April 3rd, 2011
Birtley AC has a long history with the Clubs for Young People (CYP) supporting the organisation’s athletic side for many years.
We have had athletes running in the county championships and then going onto run for Durham in National events on both track and cross-country.
Normal selection for the CYP Durham cross-country team would be in October/November and ran over a course at Aykley Heads in Durham. Unfortunately due to the weather conditions the 10/11 Durham Championships didn’t go ahead and now with the closer of Aykley Heads sport centre they have also lost their venue for future races.
Although it was after National race it was felt that it would be still worth while having a regional race due to the only reason of it cancelation being the weather. It was here that we (Birtley) stepped into the breach offering to organise and run the Durham Champs from our base at Lord Lawson School.
Held on a Tuesday night the twisting and turning course was a challenging one using both the upper and lower fields at Lord Lawson. We covered four age groups U11, U13, U15 and U17.
Birtley dominated in both male and female team and individual events raking in an impressive haul of medals.
The night was deemed a great success and the CYP have informed us that they would love to hold future CYP Durham championships at Lord Lawson School hosted by Birtley.
Like all of Birtley success’s in would not be possible without the enthusiasms and willingness of its members to volunteer. Well done to all those who helped out and look forward to the 11/12 championships.
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Tags: cross country, CYP, Durham, Race, U15, Volunteer, Winner, Winners
Posted in events, races
November 18th, 2010
Remembrance Sunday services around the country and people fall silent for 2 minutes.
On this day Heaton Harriers host a number of races accommodating Under 11 boys and girls through the age groups to senior.
Birtley as always fielded many runners, giving great performances.
A particular mention to Erin Wesley having her first run for the club. Erin brought home the team in the U13 girls and helping them pick up first team and a nice trophy.
For full results click on the link below.
http://www.heatonharriers.org.uk/mem10res.php
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Tags: Race, road, Winner, Winners
Posted in races
October 19th, 2010
Along with 934 others Darren Purvis ran the first Kielder Marathon finishing a brilliant 8th overall in a time 2:44:16.
The course is a spectacular and inspiring challenge. Rarely leaving the shores of Kielder Water, it follows the Lakeside Way meandering through the forest and heath land that surrounds the lake. There are a few inclines to negotiate but most are of the short sharp nature and are rewarded afterwards with nice long stretches of easy running. Most inclines come in the first 15 miles or so and the final few miles are amongst the easiest running on the course.
The North East 10 mile road champion ran a half marathon split of 1:16:33 and said after the race it was the hardest race he has ever done.
Kielder 2010 Darren Purvis race report
It was an early Sunday morning as I opened the blinds to see a hard white frost on the ground outside. A light breakfast of porridge and toast at 6am, with a Keith (Ch-le-St) picking myself up at 7am and then picking up Phil (Ch-le-St) at 7.15am. Soon we were on our way and once on the country roads we knew we were close, with the roads soon busy with hundreds of other cars making their way to Kielder. The race was due to start at 10am, but was put back to around 10.10am due to congestion on the roads.
On arrival to Kielder the outside temperature was showing -3◦ and with the dam was disappearing in to the mist, with the scene now set for a cold start.
The official start was about a 10 minute walk from Leaplish. After following a path we could see the start in the distance and as we got closer, there seemed no way to get through to the line without jumping the barriers and running through the wooded tree line to the side of the track.
Eventually we made it to the start but there felt a real reluctance from the majority of athletes to step up to the line. We had no hesitation in taking our places and we stood tall with around thirty other athletes. The race was started by Steve Cram and once the hooter sounded, we were off. The first 400m was up an incline and this should have given everyone an indication of the terrain that lay ahead.
After the first mile, we were in a small group of about 10. The pace was steady, with the terrain and tight turns along the path making it tricky. I was aware that two of the guys were Kenyans and that for myself to continue at the current pace would not be possible for the full distance. At mile 2-3 I was running in 4th place, at mile 4 I managed to lead if only for around 400m, then at around mile 7 I decided that I had to get in to a comfortable rhythm if I were to complete the race. I then slipped back in to 7th place and between mile 7 and the end of the race it was a lonely run, with the latter part of the race to prove more a mental battle.
The course was described as undulating, but if I were to make a comparison to the course it would equate to running up and down the hills around Beamish woods for three hours. The first half of the race consisted of short steep inclines and declines, with the second half comprising of more slight undulations and two major inclines. Between mile 19 to 20 was where I met with the dreaded ‘wall’. It was fortunate that there was a family picnicking at the top of the hill around the 20 mile point, where I was able to obtain a half eaten flapjack. This intake of food gave me both an energy and mental boost to get through the remainder of the race.
