Friday 20th December 2013Shildon & District Town Crier Issue 644 Page 1

Published at:First Floor, Town Council Offices,

Civic Hall Square, Shildon, DL4 1AH.

Telephone/Fax: 01388 775896Duty journalist: 0790 999 2731

www.shildontowncrier.comemail: crier@talk21.comof our wonderful community

Town Crier

Shildon & District At the heart

Friday 20th December 2013Issue 644

Fully archived online at www.shildontowncrier.com email us at: crier@talk21.com

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Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon, is once again hosting a Year End Toy Fair which will take place on Saturday 28th December and Sunday 29th December. The event was a new addition to Locomotion’s events programme in 2012 and, following its success, an extra day has been added in 2013. The event is organised in association with model retailers Pennine Models and Tri-angman.There will be a whole host of trade stands at the event, offering a wide range of railway modelling essentials. Stalls include new and vintage model railways, new and vintage diecast, bespoke display cabinets, vintage vehicle books and modelling accessories, including tools, paints and scenery. Specialist walkabout

characters will include figures from Star Wars and other Sci Fi depictions.“Many products will be offered at prices not to be missed – it’s the perfect place to spend your Christmas money,” said a spokesperson.Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon is a great day out, whatever the weather.Celebrating Shildon’s history as one of the first and greatest railway towns, visitors can learn about our railway heritage and see more than 70 historic vehicles from the National Collection.There are indoor and outdoor picnic area, an outdoor play area, plus a gift shop and café.For more information about events and displays at Locomotion, contact the museum on 01388 777999, or alternatively, email shildon@nrm.org.uk.

Shildon Gardens & Allotments Guild

Civic Hall Square, Shildon, DL4 1AG

Open Sunday mornings from 8.30am - 11.30am

Root Grow from £4.80Peat (75lt) £3.80

Seaweed Meal (2k) £5Sulphur Candles £5 (special purchase)

Loose Peas (½ pint) 95pMother of Earth multi-purpose compost

3 for £11Rock Dust from £2.30

Trench Fertiliser from £3.80Bone Meal from £2.15

Fish Blood & Bone from £2.15Q4 from £4.20

Nutrimate Liquid/Powder from £5.40

Shildon AFC was visited by camera crews from the BBC recently, who were filming an episode of ‘Inside Out’ to commemorate the Northern League’s 125 year anniversary. Professional player and Middlesbrough full back

George Friend visited Dean Street to interview Shildon’s manager Gary Forrest, watch a training session and to talk about local non-league football. George himself is conversant with the non-league game, having

played for the then non-league side Exeter City before signing profession-ally in 2006.When asked about his players, Gary Forrest commented that the standard of local football is far better than in previous years, saying that the players train harder and are much fitter. He went on to state that all Shildon players are now on contract, with many of them leaving the profes-sional game and joining the non-league club, as players can find themselves better off by playing local football while holding down a regular job, rather than playing professionally in the lower leagues. Many of Gary’s squad have played in the football league. In fact, four of his players have 900 profes-sional games between them, and at the highest level. The camera crew were at Shildon’s 4 -0 home win against local rivals Bishop Auckland, talking to directors and supporters. The documentary will be shown on Monday 13th January.

Toy Fair at Locomotion

BBC documentary shines the spotlight on Shildon

George Friend interviews Shildon manager Gary Forrest for BBC’s Inside Out.

Friday 20th December 2013 Shildon & District Town CrierIssue 644Page 2

Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays Congratulations

ClassifiedsAll about local people...

Town Crier Shildon & District

18th DecemberSheila Carrick

Love Geoffxxx

Happy Birthday

Sheila Carrick

Love Sarah & Brianxxx

Happy Birthday Mam18th December

Sheila Carrick

Love Ethan, Kyle & Ella

xxx

Happy Birthday Gran18th December

18th DecemberCharlie Brass

Lots of love,Mam & Dad

xx

Happy 2nd Birthday Son

18th Birthday - 16.12.13Patrick Watson

Love Mam, Dad & Christianxxx

Happy Birthday Son!

