Category: Run reports

A pleasant late summer evening saw a large Striders team descend on Stewarts Park. We were joined by familiar faces from other local running clubs. The purpose of this gathering? The biannual NYMAC  Tom Wall relays - teams of four, with each person running a mile around the park, handing the baton to a team-mate after each leg. 9 Striders teams were entered - 4 ladies, 4 men and 1 mixed. With the warm-ups and loo visits complete there were nervous glances at expensive running watches. Conditions were good and most people had a target time. A few minutes before 7pm the throng was cleared from the starting area and the first leg runners lined up... then we were off. Our mixed team was led off by me old pal…

Second time lucky for Michael Fawcett as he led the Strider field home at Sedgefield and earned his 250th parkrun finish and he might, one day, get a nice green tee shirt for those efforts. At the other end of the scale, Chris Longhorn did parkrun #1 at Tees Barrage. PBs aplenty with Sarah Winter, Antony Hamling, Sophie Owens and, of course, Amy Gallilee at Sedgefield. Also Kirsty Alderthay, Helen McIlvenny and Tom Ramsey at Tees Barrage, and finally, Lisa and Jason Pattison at Hartlepool. Striders too at Albert Park, Stewart Park, Flatts Lane, Darlington, Dalby Forest, New Earswick, and Keswick. The tourism award stays in UK for the first time in quite a while but you can decide for yourselves whether Inverness, Trelissick or Lanhydrock deserves it.

Strangely, no new parkrun club members this week although two were on the verge of it from last week. A few PBs to report. Rachael Hall at the home of parkrun - Bushy Park, both Caroline and David Horton at Croxteth Hall and Amy Gallilee this time at Flatts Lane Striders too at Albert Park, Stewart Park, Tees Barrage, Hartlepool, Keswick, Fell Foot and Moors Valley but yet again you needed to be in the Americas, Meadowvale to be exact, to get the tourism award. Not an official club but a fairly exclusive group – only 184 people have completed 400 or more parkruns and this week Tony Gallilee joined them.

The biggest Strider parkrun turnout of the day was at Tees Barrage to witness Katy Wilburn become our newest member of the 50 club. Fewer PBs this week – Lee Coe now was sub 19 firmly in his sights at Albert Park, Zoe Walls powered around Northallerton and the PB machine that is Amy Gallilee struck again at Redcar. Striders too at Stewart Park, Hartlepool, Fountains Abbey and Hull but it seems if you want the tourism mention you need to put quite a bit of effort in at the moment – this week Livonia in Michigan hosted that honour.

  It’s a quest that started at Albert Park way back in June 2011 and this week saw Liz Simpson become the newest member of the Striders 250 parkrun gang. It’s a long, long way to the next milestone! It appears to have been a good week to PB with 12 Striders achieving that feat. A special mention should go to Lee Coe for knocking the thick end of a minute of his PB at Albert Park. Congrats also to Lisa and Jason Pattison at York, David Horton at Pennington Flash, Karen Clarke, Bev Harvey and Lisa Molus at Tees Barrage, Stella Hudson and Lisa Holliday at Stewart Park, Amy Gallilee at Darlington, Rachael Hall at Fountains Abbey and Zoe Walls at Northallerton. Striders too at Sedgefield, Rushmere and Foots…

A missing report last week means that we failed to recognise Sarah Winters entry into the parkrun 50 club last week at a much brighter Tees Barrage. Well done Sarah. This week Helen McIlvenny PB’ed at Tees Barrage on her way to becoming our newest member of the 100 club. Other Pbs for Amy Gallilee at Redcar, Rachel Boddy at Tees Barrage and Lisa Pattison at Hartlepool. Tees Barrage saw Angela in charge of the show and the biggest Strider attendance of the day to witness Paul Johnson lead the field home and Jill Abel become only the second Strider to reach 300. Striders too at Albert park, Sedgefield, Darlington, Flatts Lane, Penrith and Northallerton. You had to work a bit harder for the tourist award this week but if…

Not a mile stone to be seen this week although Antony did join the 150 crowd. PBs for Lisa Molus at Sewerby, Kirsty Alderthay at Sedgefield, Deborah Edwards at Tees Barrage, Matthew Clarkson at Darlington plus Rachael Hall and Matthew Carling at Stewart Park. Many more Striders at Albert Park, Worsley, Hackworth, Flatts Lane, Lancaster and Cotsford Fields. It’s not a race but… 1st Female at Sewerby. You could arguably claim a clean sweep of the female podium at Tees Barrage plus 2nd male. 3rd female and male at Stewart Park and 3rd female Crosby. Well done to all.

A lone Strider toed the line at Albert Park this week, Tracy Bradburn took that honour and in the process joined the 50 club. The largest Strider turn out, of 23, was at Tees Barrage where Steve Clift completed his difficult second run. The 24hr team bolstered the numbers at Wetherby parkrun. Then there was a scattering of Striders across numerous  events – Stephen Mitchinson PB’ed at Sedgefield as did Amy Gallilee at Stewart Park, Antony Hamling at Darlington and Finlay Pennington at Fountains Abbey. We also had athletes at Redcar, Homewood, Hartlepool and Flatts Lane. It’s not a race but… Sarah Winter again took the 1rd female finisher at Tees Barrage.

Well it can't be too bad this athletics lark - because Rachel Carr, who made her track debut a couple of weeks ago, returned for more. Having recorded 14 minutes 2 seconds for the 3000 metres at Middlesbrough - was she able to break the 14 minute barrier at Darlo - or was it a step too far? Read on... Yes, a balmy Tuesday evening in Darlington saw the penultimate track and field event of the season. Rachel and I were joined by Katie Abel, Lucy Owens - making her season debut, and Tom Ramsey - making his track and field debut. I have to say it was probably the most enjoyable athletics event I've been involved in as a Strider. The team did themselves and the club proud. First…

  49 Strider athletes, the run director and a sparkling of Strider volunteers at Tees Barrage this week to witness the latest round of the club league competition. The heightened competitive spirit brought out new PBs for Mathew Smith, Helen Johnston, Philip Morley, Rachael Hall, Andrew Laverick, Lee Coe, Jonathon Archer and Matthew Carling – also grabbing 3rd place. Elsewhere, PBs also for Rachel Carr at Albert Park and Matthew Clarkson at Hartlepool. Further afield we also had athletes at Stewart Park, Lancaster, Victoria Dock and a first ever parkrun appearance for Steve Harrisson at amongst those at Sedgefield. It’s not a race but… Lisa Molus was 3rd female finisher at Albert Park.