Weekly Round-Up w/e 16th July – Darlington Harriers & Athletics Club

How do I?…

Club Championship rules and competitions can be found here and points will be populated here

Our club was formed in 1891, but how did the club become Darlington Harriers? Who were the people that founded the club? Read about some of the great athletes that have graced our club, Olympians George Butterfield, Robert Hawkey and Joy Grieveson. Read about Fred Wyers who competed in the 1958 Commonwealth Games and other notable athletes such as Bob Stockdale, William Wylie, Ian Barnes, Paul Harker, Lewis Moses, Kieran Maxwell who have graced our club over the years and let’s not forget all the current members. The club is steeped in the town’s history from basic beginnings to current day and these pages will be updated daily as I trawl through the British Newspaper Archives.

Get Involved

We want to see the club colours at all of our events, especially team events such as relays, National, Northern or North-Eastern where we can get together as a group, support each other and make these events a social occasion. So let me introduce you to our Senior Club Captains.

In addition to athletes, we are always looking for volunteers to support club and local events so please reach out to Sarah Johnson as your first point of contact if you can support in any way shape or form. Thank you! #UTH

Don’t forget you can support the club by **registering for the easyfundraising app** and helping the club raise money. This is simple to do, download the App, link to the club then clicking on the **easyfundaising app** prior to making your online purchases (It’s only one additional step in the process)

CLUB AGM CONFIRMED 1ST AUGUST 19:30, EASTBOURNE COMPLEX

Back in March the club signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant which is a pledge that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve. A few weeks ago, Hilary Bevan accepted this on behalf of the club in a meeting in London.

If you’d like more information about it, you can read about it here

Track Development – Feeling Blue?

You will have seen that our Track will be unavailable to train on as it undergoes a full refurbishment from March 13th. Work has actually already started with the lighting in and around the athletics track. We expect the work to be completed by end of July to mid August after an issue has delayed the rebuild which is out of the clubs and council’s control.

Race Result

On a very wet Friday evening when even ducks were wearing rain coats, a small number of Harriers took their place on the start line for the annual Durham 5 and 10km races. Competing in the 5km was the legend that is Ian Barnes who finished 372nd out of the 625 competitors in 35:50. Plenty life in the ‘old dog’ yet as he heads towards his 89th birthday. Full results can be found here

In the 10km event it was one of our “Eden Runners” Phil Doonan who was first over the line, finishing in 51:26 ahead of partner Catherine Anderson in 55:50 and 7th in her age category. Hamish Laishley who was clearly loving life in the rain finished in 57:33, 26 seconds ahead of Rob Stewart who edged Sarah Patterson by 8 seconds. Marathon runners Julie Price and Sam Stanley finished in 67:26 and 68:45 respectively on the dreary night. Full results for the 10km can be found here well done all of you! Sorry Rob, you must have been camera shy on the night but Simon D clearly wants back in the club…..

Jade Hutchinson was in International Triathlon action this week, in Hamburg, Germany at the Sprint & relay Championships. Competing in the 20-24 year female race with very little preparation for the event since injury at London, Jade finished in a very respectable 28th place after her 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. Well done Jade, great job!

Full results can be found here

We had three of our members racing at the tough Stanhope half marathon trail race at the weekend. A really challenging course which really makes competitors work for their money! Of the trio it was Ben Potter who was first across the line in 2hrs 10 with Sean Craggs finishing in 2hrs 27 and Tony Williams 2hrs 46. Great work by you all.