18!

17th DecemberChristopher Appleby

Love from Mam & Peterxx

Happy 21st Birthday

21!

Christopher Appleby

Love from Lesley Ann, Gareth, Jay & Alesha

xx

Happy 21st Birthday17th December

David Nettleton

Love Oliviaxx

To a special GodfatherHappy 50th ‘Uncle D’

22nd December

50!

David Nettleton

Love you so much,Zelda

xx

Happy 50th David22.12.1963

David Nettleton

Love Shirleyxx

Happy 50th Birthday David22.12.1963

20th DecemberKai Anthony Dodds

Love you so much,Lots of hugs & kisses,

Mammy & Daddyxxx

Happy 1st Birthday to our special little boy

Audrey Martin

Lots of love,Mike, Vikki, Patrick, Connor & Kayleigh

xxx

70th Birthday

70!

Connor James Bradley

Love from Mam, Dad, Kayleigh, Patrick,

Uncle Mike & Gran

Happy 10th Birthday19th December

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18.12.13Henley Gray

Lots of love,Mam, Dad & all the family

xxx

Happy 4th Birthday Son

Joe Claydon Wood

Love you loads,Grandma, Granda

& Auntie Kellyxxx

Happy 2nd Birthday to our handsome little Grandson

& Nephew

20th December

James Anthony Nash

Love Mam, Na-Na & William

Congratulations on your Graduation at RAF Halton

We are so proud of you, well done

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Friday 20th December 2013Shildon & District Town Crier Issue 644 Page 3

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This week in History

25 December 1952

The Apollo 8 spacecraft took its crew of three astronauts safely into orbit around the Moon, the first manned space mission to achieve the feat.

Millions of British and Commonwealth listeners listen to Queen Elizabeth’s first Christmas broadcast of her reign.

24 December 1968

A national newspaper published the Queen’s Christmas speech two days ahead of schedule sparking a full inves-tigation from the BBC into the leak.

December 199223

The Queen urged the Prince and Princess of Wales to seek “an early divorce”.

20 December 1995 21 December 1988

A Pan Am jumbo jet with 258 passengers on board crashed onto the town of Lockerbie near the Scottish borders.

The American superstar Madonna marries British movie director Guy Ritchie at an exclusive ceremony in the Scottish Highlands.

December 200022

Christmas Crier

The Next issue of the Town Crier will be our Christmas edition, and the last edition of 2013, to be distributed before Christmas.

The first edition of 2014 will be dated Friday 10th January.

How many do you recognise?

This photograph shows the Timothy Hackworth School Team from 1949 - 1950. How many do you recognise?Back Row - R.Bainbridge, J.Grenfell, R.Hosie, E.Ayre, B.Emmerson, H.Bainbridge, Mr.OwensFront Row - R.Marshall, B.Welburn, J.Walton, M.Patrick, V.Horan, G.Bellas, B.Abbott.

Busy Bees - Raffle winners

Christmas at Saint John’s

The Busy Bees fundraising group recently held a raffle asking “whose house does Santa visit first?”Doris Humble came 1st

St John’s Church is hosting a number of events before Christmas Day. The church will be entertained by Steven Berry on Saturday 21st December, when he will be performing popular festive songs.The concert will begin at 7pm, with a raffle taking place during the interval. Tea and mince pies will also be served. Tickets are £3 and can be purchased on the door.

after selecting the number 9, second place went to Jamie Best who picked 42 and Ann Fletcher came 3rd with the number 88.

On Sunday 22nd December a family Nativity with Communion will take place from 9.30am, while at 6pm Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will be held.A Nativity will take place on Christmas Eve, held at the Methodist Hall at 4pm and from 11pm there will be carols until midnight.Finally on Christmas Day there will be the Christmas Communion at 9.30am.

