DFR Committee Meeting, 31st March, 2010

There will be a DFR Committee Meeting at 7 pm on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at Karen's house in Fir Tree, (post code DL15 8DF). The meeting is open to all members to attend and you are invited to do so. This meeting is the last of the current year, before the AGM on Wednesday, April, 21st - see news item on AGM.

published: 04/03/10

DFR Annual General Meeting, 21st April, 2010

The Club Annual General Meeting will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010, at Karen's house in Fir Tree, (post code DL15 8DF). All members are urged to attend and make a contribution to the running of the Club by debating the issues involved and supporting the Committee.

published: 04/03/10

Membership Subscriptions for 2010 now due

A reminder that the Club's "official" year ends on March 31st, so our £10 subs should be paid to Alan Hunt now. The membership form (which can be printed from the web site) includes the contact address for the Membership Secretary, who will be pleased to receive subscriptions. This is a very busy period for Alan, with the bureaucracy of the England Athletics registration system to contend with. Please help him by sending your subscription in plenty of time.

published: 04/03/10

Two O-type Events in July and August, 2010

Plan well ahead into July and August, with two O-type events for your diary and before you book your holidays. For both events, early applications for entry are advised. Superb weather has been applied for in both cases.

The first is the 2-day classic, local, Pheonix Long O Event, provisionally announced for the weekend of 17/18 July, 2010. The location is College Valley, North-West Cheviots. This website for further details.

The other event is "The Lakes 5", offering you five days of orienteering in the Lakes. The dates are 22-27 August, 2010. For details see this website.

published: 04/03/10

DFR on Cronkley Fell, Feb 28th, Report

Nine DFRs, Matt, Ros, Steve, Mike, Brian, Patrick, Dawn, Alan and Stu, took to the snowy hills for a run along Cronkley Fell Race route on a crisp day. Fine apres-run food and drink at the Conduit cafe in Middleton-in-Teesdale. DFR generally had an active weekend with members racing at Noonstone, High Cup Nick and Commondale Clart. More reports to follow as details emerge. (more pictures on the DFR Forum Facebook site).

published: 01/03/10

DFR On Tour, Waldridge Fell, Feb 25th, Report

Steve G led (his partner in the headtorch world, Will, is currently injured) a group of 10 including 8 DFR - Matt, Ros, Pippa, Steve Moor, Alan, Patrick, Jim and Stu, 1 NFR - John, 1 Elvet - John and 2 dogs. The route of 1 hour, 5 miles, trudged through all the types of mud you can imagine, climbed styles, missed the cows and horses and traversed a few bridges, along with the usual mix of tracks and trails. Another very enjoyable and very social headtorch run.
Stu.

published: 01/03/10

Final details for the Borrowdale Training Weekend (March 13th and 14th, 2010)

Thanks to those who have confirmed that they will be able to meet up for the inaugural DFR (and guests) training weekend in a couple of weeks. The youth hostel is full but there is plenty of accommodation around the area and everyone is welcome for any or all of the weekend so we hope that as many people as possible will be able to join us at some point.
Plans for exactly what we will do on each day are still pretty vague, probably determined by the weather, but the intention is to split off into groups depending on ability and preferences. There are a lot of great mountains and routes round there so we should all be able to enjoy some slightly bigger hills than at Hamsterley. Meet at 10am in the car park at the youth hostel in Borrowdale on both the Saturday and Sunday morning and people can agree what they want to do from there. Directions can be found at on the YHA website.
We'll then agree a cafe or pub locally to meet back up in at some point in the afternoon - any suggestions are welcome. On the Saturday evening we're hopefully going to meet up, eat, and possibly even drink at the Scafell hotel in Rosthwaite at 7pm - unfortunately it's not possible to book for bar meals and they get quite busy so we'll have to hope for the best.
Hopefully we'll see you at some point over the weekend - if you've any questions you can email us at roslynkelsey@hotmail.com or contact us on facebook.

