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.