A great way to end 2025!!

Happy New Year, 2025 went out on a high note!!! The final race of 2025 was New Year’s Eve in the city centre of Newcastle, with the inaugural running of the HogmanHoway 5K, with 5 Birtley AC athletes competing. The event was made up of 3 races, on 2 different courses, the elite men and women’s 5k’s were on a 3 lap course taking in the Haymarket and Grey’s Monument, the 5k open race was one big lap around the streets of the city.

In the open race Katie Francis ran to the finish as FIRST female in 17:56 and very close to her PB. Abby Codling smashed her PB with a first time under 20 minutes at 19:31. Now due to all the racing that the next two do throughout the year, and over various distances and terrain, it’s hard to believe that this was their first 5k road race. Amy Drummond was next and in her 5k debut with a time of 22:27. Lee Drummond was also racing his 5k debut in 23:13.
In the women’s elite race, Lydia Turner was offered a place due to her (then) current PB over 5k. The field of only 14 athletes, was absolutely packed, and included GB international athletes and current 1500m champion, and, on paper, Lydia was ranked number 14 from the 14, a big task, although a massive opportunity to race against some of the very best in the country. Well she certainly did give them a race, finishing in 4th place (and a canny pay day), and with a very special bonus of a PB to boot in 16:21 !!! Fantastic racing from everyone and a great way to end the year. All races were streamed live on YouTube and this is the link.

Birtley AC course record success at the Saltwell Harriers 10k Road Race 20/12/25!!! There were 7 Team Birtley athletes competing in the Saltwell Harriers 10k Road Race, which is the oldest road race in England and twists and turns on an undulating course through and around Saltwell Park. Well done to Lydia Turner, Nigel Simpson, Ruth Dadswell, Katie Francis, Graeme Swaddle, Brian Bailes, David Francis. Ruth raced to 1st in her age group. Lydia, who was racing for the first time over the 10k distance, not only won the women’s event (9th overall), but smashed the previous course record of 35:06, set in 2014, by GB International Rosie Smith, to finish with a time of 34:21 !!!

There were individual and team medals won by the Birtley AC U15 girls. A fantastic well earned bronze for Olivia Murphy and a big bonus silver team medal for Olivia Murphy, Poppie Phillipson and Ceinwen Bishop. Well done girls!!! Mention for Izzy Hall, who despite having a good solid start, began to struggle, and was determined to finish, which she did. Other junior age group athletes were U17 boys Ollie King, U17 girls Niamh Phillipson, U20 women Daisy Graham, U20 men George Beevers (a very credible 5th). Well done to all the senior men and women athletes who raced (see list in photos), we had teams in both races. Mention to Katie Francis who finished a well earned 9th place. The North Easterns are one of the selection races for athletes to be selected to represent the North East at the British Inter Counties Championships the beginning of March, Olivia will have gained automatic selection due to her 3rd place, and there is still a great opportunity for other athletes to be selected if racing the Northern XC.
​Full results can be seen here

There were five Team Birtley athletes, lining up for the start of the Valencia Marathon, showing off the Blue and Yellow and looking forward to racing in what was around 20C and a lot better conditions than in the UK. Each one completed the 26.2 miles, Tom Goulding (great to see him once again in the Birtley vest, even if it was a one off) completed in 2:29, running negative splits, and a fantastic effort for his first marathon. Kieran Reay crossed the line in a very impressive 2:39 in what was his third go at the distance and just off his PB. Adrian Bailes ran a good 2:44, again his first marathon, and it wasn’t the wheels that came off at about 20 or so miles, it was his toe nails, ouch 😳. Hannah Linton, again new to the distance, was going for somewhere around 3:15, and she absolutely smashed it, with a 3:11. Rob Torch went along for the weekend not too sure if he would start, or if he did, he would possibly run with Hannah to about 18 miles or so and call it a day, so to decide to press on and complete his first marathon, would have taken some deep thought and determination to get himself over that finish line, great effort and 3:34. Well done everyone, and also to the roving supporter, Chloe, who had her itinerary worked out to get to the best vantage points for a shout and photo. A great experience. Safe travels back.