At mile 25 I was passed by another athlete who seemed to sprint past, but I think it was more that i had come to crawling pace. The last mile twisted through a wooded area, with the path providing the last test as athletes approached the finish line. The last 200m were lined with spectators shouting for athletes on approach and with the last bit of energy I managed a sprint, but from where that burst of energy came I will never know.
I completed the race in 8th place in 2:44:12. My friend were both close behind, with Keith finishing in 12th place in 2:53 and Phil in 17th place in 3hrs. After the race we all met up in the massage area, where we all lay on the massage beds for the next half an hour. We were all exhausted, glad to be finished, very glad of the massage, reflecting on the race and talking about coming back next year to do it all again.
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Tags: marathon, Race, Senior
Posted in races
October 19th, 2010
Congratulations to Angie Watson who won the Richmond Castle 10k in a time of 42 minutes.
The picturesque race started in Richmond’s cobbled market place. Runners passed the spectacular Richmond Falls on the River Swale before crossing the river at Green Bridge and climbing Sleegill offering fine views of Richmond Castle. Runners were went on a short circuit of Catterick Garrison before returning to Richmond and a great finish within the grounds of the castle of which English Heritage allowed access to.
The only thing Angie did wrong was to give away her bottle of beer not knowing that it’s the only thing that keeps Coach Tommy Millmore going.
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Tags: Race, road, Senior Lady, Winner
Posted in races
October 2nd, 2010
Sophie, Paige and Lydia
A trio of U15 girls were a leading example of what hard work and team endeavor can achieve at this years Northern Athletics Road Relay Championships in Manchester.
Birtley AC has enjoyed great success in particular with the U13 and U15 girl’s age categories almost dominating North East Athletics for a number of years.
At Manchester Paige Gilhespy, Sophie Forster and Lydia Turner mixed with the best teams from the North of England finishing a brilliant fourth place missing out on third by 20 metres.
With this result they have earned themselves a place in the National Finals that are to be run in Birmingham on 16 October.
Well done Girls
Race report by Sophie Forster,
Woke up absolutely shattered but dead excited for the day ahead. It was our first relay together as a team and it would be the Northern Championships! We traveled down together as a team with coach Tommy at a bright and early 8 o’clock! We traveled sleepy eyed down to Wythenshaw park in Manchester, with very little conversation because we were all soo tired!! We arrived at the event at quarter to eleven geet excited and ready for a goodun! We were greeted by the mud and smell of deep heat. Paige started us off at quarter past 12 and had an amazing run putting us in 31st for the second leg. Paige quoted “I enjoyed the course but was quite difficult under foot, I tried my best and had a good run!” before the race Paige was worried about going first but when asked by coach Tommy after the race she said “I enjoyed it, it was good!” after an amazing first leg it was handed over to Me who set off hard around the course “it was a good course quite scenic but very twisty turning, I ran hard trying my best to take as many in front of me as I could! I loved it!” Sophie finished her leg in 13th place to then hand it over Lydia who took off! Lydia went off around the park “I found the course good and worth the journey and thoroughly enjoyed running part of such a successful team.” Lydia finished the trio in 4th place narrowly missing the medal positions, running the fastest time of the day. A good run by the team and one of many goodun’s to come!
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Tags: Northern Athletics, Race, relay, Relays, road, U15
Posted in races
September 8th, 2010
A number of Birtley runners were out dodging walkers, dogs and bikes to complete the Watergate 5k race. The two lap race loops around the central lake before coming back round to finish by the playing fields. This 5k was the final race in a series of three hosted by Lowfell.
First in for Birtley was Lee Millmore finishing 3rd position overall and improving his 5k time from the week before by over 20 seconds denying Morpeth a 1, 2 ,3 on the podium. Next was Dave Coulson in 58th position sporting a nice tan back from his recent holiday. Dave had previously raced in the first two races of the series and came away as overall series winner. Excellent. Pat Kelly never to shy away from a race was 93rd. The Watergate 5k incorporates the North East Vets 5k championships and Pats result seen him picking up Bronze medal for his age category.
Also racing were three of Birtley’s youths running in the combined age category race around one lap of the 5k course. Luke Kelly worked hard to come in first for the Under 11 boys category. Lukes sister Laura battled all the way to the line to finish 2nd in her Under 11 girls category. Danielle Coulson also sporting a nice tan had a brave run and finished 1st out of the Under 13 Girls.
| Name |
Position |
Time |
| Lee Millmore |
3rd |
16.27 |
| Dave Coulson |
58th |
21.56 |
| Patrick Kelly |
93rd |
26.64 |
| |
|
|
| Laura Kelly |
2nd |
9.47 Under 11 Girls |
| Luke Kelly |
1st |
8.25 Under 11 Boys |
| Danielle Coulson |
1st |
9.49 Under 13 Girls |
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Tags: Race, road, Senior, Vets, Winner, Winners
Posted in races