Matt and Ros

published: 25/02/10

Cleveland Survival, March 27th, 2010

This 26-mile, orienteering-type event is organised by the Cleveland Search and Rescue Team. The location is somewhere in the North Yorks Moors, with a 12-hour time limit and starts staggered at two-minute intervals between 8 and 9 am. Details of the event, including the map reference of the starting place, will be sent to applicants a few weeks before the event date of Saturday, March 27th, 2010. Application forms, sponsorship forms and other information can be found at this web site.

published: 25/02/10

Join Stu and Patrick, Sunday, Feb 28th, 2010

Stu and Patrick are planning a social run on Sunday 28th February over the Cronkley Fell Race route, all are welcome and the intention is to then retire to a teashop in Middleton for post race refreshments. Meet at 10.00 am at the road/bridleway junction at Holwick, Grid Reference NY904270; please park considerately being careful not to block gates and any entrances. (Weather dependent of course - if there has been recent snow, the road into Holwick can be difficult so ring either Stu or Patrick beforehand to check whether it is still on.)

published: 23/02/10

Two Orienteering Events for Your Diary

The first one is on Sunday, 7th February, 2010, in the Lake District, and sounds one for the experienced hard men and women; details on the South Ribble Orienteering Club web site. The other was due to be held on Waldridge Fell, near Durham but was cancelled due to the bad weather. Amended details are yet to be announced.

published: 04/02/10

Borrowdale Training Weekend, March 12-14th, 2010

Matt and Ros are planning a training weekend in the Lakes for the weekend of the 12-14th of March based at Borrowdale YHA. The plan is to run both Saturday and Sunday and there's plenty of options for runs straight out the hostel - The Scafell Range and The Newlands Fells are all nearby or, if the weather's bad, low level routes round Derwentwater.
They'd like to invite any other DFR members (and family and friends) who'd like to come along to join them for some or all of the weekend. No more plans than that at the moment, but hopefully this will be the first ever annual DFR on tour weekender. If you want to join them, book yourself in at the Borrowdale YHA and add your name to the thread on the DFR Facebook page.

published:1/12/09

London Marathon - Club Application

It is regretted that we were too late in making plans to take up the Club's affiliated club London Marathon place. Our apologies to Graham Bradshaw, who won the draw. Next year we will do better! The application needs to be in before October of the year before the race takes place. The relevent web site page is here.

published: 12/02/10

3 Peaks Yacht Race and Scottish Islands Peaks Race - A Runners Opportunity

Hi Everyone, We have received the following email from Phil Newman. This sounds an amazing opportunity and if any one, or a pair, are enthused, please contact Phil direct as detailed below.

"Apologies for contacting you out of the blue but I am looking for a couple of runners who would be interested in competing in this years 3 Peaks Yacht Race and The Scottish Islands Peaks Race.
I have a confirmed entry for the PowerBar 3 Peaks Yacht Race starting on the 19th June 2010, a fast boat and full complement of sailors, but seek a pair of runners. Experience as a team at 3 Peaks or similar racing would be an advantage but not essential, however enthusiasm, commitment and a streak of lunacy are. Ideally runners should also be available for the Scottish Islands Peaks Race starting on the 21st May 2010 as a pre-cursor to the 3 Peaks Race, this race is probably as much fun as you can have in Scotland over a long weekend with running kit on.
Entries for both races are paid for, as is the boat, accommodation therein and sailing gear, therefore cost should be minimal for runners other than any specialist scoff and kit they require plus travel expenses to and from the start/finish though may also be able to help with that.
Further details are available from Phil Newman on 01904 442639 (Daytime) or 07710103398 (Mobile)
Email: phil.newman@btinternet.com or phil.newman189@mod.uk
Kind Regards, Phil Newman
25th January, 2010"

published: 27/01/10

Hamsterley Forest 10 mile Circuit.

There will be a Club run, led by Stu Ferguson, on Saturday 30th January. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 10.00 for a 10 mile run within the forest perimeter. The circuit will be tracks, trails and some hills. Refreshments afterwards in the Café. All welcome.

published: 25/01/10

Will and Steve's Headtorch Run, January 28th, 2010

Will and Steve's January Head Torch Run will involve some urban off-roading around Aykley Heads in Durham, Thursday 28th January. Meet at 7pm to start by 7:10pm. Approx 1 hour. Meeting place: Car park next to the Durham Light Infantry museum see map. Contact: Steve Gustard (DFR), 07910 002 189 All invited. Cheers, Will & Steve.

published: 21/01/10

Cronkley Race - Did You Know?

People are recceing the circuit already, in any and all conditions. The picture here was taken on January 10th 2010. Did you know the race has been selected as a 2010 NECAA and NEHRA Fell Running Championships race? Here's hoping global warming will kick in before 27th June!

published: 17/01/10

Kielder Race Postponed

Will Horsley writes With regret I have had to postpone the Kielder race that was to be held on Saturday 16th January and it will now go ahead on Sunday 7th February. All other details concerning the race remain the same (including the start time of 1pm). Sorry for any inconvenience but in the end the decision was out of my hands. I look forward to seeing you all in February, many thanks, Will Horsley (Kielder Race Organiser). Please see original news item for race details here..

published: 13/01/10