Jessica and Sandy Anderson send in this report from one of the region’s newest events.
Howick Hall 5 mile Trail Run: Saturday 26 October 2013
A very few TBH runners skipped the Blaydon Cross Country for this event (running for only its second year), led home by Julie Shaw as 3rd Female in 39:36 (four Low Fell RC runners dominated the Men’s category).
Billed as 5 miles (8km) and flat, a Garmin logged it as only 7.3km with lots of ups and downs (over 80m of climbs).
The interesting single circuit twists and turns through the famous Howick Hall Arboretum and is a genuine cross-country course. With minimal short sections on tarmac or gravel, it is predominantly on woodland tracks, either hard-core (covered in leaf mould at this time of year) or two earthen wheel tracks with grass in the middle, with the finish downhill over rough grassland.
At this time of year it is wet (lots of puddles) with muddy sections. The event supports – and is run by – W Company Northumbrian Army Cadet Force (the 1st Cadet was Kate McPhee in 41:47) based at Howick Village Hall (with bacon butties, tea, home baking, etc afterwards) it is a nice village and family vibe (including a ‘1 mile’ Under 12s run). Definitely one to go back to.
Jessica and Sandy.
Full results can be found here.
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