DERWENTSIDE Athletics Club has reluctantly decided not to stage it’s 10-mile road race this year. For 21 years the Stanley-based club has hosted the popular event, but due to ever-increasing costs of traffic-management it has decided it’s no longer viable to put on the event. However, in its place on Sunday, October 21, at Tanfield School Specialist College, the club plan to promote a 3k fun run at 9.30am, followed by a 10k an hour later. The 10k is billed as a challenging Hellhole multi-terrain race on an out-and-back route, which follows the scenic C2C cycle track to Beamish, then winds its way through Beamish Hellhole Wood before returning along the cycle track by the Causey Valley. Carol Greenwood, who is now accepting postal entries for the race, said she thinks competitors will enjoy the new course, and hopes the name of the race won’t put people off entering. “It’s always sad when established races like ours has to fold,” said Greenwood. “We have struggled in recent years to make ends meet, but this time it was decided that it wasn’t practical any more. It was just far too expensive. “But we are happy to have found an alternative race which I think everyone who takes part will enjoy.” Postal entries for the Hellhole race close on October 12, though entries will be accepted on the day at a higher premium. Entries go to: Carol Greenwood, Oxford House, North Road, Stanley, Co Durham DH9 8EZ. | 
