Hartlepool Marina 5 Miler – 28th April 2024
by Geoff Hewitson A reasonable turnout of 9 Crookites were present for this annual event, much healthier than in 2023 when I was the sole club representative, and 2022 when I think it was just Stan and myself. A less than encouraging weather forecast (to put it mildly) for Sunday morning unfortunately proved to be spot on, and we were greeted on arrival with lashing rain and what felt like a freezing cold Northerly wind. As we took refuge inside the
Hamsterley Forest 10K Trail – 21st April 2024
by Jill Berry Denyse Holman & Jayne Henderson convinced me that it would be a nice idea to register to run Hamsterley 10k trail race. The day of the race we all met up at the Nest car park looking a little nervous and not sure of what to fully expect. We met with Mark Standbridge and Jason Marr too and we all went to collect our race numbers. The run nation marshals were lovely and the event was very well organised. Looking
NEHL Alnwick Castle – 2nd March 2024
by Brad Wight Another cracking club day out despite the downpour which managed to soak everything inside our once waterproof tent… The U11 lads were off first with Joe Hall Junior completing the 1km race in 5:20, he looked so determined on the long downhill finish, teeth gritted just like his dad at a NEMAA sprint! The U11 girls were next up, Eleanor Shaw and my youngest daughter Adelaide making their XC debut alongside Meadow Winham. All three slogged up the hill then
NECAA Road Relay Championships / Royal Signals Relays Hetton Lyons Country Park – 17th Feb 2024
by Brad Wight What an unbelievable turnout for Crook! 66 runners across 14 teams with all age categories represented. More runners than any other club! The organisers weren’t joking when they responded to our entry submission with “I’m beginning to worry I haven’t ordered enough numbers.” Alistair Hart had to run with a hand drawn number and I noticed a few XC numbers being re-cycled too! The first race of the day saw the Women, Veteran Women (over 35) and V50 men
Great North Run – 10th September 2023
by Brad Wight Where to start? Safe to say from both a running and a weather perspective it was a right mixed bag! All week the weather forecast was looking far from ideal for distance running. Brendan Foster wrote to runners saying “Sunday will not be a day for PB’s.” Well, what does he know? I’ve counted NINE personal bests in the results, and there may be more as some of our newer members registered without a club name. At the front end, starting
Blackpool Run the Lights 5K/10K – 19th August 2023
by Jon Rose I was hoping to get away with the shortest race report - 'What happens in Blackpool stays in Blackpool!'
Elvet Striders Willow Miner Trail Race – 26th July 2023
by Geoff Hewitson History This fairly long-established local race has undergone a number of changes over the years. Club members of a certain vintage will no doubt remember it by its original name of the “Rose Tree 5”, after the pub in Shincliffe where the post race buffet and presentation was held. The latter was moved to a new venue (the Court Inn) some years ago and the race renamed the “Court Inn Clamber”, though still using the original ‘two and a
Blackhill Steelworks Relays – 17th May 2023
by Geoff Hewitson Over 50 teams took part in this popular mixed team format relay on the site of the former Consett Steelworks. The course is a challenging loop of approximately 2.1 miles with the notorious hill coming near the end. Our Club has enjoyed a great deal of success in this event, having either won it or finished in the top 3 on several occasions. In 2022 we finished runners-up and were the overall winners the previous time it was
Muddy Roads Pizza Trail 8K – 7th May 2023
by Paul Wragg A day in the life of a King & Queen After being informed by King Ken about the race starting at 11 instead of 10:30 I thought I would check my emails against his better judgement. Lo and behold every email said 10:30. Arriving at Queen Jill's castle for 8:30 we swiftly departed and arrived at the Kings quarters shortly afterwards. The man himself was stood waiting sceptre in hand (empty milk carton) I’ll let your imagination do the
Saturn Runnings “Nearly Not Quite” London Marathon – 23rd April 2023
by Paul Smith Seven days on from Boston Marathon UK the Saturn Running roadshow trundled into town with their "Nearly Not Quite London Marathon" Event at Durham City. Whilst thousands assembled on Blackheath Common along with exclusive and excessive media coverage to run the classic distance in England's Capital, England's Patron Saint once again donned the chain mail and waved the flag along with his sword whilst completing the course's 6 laps to notch his 60th marathon in his 60th year