for their first time and Jill Abel became the first Strider to complete Edinburgh. There were 12 Striders running at Tees Barrage where Richard Whitehouse completed his difficult second run in a new PB whilst sprinting away from a little pack of Striders who were hot on his heels.

If last week was about tourism, this was a stay at home week. We had six at Albert park and one at Hartlepool. The big turnout was at Tees barrage with 29 running, seven others volunteering in roles such as timer, tokens, scanners and tail runners plus Helen and Michelle flying the flag for Team Striders as part of the I Am Team GB event. Does the wearing of club colours inspire performance? 11 new PBs might suggest that could be the case. Congratulations go to Julia Ansbro, Gail Robinson, Angela Cox, Graham Jordan, not to be outdone - Liz Jordan, Katie Abel, Helen McIlvenny, Caroline Horton, Darren Mitchell, Michael Burke and Paul Johnson. Further afield, Craig Robinson carried on his tourist trail with a visit to Hull and Mike…

A big week for tourism this week. The biggest Strider turnout this parkrunday was at Albert park with Caroline Horton leading the seven Striders home. Lindsey Spires and Helen McIlvenny both dropped their PBs down another few notches. Three Striders at Stewart park with a first appearance for Liz Simpson. I would imagine that it was somewhat fresh at Hartlepool as it welcomed both Kirsty Alderthay and David Edwards for their first visit. Andy Johnston and Sam Johnston travelled to be the first Striders at Hove Promenade. Elsewhere we had representation at Redcar and Sunderland whilst Dennis Smith and Mike Cleasby set the Strider standard as first time Striders to attend at Southport and Blackhill respectively. I think that I do pretty well to roll out of bed and just…

A big week for Strider tourism with first time appearances for athletes at Royal Tunbridge Wells, Gateshead and Lancaster alongside another Strider at Keswick. More locally there was some very close results between Striders at a number of events. Albert park saw Janice Long set another PB whilst the Jordans battled it out to the line. At Sedgefield Jackie McCabe won the Striders sprint finish and in the process grabbed herself a new PB. David Horton also grabbed a PB at Stewart park in what appears, from the results, to have been a very close battle – or was it pacing? A big turnout at Tees barrage saw 18 Striders battle the breeze and Richard Whitehouse joining the 1 club. The closest result here was more down to chattering rather…

After a complete absence of Striders last week, three completed Albert park this week with Janice Long making it a new PB. There were 19 Striders at Tees barrage with Antony Hamling and Helen Johnston starting their head to head battle to a 250 shirt first. Helen McIlvenny was the first female finisher with Liz Simpson and Katie Abel picking up 3rd and 4th.  Good morning too for both Neil McGee and Michael Burke lowering their times to new PBs. Elsewhere, we had people at Stewart park and Hartlepool as well as first timers at Redcar, Druridge Bay and Wormwood Scrubs.

What were you doing on 6th June 2009? Well on that morning two Striders of the future were at Albert park parkrun, one of those – Helen Johnston – was doing her very first. In the intervening seven years she has been to five different parkruns, volunteered over 40 times and now collects her black tee shirt for completing 100 runs. Well done Helen. Seven years per 100 – a little over 10 years for 150! 250 shirt in 2027? 30 other Striders ran at Tees Barrage in support of Helens achievement and there were a number of non-runner support. Janice Long took the opportunity to have her first look at the course. Whilst Angela Cox did a double celebration of her 100th run at Tees Barrage accompanied by a…

No new tee shirts to be claimed this week but there were three shiny new PBs claimed by Rachel Carr, Neil McGee and David Horton who were among the 22 Striders who ran at this week’s #200 event at Tees Barrage. Elsewhere we had the usual contingent of runners at Albert park plus one each at a number of events further afield – Hartlepool, Northallerton, Sedgefield, Wakefield and Whitley bay.

Four years after joining the 1 club, Antony Hamling this week joined the 100 club at Albert park. There were another nine Striders present at Albert, amongst those Neil McGee bagged a new PB and Caroline Horton came perilously close to an 80% age grade score. 16 Striders joined in with a record attendance at Tees barrage. Rachel Carr weaved her way through the crowd to get back on the PB trail. Graham Jordan became the 2,000th Strider finisher since the event started and there were some interesting age graded scores at the other end of the scale – probably the less said, the better. At Stewart park three Striders toed the line. Kirsty Alderthay took the opportunity to knock a chunk off her previous times with a new PB.…

A big Strider turnout at Albert park this week saw 11 members completing the run. They were led home by Helen McIlvenny in a nail biting dip on the line with Andy Johnson. Two other very close Strider finishes (or maybe a bit of pacing?) saw Janice Long and Lisa McGee set new PBs. We had one Strider at both Stewart park and Riverside – which qualifies as the only tourist of the week and a welcome to Striders for Mike Cleasby. At Tees barrage, with its more traditional head wind in no matter what direction you are going, 13 Striders competed. Was there more pacing in evidence here or is Paul Johnson chasing down David Fender? Either way, a new PB for Paul was the result. Similarly Amelia Whitehouse…