With various events causing cancellations at Leazes, Town Moor and Whitley Bay, it was busy at the other local parkruns. Jesmond Dene proved to be the most popular choice, with 10 sky blues running up those hills! A group of them were having a “parkrun sandwich”, i.e. including this as part of their longer weekend run. Kudos to Julie Cross, who got up to complete the course after suffering a nasty fall.
Denton Dene was the place for PBs with 2 out of our 3 representatives, Alex Harding and Brian Hegarty, getting their best times for the course. Though, I suppose Ashington Community Woodlands and Fulwell Quarry could claim 100% success rate with a PB at each for our sole runner – Jamie Harding and Lena Lou respectively. Having said that, it is a surprise if Lena doesn’t get a PB these days! Well done, also, to Ann Smith who ran a PB at a crowded Blyth Links.
Antony Darne was still in Cape Town, this time running at Belville. In terms of UK tourism, Luke Woodend was in the South East at Lullingstone and Jim Crinnion in the South West collecting a “Q” at Quaker’s Walk (a course popular with the Smiths). Nearer home, Cate Walker and Laurie Johnson were at The Cinder Track’s 200th event celebration in Whitby, which Cate described as “Lovely course and pretty run to get there from the Abbey”. A bit further up the coast, Chris Jones was the latest to sample the Norh East’s newest venue – The Heritage Coastal Path.
Three Claremonters were across the Irish Sea. Diana Walmsley was in Belfast at Ormeau, but pride of the club this week were our golden couple of Aoife Monaghan and Jack Shawcross with a double-first at Loughmacrory in County Tyrone.