Tuesday 12th July 2022
Fell ‘em Doon 5 miler hosted by Ashington Hirst Running Club
David Jones on his experience:
“On a hot and humid Tuesday night I headed North to Ashington, armed with the trusty hole punch, to take on the Fell Em Doon 5-mile race, not a new event but a new distance. It was a great locally organised race of about 300 runners consisting of two laps of Ashington Community woods. The route was mainly on gravel and firm paths with a few undulations along the way. The first time I’ve ever started a race with my toes touching the start line, managed to dig in on a tough night finishing in 8th place with a time of 34.09 – a new PB over a 5-mile race distance”
Field size 143
8th David Jones 34.09 and a new pb
Link to results
Wednesday 13th July 2022
Go Tri Ponteland organised by Ponteland Tri
GO TRI is an initiative launched by Triathlon England to provide people with the opportunity to take part in multisport events regularly and at a minimal cost. The events are low key and therefore perfect for those wanting to give triathlon a go without the pressure of a full race event. For many who take part this will be there first entry into the sport and from there they will go onto standard club and commercial events already established on the calendar.
The distances are a 200m swim followed by a 9km bike and a 3km run.
Thanks to Mike Russell for these words:
“For the uninitiated Go-Tri’s are short, introductory, triathlons primarily designed to offer the opportunity for those new to triathlon to put their foot in the water. The format is 200m swim (so only 8 lengths), c. 10k bike and a c. 3k run. Ponteland Runners/Triathlon have organised three this summer and Bella and I decided to give it go in the last race of the series (& given it was open to 15 year olds). It was great to be able to do our first ever triathlon together. A good field of around 70 athletes lined up on the night with 20 or so making their triathlon debut. There was a real mix of ability and equipment on display, from £5k Tri bikes to mountain bikes but the camaraderie was strong and the atmosphere buzzing prior to the start of a staggered swim. To make it all the more beginner-friendly, swimmers were set off in reverse order with those with slower-predicted times going first. The bike and run course was really well marshalled/signposted with lots of support en route (thank you George and Andrea). All in all, a great event for those wondering what triathlon is all about, thoroughly recommended. Also, great to see Micky Shore and Jamie Styles blazing their way around the streets of Ponteland. Bella really enjoyed it and was delighted to finish 3rd lady”
Results can be viewed by the format of a photo.
Field size 55
1st Mike Russell
4th Jamie Styles
15th Bella Russell
37th Micky Shore
Friday 15th July 2022
Durham City Run Festival hosted by Events of the North
Mark McNally messaged to say these few words about the 5k event:
“First run for two weeks since Walsall PR (22.16)- been in Canada for brothers 80 th birthday and done little running. Got back Tuesday but still jet lagged. Started steady and tried to be sensible, last one k off the river was challenging- so can explain time. First 0/70 – no 75 category”
5k field size 554
85th Mark Mcnally 23.47
Our club secretary Sean Mennim wrote this about the 10k event:
“Despite a slightly delayed start on a new route from previous years, the World Heritage Site provides the stunning backdrop to this exciting event. It chases through mixed terrain of road, gravel, and grass and along the beautiful River Wear towards the narrow-cobbled streets of the picturesque City of Durham with the imposing 900-year-old Cathedral always beckoning”
10k field size 1032
25th Sean Mennim 37.17
Saturday 12th July 2022
Ultra-North
With the choice of the full ULTRA 55K (approx. 34 miles) distance or TRAIL 25K (approx. 15.5 miles), ULTRA NORTH is an ideal event for runners looking to discover new local routes, walkers wanting to set themselves a new challenge and for those looking to take on their first Ultra. The course is fully marked with both distances starting and finishing in Derwenthaugh Park.
The TRAIL 25 route starts in within Derwenthaugh Park. Participants heads northeast initially until they reach the River Tyne, then head south to bring them back along the Derwent River heading south west to the 9 arches viaduct on the Derwent Walk. Runners then climb up the Valley side, initially heading north, before heading west towards Highfield. A loop around Rowlands Gill brings participants back to the Derwent Walk where they head east back into Derwenthaugh Park and the finish.
ULTRA 55 participants travelled through Derwenthaugh Park until they reached the River Tyne, then following the south side of the river through Gateshead to the farthest eastern point of the route, where runners crossed the Tyne using the Millennium Bridge.
Participants then travelled west on the north side of the river, using the Hadrian’s Way and Wylam Wagon Way arriving in Wylam. Participants then headed south and east crossing from the Tyne Valley through Chopwell Woods back into the Derwent Valley, then using the Derwent Walk runners made their way east to reach the finish line.
David Jones on his experience in the 25k:
“It was ok. Went off at decent pace and felt strong going through 10k, then got to Thornley cafe, no signs and 3 ways you could go. A few of us ended up going the wrong way so doubled back which added about 1.5 miles on. Bit frustrated as I think I could have clinged on for 3rd or 4th place”
Here is David Hodgson talking to Elswick Harriers about the 55k:
“Saturday 16th July was a very warm day to run an ultra but I lined up for the 3rd time for Ultra North 55. The course starts at Swalwell Cricket Club and travels south of the Tyne to the Millennium Bridge, then north of the river to Wylam, Crawcrook and up Ankle Break Alley to Greenside, High Spen, Hookergate, through Chopwell Woods, Linzford, Hamsterley Mill and then along the Derwent Walk to the finish back at the cricket club. I only managed to fall twice – cuts on top of cuts. Fantastic marshalling, course marking and fully stocked checkpoints. And I got a PB.”
25k field size 210
9th David Jones 2.18.22
55k field size 170
110th David Hodgson 7.35.04
https://ultraresults.greatrun.org/UltraNorth2022Results.html
Sunday 13th July 2022
Castle and Derwent Triathlon
A sprint and standard distance triathlon in rural Northumberland.
A beautiful open water swim in Derwent Reservoir, a road ride around the reservoir, and mixed road/trail run along the shoreline hosted at the Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club.
Thanks to Rob Lambert for sharing his thoughts:
“Derwent Castle tri triathlon. It was good support 1 of the local events that have survived post co-vid, put on by Castle tri club. Usual average swim by me, moved up the field on the bike, and ran my way further up the field 3rd fastest vet (running)🙂 Also 1 year and a day since I broke my shoulder at Woodhorn tri 2021”
Sprint distance field size 64
Swim 750m, Bike 20km, Run 5km
25th Robert Lambert 1.34.16
Swim 22.22
T1 1.36
Bike 45.05
T2 0.59
Run 24.13
http://www.timingupnorthresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=16576&RId=6220&EId=1
