 Tynedale 10 winner Sam Hancox Sam Hancox added the Tynedale 10 to an impressive list of local victories this Summer that already included the Bridges of the Tyne and the Newburn River Run. Many of you will remember the old Tynedale 10 of course, aka The Jelly Tea, originally held over an enjoyably scenic course running from the back roads just outside Hexham via Corbridge town centre, thence down to Bywell with a finish at Ovingham Middle School. Sadly, the chicane through Corbridge and some irate local residents did for that one and, after an abortive one year foray up to Hexham racecourse, the Jelly Tea reverted to a variant of the old course, starting from the Middle School and then going out to Styford before turning round and reversing the route. That course went too however and this year we were promised a new one, and one which had originally been flagged as hosting the BMAF Championships. Well it was certainly new, taking place on the old Ouston airfield at the Albermarle Barracks (which had also hosted the Elswick Relays back in April) but didn’t include the promised championships, sadly. Often run as a warm-up for the GNR, the race did incorporate the NECAA 10-mile championships however, with a two lap course which Rob reports as ‘very hard going into the wind and a bit more undulating than expected - and neither easy nor fast.’ Sam already had a one minute lead after the first lap, which he extended to over two and a half minutes by the end, winning in a time of 53:11 with Sunderland Harriers Jake Ridding and Liam Taylor 2nd and 3rd in 55:51 and 56:30 respectively. Andy Lawrence also had a good run, coming in 5th in 57:17, as did Shaun Land, 16th in 1:02:20. Rob was 34th and 2nd O/55 in 1:07:32 with Gavin 38th and 1st O/65 in 1:09:30. Dave Nicholson was 2nd in the same category in 1:15:47, and 64th overall. Matty Boyle was 135th in 1:36:43. Linzi was the club’s only female representative, 77th and picking up a prize as 3rd Senior female in 1:18:33, with the women’s race won by Elswick’s Andrea Banks in 1:07:09, with Sunderland Stroller Julie Pescod 2nd but only 4 seconds back in 1:07:13 and Blaydon’s Emma Cartwright 3rd (1:10:17). Some 172 finished. Sad to report that the old Jelly Tea, which those long in the tooth will fondly remember queuing for in the Middle School, then enjoying sitting down to eat at uncomfortably low tables, now takes the form of a cup of jelly and a sandwich. Bah humbug! Scafell Pike Trail Marathon On the same morning but on the other side of the country, Jane Kirby and Anna Wright, two ladies never known to shirk a hard run, took on the hugely challenging Scafell Pike Marathon, sponsored by Salomon. Run from Keswick via Borrowdale, the preamble for the event is absolutely clear about the difficulty involved, openly stating it takes place over ‘tough mountain trails’ and is ‘not suitable for novices.’ As if all that wasn’t hard enough, some highly inclement weather in the form of driving rain and howling winds added to the joy. So it’s good to report that both Anna and Jane did themselves proud, picking up prizes to boot. Anna was first back, 93rd and 3rd O/40 in 7 hours 11 minutes 10 seconds, with Jane 108th and 3rd O/50 in 7:31:09. The perhaps appropriately named Ricky Lightfoot won in 3:53:41 with Holly Wootten 1st female finisher in 4:35:08.  Jane and Anna braved the wind and rain at the Scafell Pike Marathon Comments are closed.
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January 2026
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