Alnwick XC
With both our ladies and men’s teams in decent positions to get promoted next year, it was brilliant to see good numbers keen to run.
Our junior once again were out in force (39 runners across all ages) and on top form performing well in all the age groups.
Our ladies also had good numbers with 12 runners, enough for 3 full teams.
It was Justina who brought the team home as 1st counter, Andrea will be pleased to hear she earned a nice promotion for the next race as she came home as the 2nd counter (22nd place), Sarah and Mary had great sprint to the finish with Sarah just pipping Mary to finish our 3rd counter and Mary our 4th counter and make up the scoring team.
Our next runners packed in really well to push the other NE teams down the pecking order with our 2nd 4 finishing within 60 places of each other and 3rd finishing all finishing strong!
Peter Jobson also running in the 2 lapped race maintains his great XC form and on track to finish well in the Over 65 Grand Prix category following a top 10 finish – go Peter!
Our men’s team saw two NEHL debutants, Dan Milton who went on to win the overall race and Jamie Styles returning to the club he represented as a junior ran his first NEHL race as an adult. Both liked the Nationals the previous week they couldn’t miss Alnwick!
Our men’s numbers were great too with 13 runners taking part, enough for 2 full teams.
Our first 6 runners put down a cracking marker and has given us a good chance to stay in the hunt for promotion.
Dan finishing 1st overall set the team up well, Danny back in good form looks to have secured a promotion fast pack following a 33rd finish. Mark was our 3rd counter with Jamie following him in. David King also back good form was out 5th counter and Joes back from illness and injury ran well to bring the counting team home.
Our other lads ran brilliantly too all packing in well to knock other teams down the pecking order.
With our final XC only 3 weeks away – we’re hoping for everyone that’s fit to turn up fight for promotion. A good finish for both our men’s and women’s teams promoted back to the first division so clear your calendar and get those spikes out for one more push!
Valentines Runs
Jumping back two weekend – Luke was back on the podium after winning the Valentine Half Marathon held on the Town Moor – a great time of 1.12 finishing over 1 minute ahead of the next runner.
In the 5km, Shona Nicholson ran well to complete the distance. Great to see continuing to progress with her running and bag a PB of 36 mins – a sub 36 isn’t far off!
Middlesbrough Half Marathon
We had four athletes in action at Middlesbrough – Luke Hilliard in full marathon training as he looks towards Boston ran a great time finishing 10th Andy Bell close behind in 14th both running 1.12. Gillian Manford was our only female runner, she clocked an impressive 1.29 and Jack Gordon ran well recording a time of 1.45.
Well done all!
Call out for volunteers!!!
If anyone would like to write a full or partial race recap, please let us know.
Also, we need a volunteer to help with arranging the men’s relay teams – let me know if you can help.
Information Notice:
Track and Field Training – Saturday’s at Wentworth
Andrea, Simon and others continue to hold track and field sessions on Saturday morning at Wentworth Leisure Centre.
There’s lots of events to try, all supported by our wonderful coaches, it’s a perfect introduction to track and field and boost that speed for the road events.
Open to all ages, members and nonmembers, everyone is welcome so please don’t be shy give it a try… If you want more information, feel free to ask any of the coaches. All we ask for is £2.50 donation, paid online before or after you take part.
Sunday Long Run
A reminder we have two regular groups running from the leisure centre on a Sunday heading out for long social runs. Everyone is welcome to these, even nonmembers, so if you have family or friends that wants company on a long run bring them down. Again, speak to your coaches for more information.
Future Fixtures:
Relays
Jan – Birtley Relays (XC) – Complete
14th March – NECAA Signals (Road)
March – Northern 6 & 12 Stage Relays – Redcar (Road)
3rd April – Good Friday’s (Road)
April – Neptune (Mixed)
May – NEMAA Jarrow (Road)
13th May – Wallsend (Road)
June – Weetslade (Road)
16th July – DVR Relays (road/hard) NEW ONE
2nd August – Gosforth (Road)
September – Farringdon (Trail)
1st November – Norman Woodcocks (Road)
Cross Country – NEHL Fixtures
Winter is coming…so we’ll be looking to register people for the forthcoming NEHL season. Let me or Felicity know if you want to be registered.
SAT 27-SEP-25 Thornley Hall Farm – COMPLETED
SUN 12-OCT-25 Druridge Bay Country Park- COMPLETED
SAT 25-OCT-25 Lambton Estate – COMPLETED
SUN 23-NOV-25 Wrekenton – Completed
SAT 17 or SUN 18-JAN-26 Lemington CANCELLED
SAT 31-JAN-26 Temple Park – COMPETED
SAT 28-FEB-26 Alnwick Castle Pastures – COMPLETED
SAT 21-MAR-26 Eltringham Farm
NOTE: Dates are subject to change…
XC Championships Races
SAT 24-JAN-26 Northern XC Champs – Pontefract – COMPETED
SAT 21-FEB-26 National XC Champs – Sedgefield
We’ve reduced the number of races slightly, included an internal race (helpers might be required), and hoping to have the Jelly T (Tynedale’s 10 miler) back.
If any races are cancelled, we’ll try and find a suitable replacement or hold an internal race.
Races:
*March – Cowbell (5km) will no longer be part of the 2025/2026 club champs. We’ll replace this with an internal race, likely to be in May.
April – Blyth (10k)
**May – Internal (3km or 5km TBC)
June – Rest
July – Sunderland (5km)
August – Jelly T (10 miles)
September – Rest
October – Rest – use for cancellations
November – Heaton Memorial (10km)
December – Saltwell (10km)
January – Rest
February – Sherman Cup/Davision Shield (off road)
26/27 Rules: Best 2 5km, 2 10km, 1 long/off road. Runners must wear their Elswick race vest for official races (internal fixtures you can wear what you want).
Note: if a suitable like for like race can not be found, our replacement race will be ‘assumed’ the category in which it replaced i.e. an internal 5km replaces a 10 mile run, the replacement 5km race will count for the ‘long run’ points/standings.
NOTE: We’d always planned to use Watergate as a backup race due to its popularity but i’ve heard it might not go ahead as there is planned work in the area. If anyone sees it advertised, please let me know.
Useful websites for races: http://www.northeastraces.com