Pupils at Thornhill have enjoyed the benefits of the FEAT 1st (Families Enjoying Active Travel) project for the last 12 months. Joe Spedding, Sustrans FEAT 1st officer, works with children throughout the school to promote active and healthy lifestyles. Over the past year the school has taken part in lots of activities to encourage children and their families to leave the car behind and walk, cycle

Thornhill Primary School celebrates a year of FEAT 1st

or scoot to school.Children have enjoyed an “Active Breakfast”; a free healthy breakfast for anyone who travels to school under their own steam. Pupils have taken part in Welly Walks around the local area to highlight how easy it is for them to walk around their local community, rather than take the car. This week Joe has been running a “Be Safe, Be

Seen” session, showing the children how they can continue to walk, cycle and scoot in the dark winter nights and stay safe. Dr Bike has also been on hand as part of the project. Anyone who brought their bike into school received a free safety check and basic repairs. The FEAT 1st project is delivered by the sustainable transports charity Sustrans on behalf of Durham County Council.

Friday 20th December 2013 Shildon & District Town CrierIssue 644Page 4

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Last week saw the launch of ‘Operation Spoke’, a police-led initiative aimed at reducing bicycle theft across County Durham & Darlington.As part of Operation Spoke, Durham Constabulary will be working closely with local cycle retailers, Bik-eRegister and Immobilise.com to introduce a bicycle marking scheme to property mark and register bicycles in the area.The aim of the scheme is that every new cycle sold will be marked and registered to their new owner. Current bicycle owners can also attend their local cycle retailers, police stations and other cycle marking events to have their cycles marked and registered under the scheme.Operation Spoke offers two marking products. The first is ‘BikeRegister’ which includes four permanent stencil etching marks, unique microdots, a QR

code label and a tamper resistant ‘BikeRegister’ warning label.This kit will make it extremely difficult to remove the identity of a cycle and can be purchased at a reduced cost.Crime Prevention Officer PC David Williamson added, “This really is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wishing to protect their bicycle, a simple yet highly effective method of preventing a bike from being taken and it takes only a few minutes.”There will also be a free marking and registration product for those not wishing to pay for the ‘Bik-eRegister’ kit.All customers who sign up to the scheme will be asked to complete a registration document, details provided will then be put onto a database so that police can check the identity of cycles to identify them and to target bicycle thieves.

The officer launching the initiative, Det Supt Kevin Weir said, “The key benefit of the scheme is that should a bicycle be stolen, it will be easy to identify by police. This means a stolen bike will be easy to return to a rightful owner.“I am also hopeful the in-troduction of this scheme will be a deterrent to thieves. The message I want to send out is simple; if you are buying a new bicycle for Christmas this year or indeed into 2014, please register it with your retailer as part of Operation Spoke.“Our aim is to get as many bikes as possible registered under the scheme, reducing the opportunity for bicycle theft across our force area.”People are asked to contact their local neighbourhood policing team via 101, call at their nearest police station or cycle retailer for further information about the scheme.

Police aim to put a spoke in the wheels of bike thievesPoetry Corner

Homeward Boundby Lou Whensley, Shildon

In the early Autumn morn

Skies are blue, a grayish-fawn

Where trees are bare

Lay leaves of Gold

Ferns may quip

You look so cold

When birds take flight

For warmer climes

And nights bring sight

Of God to mind

When mums and dads

Are high in grace

Then you and I

Must take their place

I see the fear upon your face

No ifs, no buts, or when or why

Our mortal form will fade and die

Though captive soul released to fly

Homeward bound in the glint of an eye

Advertise in The Shildon & District

Town CrierContact Jeff Ridley on

(01388) 775896 or 0790 999 2731or email crier@talk21.com

Paul Bainbridge from Infinity Cycles with Assistant Chief Constable Dave Orford at the launch of Operation Spoke.

Friday 20th December 2013Shildon & District Town Crier Issue 644 Page 5

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ERIC’S Traditional Fish & Chips

Don’t forget yourTUESDAY SPECIAL2 Cod & Chips

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Residents Lily Bowden (93), Dorothy Stace (81) and Frank Toppin (background) (80) meet the panto’s star.