Craig Crompton is out working in India and just so happened to find a local 10k to do (luckily he’d packed his vest 👍). Racing in the Dhash Bengaluru 10k earlier this morning, well done Craig!!!

Hats off to Olivia Murphy, racing today for her school at Rugby, a fantastic 4th place from 149 in what is her first year in the Intermediate Girls age group!!!! Olivia’s next race will be in the Team Birtley Blue and Yellow at the North East XC Championships next weekend in Middlesbrough.

Hannah Linton and Adrian Bailes were both at Leeds this morning racing over 10k in the Abbey Dash. It’s a quick out and back course, and Adrian was off a few minutes earlier in the elite field and was just off his PB, Hannah went off with the “masses” and smashed her PB and getting below 40 min for the first time!!! Well done both of you and thanks Chloe for the end of race report and interview from both athletes 👍 “Up The Birtley”!!!

Before the Senior races at Wrekenton there were 5 Team Birtley Junior Athletes racing over various age groups. Lloyd Jones U13 Boys, Ollie King U17 Boys, Niamh Phillipson U17 Girls, Poppie Phillipson U15 Girls ran through the field from the fast pack to finish 3rd place and 3rd fastest overall and Olivia Murphy U15 Girls, again from the fast pack, passed the field finishing in 1st place and fastest overall!!! Well done all 5, keep progressing through the season 👍

Due to school performances this week, our training is taking place at different venues - each group's details are shown below:-

Dan (Juniors) - juniors will be meeting at the Holiday Inn in Washington (same as last year). Please note that you’ll need a high-vis and a torch to run with us — this applies for tomorrow and Thursday.

​Zoe/Lee (Joggers) and Tommy's group - will meet at the bottom end of the car park behind Morrisons in Birtley (next to the laser tag place) on both Tuesday 21st October and Thursday 23rd October at 6.45pm

Fantastic racing at Farringdon!!! Well done to everyone who raced for the Club at the Farringdon XC Relays and Young Athletes Open Races. Starting the day was Ollie Maw, racing again in the Blue and Yellow, in the U11 race, and that’s after having a football match in the morning, well done Ollie!!
In the U15 Girls race Poppie Phillipson showed all the girls and most of the boys, the way to the finish line, crossing the line as first girl and for Gold!! Well done Poppie! 👍
Then it was the turn of the Women’s Relay and Team Birtley had 3 complete teams racing and representing the Club. Well done everyone and, as a big bonus the team of Abby Codling Amber Leigh and Lydia Turner won the race along with the Women’s Ken Jefferson Memorial Shield!!!
Next off were the Men and, again, the Club had 3 complete teams racing. Well done those Men, and again, Team Birtley came away with 1st Team, George Beevers, Lewis McConnell and Adrian Bailes being the winning team along with the Men’s Ken Jefferson Memorial Shield!!!
​A great day of competition and it shows massive potential for the coming Cross Country season. Let’s get “toes on the line”, see Spond for up coming races. ​

It was a long weekend for Ceinwen Bishop was racing over the 2 days at the weekend, representing the North East Region at the TriStar 3 Inter-Regional National IRC Triathlon Championships at Mallory Park. From being elbowed in the face, her goggles getting pulled off, and swimming off course, she had some strong runs and bike. Overall, the NE team came third which is a great achievement considering the size and the funding other areas receive. Very well done Ceinwen, enjoy your recovery and hopefully see you soon with the Birtley blue and yellow on ​

Our AGM will be taking place just before our celebration evening - we are starting at 6.30pm (which should give everyone time to get themselves in the party mood before the celebrations start!). All members are welcome to attend and have their say - this is YOUR club! If you would like to step up to one of our committee roles, there is a list on Spond and we will obviously take nominations during the AGM as well. Don't be shy, we would love to have you on board!