MOST runners like to challenge themselves, but two members of Pickering Running Club took this to another level at the weekend. 

Simon Rycroft triumphed in the Kielder 50k trail race set in the vast expanse of Kielder Water. The beautiful route takes runners from lake shore to heather moorland accumulating over 3,500 feet of climb. 

A stellar performance by Simon Rycroft earned him a lovely wooden trophy for second place overall. His time of four hours and 19 minutes also placed him first in the M50 age category.

Jayson Cavill successfully tackled the Xterra Malta, recognised as one of the most picturesque triathlon races in Europe, taking place within the stunning Majjistral Natural Park. 

He made short work of the 1,500m sea swim in the iconic Golden Bay, the 30k mountain bike route along cliff edges and the 10k trail run over clay slopes and rocky coastal paths.

Jayson’s training certainly paid off, enabling him to cross the final finish line in two hours and 43 minutes, placing him first in the M45 age category and as the 19th male overall.

It was an excellent turnout from Pickering at the 10th encounter in the Winter Fell Race Series, Blakey Blitz. 

Starting and finishing near the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge, the 10-mile route takes runners down into Rosedale and Fryup Dale, culminating in over 2,300 feet of climb. 

To get to the finish line runners have one last obstacle, a brutal one-mile climb out of Rosedale, but fortunately the weather was kind with bright, blue skies and a cooling breeze. 

First back for Pickering was Peter Allen in a very impressive one hour and 30 minutes. 

Tom Pilley and Mike Richmond were close behind in one hour and 32 minutes and one hour and 33 minutes, with Simon Jones coming next in one hour 36 minutes. 

There followed a battle for the finish line with three runners clocking one hour and 43 minutes – Russ Grayson just seconds ahead of Nick Outram and Kelly Gaughan. Kelly’s time placed her third in the open female category. 

Next to finish was Matt Dunn in one hour and 48 minutes, followed by Rich Johnson in one hour and 54 minutes. 

Mike Wilson just pipped Andy Blades to the finish, both clocking one hour and 57 minutes. Andy Harvey came next in two hours and two minutes.

Karen Farmer-Scott’s time of two hours and 10 minutes earned her a prize for third in the F55 category, and Sue Slack placed third in the F60 category with her time of two hours and 11 minutes. 

Pickering’s men’s teams and women’s teams both placed third.