On Christmas Eve, Shildon Methodist Church is holding a ‘Christmas Eve Ecumenical All Age Worship’ at 4pm. This is a joint worship between the Methodist Church and St John’s and is

to be held in the Methodist Hall. A donation would be appreciated. On Christmas Day, at 10am, a Family Worship is taking place in the Methodist Church. All are welcome.

Residents at Redworth House, which is part of the Bondcare group, recently enjoyed an afternoon of entertain-ment by production company Act One.The group performed the classic pantomime, Robin Hood, which many of the residents loved, and they clapped and sang along to the songs.Based on Byerley Road, Redworth House is a purpose built care home

that provides care for 57 residents. The home predominantly offers nursing and residential care for elderly residents with dementia, but has a third unit on site that ac-commodates six residents with learning disabilities.Redworth House is part of the Bondcare Group and aims to maintain lifestyles as similar as possible to those enjoyed at home, with an extensive range of activities which

individuals can enjoy and benefit from.Joan McNeil, Manager at Redworth House, said, “We like to organise lots of stimulating enter-tainment and activities for our residents and the pantomime provided an afternoon of great entertainment. “It was fantastic to see the residents joining in with the performers and they thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.”

Bins will be emptied as normal, up to and including, Tuesday 24th December.Over Christmas and New year the following changes will apply; If your bins are collected on:• Tuesdays - collections

will run as normal on Tuesday 24th December and 31st December.

• Wednesdays - the revised collection days are Friday 27th December and Thursday 2nd January.

• Thursdays - the revised collection days are

Saturday 28th December and Friday 3rd January.

• Fridays - the revised collection days are Monday 30th December and Saturday 4th January.

There will be no bulky waste (large item) collections between Monday 23rd December and Friday 3rd January 2014.For Christmas tree recycling take your real Christmas tree to any Household Waste Recycling Centre, or if you would like it collected you

Christmas bin collectionscan do so by contacting Durham County Council on 03000 261 000 before 6th January 2014 to make ar-rangements. Normal collections will resume from Tuesday 7th January 2014. To check your normal collection day enter your postcode into the ‘My Durham’ facility on the left hand side of the Durham County Council website: www.durham.gov.uk and for further details on Durham County Council’s Christmas service visit www.durham.gov.uk/festive.

Care home residents enjoy panto - oh yes they did!

Santa will be visiting Shildon Town Square on Monday 23rd December, from 11am to 1pm. Be sure to visit him with your letters!

Visit from SantaHe will also be touring the town on his sleigh from 5pm on Christmas Eve, so don’t forget to watch out for him and give him a wave!

4 seater taxi availablefor local runs and nights out.

We look forward to your custom.

Contact01388 77893907895 789158

Andy’s Cabs would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas

AnDY’S CAbS

Ecumenical Worship

A Carol Service will be taking place at the Salvation Army on Cross Street on Sunday 22nd

December, from 6pm.The Christmas Day Service will take place at 10am.

Carol Service

Shildon AFC Supporters’ Club Lotto was drawn on Sunday 15th December. The six numbers out of the hat were: 3, 5, 6, 11, 15 and 16.There was no winner of the jackpot prize, so it rolls over to £500 with the next draw taking place during Super Santa Sunday at Shildon Civic Hall.The consolation prize of £25 was won by Ritchie Austin of Shildon.Remember that this week there is an special extra draw taking place for anyone who buys their lotto ticket during Super Santa Sunday. One lucky winner will ‘ho ho ho’ all the way home with a guaranteed cash prize of £200.“So if you play regularly, why not wait until Super Santa Sunday to buy your lotto ticket and double your chances of going home with

Lotto rollovera sackful of cash,” said a spokesperson.Tickets for Super Santa Sunday, which takes place from 2.30pm to 8pm, are £5 and can be purchased on the door. The club also hopes most people will wear a Santa costume!For all who can't make the event, lottery tickets are on sale at the usual outlets, but Paypal tickets are only valid if bought before 3pm on Sunday 22nd December.The Supporters’ Club’s coach to the team’s away game at Celtic Nation on Saturday 21st December will leave Dean Street at 10am and not 10.30am as previously advertised.The Supporters’ Club would like to thank all the businesses for their support during the year and would like to wish everyone the compliments of the season.

