Race 1 – Derwent Reservoir 10 Mile – Sun 26th February 2023

DERWENT RESERVOIR was 2023’s first Grand Prix race, where 40 Blyth runners travelled the 50 minute journey on Sunday 23rd February to this outstanding location for the popular trail run which we started on the dam wall along with 280 other runners doing this 10 mile run. A 5 mile run, taking a slightly different route also took place (starting 15 minutes earlier). Both runs were around trail paths, tarmac and grass. Starting on top of the dam wall with some beautiful scenery, despite the cold temperatures of 5 degrees, runners soon warmed up as the route took runners through some undulating woods on the far side of the dam, enough to get the heart pumping, before doing a loop and coming back across the dam and a double loop on the other side with a long pull up twice. The last mile included a slippery downhill on grass, with a bit of a head wind and drizzle at this point, to then a further steep downhill on tarmac towards the finish, where we caught sight of the finish arch, only to be forced to run around the outside of a field and back to the finish, slightly over 10 miles by my watch.

Runners finished down beside the Car park and were rewarded with a choice of two Wild Deer Merchandise items (medal, hats, buffs, running socks or water bottles), a chocolate snack & a drink (beer, cider or soft drink).

Would I do it again? Absolutely it was well organised, free parking, plenty of toilets and a café, I think most people enjoyed the run with great support for each other, great overall finish times by everyone, so well done! Special mention to Michael Stott taking overall first place and Leanne Herron first Blyth lady to finish. Well done also to Katie Donaldson for finishing first in her age category and our secretary Ralph Dickinson, second in his age category.

The full results can be found HERE

Pos.	Race Pos.	Name	Cat	Time	Div.	Pts.	Pos.	Race Pos.	Name	Cat	Time	Div.	Pts.
1	1	Michael Stott	M40	1:01:06	1	11	21	100	Alan Stewart	M50	1:29:28	3	2
2	11	Robert Barkley	M40	1:11:02	1	10	22	103	Sandra Watson	F50	1:29:37	4	11
3	17	Simon Clough	M40	1:13:40	2	11	23	104	Ruth French	F40	1:29:58	-	-
4	21	Steven French	M40	1:14:19	2	10	24	113	Lee Anderson	M50	1:31:14	4	10
5	23	John Younger	M40	1:14:37	2	9	25	115	Janice Stewart	F40	1:32:42	4	9
6	31	Luke Dickinson	M	1:16:54	3	12	26	127	Danielle Cooper	F30	1:33:17	4	8
7	32	Martin Fairbairn	M40	1:17:10	3	11	27	132	Claire Mason	F50	1:33:56	5	12
8	38	Steve Dobby	M40	1:18:27	2	8	28	138	Jade Southworth	F30	1:34:58	4	7
9	40	Shaun Morris	M40	1:19:09	3	10	29	139	Alison French	F40	1:35:17	5	11
10	43	Steve Leggett	M50	1:19:40	3	9	30	142	David Stamp	M30	1:36:09	4	6
11	45	Ian Baxter	M50	1:20:06	1	9	31	184	Louise McNeil	F40	1:41:47	5	10
12	47	Mark Rudkin	M40	1:20:21	3	8	32	190	Anne Craddock	F60	1:42:22	5	9
13	51	Leanne Herron	F40	1:20:49	4	13	33	196	Lindsay Freeman	F50	1:43:34	-	-
14	52	Katie Donaldson	F30	1:20:55	3	7	34	213	Anita Brabazon	F30	1:44:58	5	8
15	53	Richard Bickerton	M40	1:21:05	3	6	35	215	Stephen Foster	M60	1:45:32	4	5
16	55	Robert Rhodes	M30	1:21:15	2	7	36	219	Lewis Freeman	M	1:46:01	4	4
17	58	Kandis Watson	F30	1:22:26	3	5	37	223	Ralph Dickinson	M70	1:46:46	5	7
18	76	Nikki Courtney	F40	1:25:45	3	4	38	224	Dawn Martin	F50	1:46:47	-	-
19	85	David Bradley	M60	1:26:54	3	3	39	232	Chris Claassen	M50	1:48:21	5	6
20	88	Sue Browning	F50	1:27:44	4	12	40	265	Joanne Stobbart	F50	1:53:57	6	6
Total No. of finishers :- 332

Mistakes/corrections etc., please contact Steve Walker by clicking on the link.