It has been a busy weekend of racing for a number of our Club members both in the North East and further afield.

At the Hartlepool Marina 5 mile race, Amy Callaghan, finally put her good training to use as she finished on the podium with a third placed finish posting a time of 32:06 in 31st position.

Not to be outdone, her cousin Julie Pescod (Sunderland Strollers) crossed the line with the same time, lifting the V40 title in the process. Anthony Wilton (Sunderland Strollers) finished 13th with a time of 29:13 and he also captured the V50 title.

The race was won by Max Creasey (Middlesbrough & Mandale) in a time of 25:24.

At the Gateshead 10k, new signing Jonathon Collins made his Club and 10k debut on a tough uncompromising course posting a fine time of 35:17 to finish 6th. Clubmate Michael Rodenby, also made his debut over the distance, finishing 10th in 35:51.

The race was won by Monte Watson (Highgate Harriers) in 32:28.

Off the road and onto the trail as the Trail Outlaws staged their 10k trail race at Penshaw, the race was ran on very tough terrain and the wet conditions coupled with a deluge did not help or hinder the competitors.

Sam Thurlbeck (Sunderland Harriers) is going through a good run of form and this continued as he finished second in the 10k race with a time of 42:00. Clubmates, Steven Gordon (46:34), and Dale Wilkinson (50:18) were 10th and 23rd respectively.

The race was won by Chris Fothergill (Darlington Harriers), a clear winner in a time of 40:25. Michelle Thomson (North Shields Poly) won the women's race in 50:19.

Down in the leafy suburbs of Kingsley, the rapidly quick Mid-Cheshire 5k which also hosted the English 5k championships played host to a night of fast racing and the times did not disappoint.

Stephen Jackson continued his build-up for a crack at the 10000m with a very impressive 15:04 finishing 46th, clubmate Mike Cherrington (510th) ran 19:55.

The race was won by Jack Gray (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) the only runner to dip under 14 minutes posting 13:58.

Craig Gunn (16:03) finished 2nd at the Leeds City 5k race series, the third instalment was won by Mark Bolland-Cage (City of York AC) with a time of 15:59.

Over in the United States of America, Oliver James toed the line for the first time in four years as he tackled the flattish Derby Half Marathon, making his debut at the distance he finished in 29th position with a time of 81:25. Hopefully, this whets Olivers' appetite and he makes good use of the bags of talent he has.

The 50th edition of the race was won by Dominic Korir in 64:25.