Friday 20th December 2013 Shildon & District Town CrierIssue 644Page 6

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How to contact us:By email or online:crier@talk21.com or www.shildontowncrier.comBy post or in person:Town Crier, First Floor, Town Council Offices, Civic Hall Square, Shildon. DL4 1AH.By telephone or voicemail:(01388) 775896 or 07909 992 731.Leave items for the paper at:Our offices, Civic Hall Square.How to advertise:We can design an eye catching advert tailored to your specific needs. A breakdown of costs is available online at www.shildontowncrier.com.The Shildon & District Town Crier is delivered free of charge to homes and businesses in Shildon, Middridge, Eldon, Eldon Lane and Redworth.

of our wonderful community

Town Crier Shildon & District At the heart

Durham County Council’s customer access points and most council buildings will be closed over the Christmas and New Year holidays. They will close at 12.45pm on Christmas Eve and re-open on Thursday 2nd January.In the event of an emergency, you can still

contact the council on 03000 260 000 or use the 24/7 automated payments line on 0845 835 0120. A range of issues can also be reported to us by logging on to www.durham.gov.uk.Leisure centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and will close at 4pm

Christmas opening hours for council buildings

on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Libraries will be closed over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Those facilities normally open on Tuesday (Christmas Eve) will close at 12.45pm with normal opening hours resuming from 2nd January.Adult day centres will be closed on Bank Holidays but open as normal on all other days.

Town Crier

Shildon & District

CLASSIFIED FORM:

Post or hand this form into:3-4 First Floor Offices, Town Council Building, Civic Hall Square, Shildon, DL4 1AH.

OCCASION: (Please tick) Birthday Obituary Anniversary For Sale Birth To Let Congratulations Services Appreciations Other (state): Memoriam .....................

Number of separate messages:..............Message(s): Please write in clear BLOCK CAPITALS and continue on a separate piece of paper if necessary

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Total number of words = ............Photograph included? (£6) Yes No(if yes, please include a stamped addressed envelope if you would like your picture returning)

Amount (x35p): ..........................Total: ..........................................Name: ........................................................................................Address: ........................................................................................................................................................................................Contact number: ........................................................................

Thursday 12th December saw the town’s three primary schools assisting the staff at Morrison’s Shildon, as well as repre-sentatives from Age UK, in a national bag packing event held by the store in aid of ITV's Text Santa appeal. Staff and volunteers from the local Age UK branch gave out information, advice and support as well as promoting their ‘Come Dine With Us’ events. The school children and staff raised £261.95 for the appeal, which will be combined with amounts raised in all stores. The grand total will be announced on the live Text Santa show on ITV on Friday 20th December.Look out for two of the Shildon Morrison’s staff, who will be guests in the audience of the live show. Chris Stokoe, Checkout

Supervisor at Shildon said, “On behalf of the management and staff, I would like to thank the children and staff from Thornhill, St John’s and Timothy Hackworth Primary Schools, the staff from Age UK, and the store’s customers for their

Schools support Text Santa appeal

kind giving and support.“All monies raised for the Text Santa appeal will be distributed between the Text Santa charities which are, Barnardos, Age UK, CLIC Sargent, Beat Bullying, Help The Hospices and The British Heart Foundation”.

Text Santa is ITV’s annual charity fundraiser appeal, raising money and awareness for six UK based charities.

