Kielder Dark Skies 2023

This weekend saw the annual Kielder Dark Skies runs hosted by Trail Outlaws which is a very popular series of trail races. The event was the first time since 2019 that the race weekend has been able to happen so we had lots of Heaton representation and success to bring back to Newcastle.

The Trail Outlaws Kielder Dark Skies event is hosted on the weekend before the clocks change to ensure dark skies mid race with all events starting at dusk and finishing in pitch black at the Hawkhirst Scout Camp. There are 3 trail races in total on 3 different nights across the weekend which all have a large amount of elevation difference and mandatory kit requirement. To start the weekend there is a 10 mile race around the Bull Crag peninsula on the Friday evening, a full marathon around the circumference of Kielder reservoir on the Saturday night and finally a 14 miler on the Sunday night. It is very unique running experience racing in pitch black with no artificial light except for your head torch under some of the darkest skies in Europe. The races also have an indoor finish with the finish line being the threshold of a scout hut which just adds to the uniqueness of the event.

Heaton had 3 harriers running the 10 miler on Friday night. Well done to Vicki Addison (1:36:19) who was first home for the club and 1st in the V50 age category. A great confidence boast before your two marathons next month Vicki! Eleanor Walker (1:40:40) was next home followed 20 seconds behind by Lauren Morgan (1:41:00). Well done ladies. Some great running on a challenging course.

On the Saturday night we had one sole representative running the full marathon. Huge kudos should go to Lee Daglish (4:05) who came home in 16th position overall after also running the British Cross Country Masters Championships earlier the same day! That is some commitment to running Lee. Well done. You deserve a rest after that!

Sunday night saw 10 Harriers run the 14 miler with 9 finishing in the top 50. Massive congratulations to David Young for winning the race in 1:38:44, a full 3 minutes ahead of former Heaton Harrier Mark Banks. Not far behind David and Mark and despite making a few wrong turns in the dark was Bryan Ankers in 4th place overall in a time of 1:50:24.

Further success came from Ellie Reed, fresh from her V35 victory the day before at the British Masters Cross Country Championships, by being the 1st female home and in 7th place overall in a time of 1:51:48 again after a few wrong turns.
Heaton also picked up 2nd female from club vice captain Laura Percy in a time of 1:59:57. Well done ladies.

And finally we had further success with an age category win for Elaine Waters (2:10:50) picking up 1st in the V60 age category. More impressively, Elaine also beat the 1st place V60 male as well! Great running Elaine, you’ve deserved that holiday which you failed to mention to everyone several times.

Huge thanks should also go to our very own Joe Coyne who worked the full weekend providing essential medical cover, cycling behind the last runners in some long testing conditions ensuring everyone was safe in some of the remotest parts of the country. We also got to use the VIP area before the race on Sunday night which was very welcomed by all the Heaton runners. Thank you.

Full Heaton results below: