July 2023

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by Geoff Hewitson The fourth NEMAA Track & Field League meeting took place at Monkton Stadium on Monday 17th July, where once again the weather conditions were generally favourable for competition, (apart from the almost obligatory headwind down the home straight!). Our club had a total of 11 competitors (8 men and 3 ladies) – not massive numbers by any means but at least we’ve managed to field complete teams (and therefore score League points) at every meeting so far. The men’s

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by Simon Pickering This was my first time doing this course, and I’d been sold it as a “bloody quick course”. As soon as I saw the first half mile, I understood why. It turned out to be a good night for Crook, with many people getting 5k PB’s. I got there early as I went straight from work and was one of the first to register. Simple enough process. I soon started to get imposter syndrome seeing the height and the

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by Alex Hird Whilst the majority of our members were in Crook for the club 10K Championships, I headed for Middlesbrough to take part in the NYSD T&F League. This should've been the 4th NYSD fixture of the summer, but unfortunately the first three were cancelled for various reasons. Also, this fixture should've been held at out track at Shildon whilst we vacated to do the club 10K, but following feedback from officials and volunteers the decision was made to switch it

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by Lisa Donaldson I thought I would sign up for a challenging run for my London marathon training back in March but due to the weather it got snowed off and re-arranged for July time. Ok, no bother, I will use it for my Amsterdam marathon training.… winner!! I knew it was going to be a challenge with 1800ft of climb within the 1st 9 miles but what you read and what you physically do are two different things altogether and WOW,

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by Colin Everson Joe and Alex took part in the C.D.A.N. Summer Festival which is a ‘Quadkids’ type event for young athletes who are members of County Durham clubs. It encompasses all the key aspects of athletics - endurance, speed, agility and strength. The young athletes were in four groups Under 9’s; Under 11’s; Under 13’s and Under 15/ 17’s. They took part in Howler Throws, Long Jump, Longer Runs and Sprints. 79 athletes participated in the event including some of the best junior

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by Alex Hird Wednesday evening was the 4th North East Grand Prix fixture of the season at Monkton Stadium. The NEGP has been incredibly popular this year, with events selling out within an hour of entries opening. Luckily, I managed to grab an 800m place. My goal for 800m is to go sub 2 minutes this year, but after 10 days of eating and drinking rubbish in Cornwall, I knew it wouldn't be tonight. I was in the B heat, which was super

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By Paul Smith Whilst you lovely CrookAC lads and lasses were out running at such events as, Ali Brownlee 5k, Great North 10k, and parkruns, including Ken’s palindrome 202 parkrun celebration run at Hackworth, apologies for my absence as I was otherwise engaged, obviously it was running related, of course. Yours truly was down in Derbyshire for the weekend, Chesterfield to be exact, to be even more precise, The Technique Stadium, the home of Chesterfield Football Club. Last time I was at

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by Geoff Hewitson The third NEMAA Track & Field League meeting took place at Monkton Stadium on Monday 3rd July. Although we were fortunate that the weather stayed dry, there was a cold headwind down the home straight, which didn’t help the 100m athletes and also made for a tough finish to the 400m!. Our men's team had a reasonable turnout of 8 competitors, but for the second successive meeting, the ladies only had the bare minimum of 3 competitors necessary to

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By Rob Teasdale Last Friday saw the second running of the Ali Brownlee 5k since its return from Covid times. Pre-covid this was one of the 'to do' 5ks in the region with its flat and predominately fast course. Friday saw 5 of us from the club line up, plus second claim member John Firby. The course is a little twisty and turny but not bad overall and to finish you get to do nearly three quarters around the inside of the

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by Sam Dixon Lisa, Gayle, Megan, Joanne R and I made the trip to Jesmond Dene to compete in the women's only 5k organised and ran by Heaton Harriers. The race is organised annually in memory of a former Heaton Harrier runner, Anita Nott who tragically lost her life in a road traffic accident while out running in Richmond. The run is essentially 2 out and backs on undulating paths and well maintained tracks in Jesmond Dene. Starting on the bridge and turning