Friday 20th December 2013Shildon & District Town Crier Issue 644 Page 7

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Trading standards officers are hoping their ‘twelve days of Christmas’ will be a big hit with festive shoppers.The alternative to the traditional ‘twelve days’ is packed with top tips on avoiding pitfalls when buying those last minute gifts, both online and in the high street.They include a “ten labels leaping” warning to make sure any branded designer clothes are not counterfeit, “five winning gold rings” about not being conned by prize draws or lotteries and even a “panto that does not exist”, making sure any tickets you purchase as gifts are genuine.The tips also cover advice on credit card protection and avoiding loan sharks.Joanne Waller, head of environment, health and consumer protection at Durham County Council said, “This is a traditional time of year for busy high streets and floods of online orders, but it is not always the season of goodwill for shoppers, as they could get tangled up in scams and rip-offs.“These twelve shopping tips of Christmas are a timely reminder of how to have a happy time and not be caught out.”The twelve tips of Christmas are:•12 Junk Emails Spamming

- look out for ‘phishing’ emails that request information and never go to a website from a link in

an email to enter personal details.

•11 Viruses Infecting – when shopping online, make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date so you are protected.

•10 Labels Leaping - make sure that branded designer clothes and gifts are genuine and from a legitimate supplier by checking them out on www.brand-i.org.

•9 Credit Cards Protecting - using a credit card on items over £100 will give you extra protection against your credit card provider if things go wrong.

•8 Mittens Fraying – you have a right to a refund when goods are faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose, but shops do not have a legal obligation to accept the return of unwanted goods that are not faulty. A gift receipt could save your blushes!

•7 Savers Saving – set up a savings account with a recognised bank or credit union. Christmas can be very expensive, so don’t be tempted to pay for Christmas by short term loans. Do not fall victim to loan sharks, report them to 0300 555 2222.

•6 Children Playing - only buy toys from a reputable seller. Toys purchased from abroad or online may not meet the same standards that are required by law in the EU.

•5 (Winning) Gold Rings - don’t get conned by ‘prize

draws’ or ‘lotteries’, they are not what they seem and claiming your prize could be incredibly costly. Report scams to www.actionfraud.police.uk.

•4 Calling Cowboys - don’t be tempted to have ‘cheap’ repairs carried out as it could end up costing you more in the long run. Visit www.durham.gov.uk/registeredtraders for a list of reputable traders in County Durham.

•3 French Perfume Rip-offs - they have exactly the same designer name, almost the identical bottle, label and box as well as a similar fragrance. Make sure you check the overall packaging quality and use of logos though.

•2 Pirate DVDs - pirate DVDs are often poor quality, which will result in unhappy viewing. Furthermore, your money may be funding other criminal activity so always buy the genuine article.

•And a Panto that doesn’t exist! - when buying tickets for an event, make sure you’re getting genuine tickets. Use a reputable website if buying online.

If you’ve experienced issues with any of these problems, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0845 404 0506.Further advice to consider when shopping online is also available by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/on-lineshopping.

The twelve shopping tips of Christmas

There’s still time to make sure your special wish list reaches the North Pole in time for Christmas, by posting your letter in Santa’s specially installed post box outside the Town Council Offices in Civic Hall Square, Shildon. Letters can be posted until

Monday 23rd December (weekdays) between 9.30am and 3.30pm.“Santa cannot reply to all the letters individually because, as you know, he is very busy working with his Elves to get ready for Christmas,” said a Council spokesperson.

Still time to post letters to Santa!

Children can post their letters to Santa in this special Post Box.

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Friday 20th December 2013 Shildon & District Town CrierIssue 644Page 8

SportLocal leagues, competitions and events...

Club is boxing clever thanks to fund

Members of the AAP handed over a cheque to the club and Andrew Walker, AAP co-ordinator, is pictured (Front right).

Shildon Amateur Boxing Club is celebrating success in securing a £1,520 Community Grant from Bishop Auckland and Shildon Area Action Partnership.

The grant will pay for a new boxing ring canvas and will replace the gym carpet. The new equipment will ensure the young people get the chance to

train regularly in a safe environment. The club has produced over 100 national finalists as well as national and Great Britain Three Nations champions this year.

Shildon Sprints group were back in action this week as they attempted to replicate ‘The Hunger Games’. Sheffield’s E.I.S was their arena and boy did they catch fire! U13 girls Rachel Bennett and Maddie Wells ran personal best performanc-es in both the 60m and 150m events. The times recorded took the girls to current season U.K no.1 and no.2 in both events, fantastic achieve-ments for the girls. In the u15 girls Jade Hepple continues to progress as she also ran a pb in the 60m, slicing 0.25s from her previous best time. Jade also competed in the long jump where she also recorded a new pb, soaring out to 4.15m. Meanwhile, the clubs 400m runners were using the event as a hard training

session and competed in the 600m event followed by a competitive 300m.Georgia Hirst ran season bests in the 600m and 300m, Scott Michael ran two personal bests. With both athletes’ training now moving on in intensity they will be conducting an all-out assault on these times over the indoor season.The NE Cross Country Championships also took place last week and Shildon athletes showed up in good form. Junior man Cameron Boyek highlighted his fine form by adding the North East title to the Scottish 4k xc title won in November. Cameron dominated the race to win by almost a minute. The u13 boys were represented by Ryan Watson, who finished 16th in 12m 46s. Ethan Edwards

completed the u15b course in 15m 33s to earn 23rd position with Harrison Dalglish completing in 17m 09s. The u15g race saw Lizzie Cramb continue to impress as she finished 5th in 16m 40s. Shannon Ross flew the flag for the u17w as she 25m 13s while Elizabeth Wood (21m 29s) finished 10th in the junior women’s race. Meg Gibson ran a fine race in the u13g categorym, finishing in 38th position (15m 02s).Shildon Running & Athletic club is open to anyone from the age of 8 upwards. If you are interested in joining the club, go along for a free try out session. For details of club nights and times to suit your age group check out www.Shildonrunning.co.uk or email secretary@shildon-running.co.uk.

Shildon AFC back to top of the League

Friday 13th wasn’t unlucky for the Railwaymen, when they entertained local rivals Bishop Auckland.A big crowd witnessed a good 4 – 0 victory, putting Shildon back at the top of the league, one point above Celtic Nation who they play away on Saturday 21st December - a six pointer.Bishops were the better side early on, nevertheless they went behind on 40 minutes when a free-kick was headed on by Jamie Harwood to Paul Connor, who turned his man and scored a cracking goal, blasting the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.Half Time: Shildon AFC 1 Bishop Auckland 0.After Bishops had missed a couple of chances, they went further behind when Mark Doninger hit a great right foot shot from the edge of the box, which took a slight deflection over

keeper Scott Pocklington.It was 3 – 0 on 74 minutes when Doninger scored his 2nd of the night with a left foot blaster into the top corner.Near the end Lee Scroggins dispossessed defender Chris Lawson for his shot to be parred out by keeper Pocklington for an easy tap in for Paul Connor.Final Score: Shildon AFC 4 Bishop Auckland 0.Goalscorers: Connor 40, 81, Doninger 57, 74.Man-of-the-Match: Darren Craddock, with Carl Jones a close 2nd.A spokesperson for Shildon commented, “A good team performance, as Bishops are a good side”. “Early on they looked threatening but tonight we were able to put away our chances, and if you can do that you win games. “The first goal settled the team down, and in the 2nd half we were in control.”

Shildon RAC on top form SHILDON AFCUPCOMING FIxtUreS

Saturday 21st DecemberAway v Celtic Nation FC

Thursday 26th DecemberHome v Spennymoor Town

1:00pm K.O.

Saturday 28th DecemberHome v Penrith

Wednesday 8th JanuaryHome v Seaham Red Star

(Durham Challenge Cup 2nd Round)

Saturday 11th JanuaryAway v Consett

Saturday 18th JanuaryAway v Whitley BaySaturday 25th January

Away v Team Northumbria