VISION & VALUES
Orchard Eagles Running Club is a welcoming, friendly and inclusive running club, which embraces runners of all abilities
- We support and encourage each other to achieve our goals in a healthy, positive way, empowering runners to challenge themselves.
- We celebrate and value all individual and team achievements and love to cheer each other on in person, online, at club and in events.
- We are a family: we are there for each other through good and bad times, offering a helping hand and encouraging words.
- We are passionate about running and making club sessions fun and motivational. Organised runs include a mix of speed, hills and distance, as well as varying routes with road and trail to keep things interesting.
- We learn and grow through our shared experience and leave no runner behind. We inspire each other.
HOW IT STARTED
Our History
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow
Back in April 2014, Sean became a qualified Running Group Leader. In the following July – July 23rd to be precise – Orchard Eagles Running Club was born! With its founding members – Sean, Michelle, Dawn, Neil, Dave, Mike, Jayne, Nat and Rachel – the club’s journey had begun.
Back in those early days, training sessions started at Allen’s West during the winter and then moved to the Oakwood Centre for the summer months. The very first official race that members took part in was the Middlesbrough 10k on August 31st 2014. In October of the same year, members also took part in Redcar Half Marathon. Then, shortly after, in December, Rachel became the second leader in the club. In the summer of 2015, an article about Orchard Eagles featured in Runner’s World magazine. Then finally, by autumn of that year, Orchard Eagles became an affiliated club and an official board was formed.
Since then, OERC has continued to grow and reach new heights, thriving due to Sean’s fundamental beliefs in inclusivity, support and friendship. Michelle, and then Anita, joined the leaders’ team, with more soon to follow due to the ever-increasing member base! Starting locations of runs expanded to include a move to Orchard Community Centre and The Eagle, and trail running began to thrive.
In August 2016, the very first cohort of ‘Beginners’ graduated by completing a non-stop 5k run. The success of this course meant that it is now held on an annual basis and is always in high demand with abundant positive feedback received throughout.
Many members thoroughly enjoy weekly parkruns, and Saturdays are regular meet ups at local events. In July 2018, the OERC took over the Tees Barrage parkrun, providing marshals throughout the course, with participants representing the club at its finest.
Over the years, a number of running events have made regular appearances in the Orchard Eagles’ race calendar. These include the ‘Boro’ (formerly known as the Ali Brownlee) 5k and 10k, The Loftus Poultry Run and The Yorkshire Marathon. The club is frequently well-represented at the Hardmoors events, be it the 26.2 series or the ultramarathons.
During the recent pandemic, OERC continued to thrive and support its members by adapting to the changing national picture. A variety of activities kept members motivated throughout this challenging time.
So, what’s next?
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
WHERE WE ARE
Our Meeting Locations
Locations:
Our club sessions start from various locations. Please check for more detail on the BookFit app.
Our bigger meet ups often start from the carpark behind Eaglescliffe Community Centre at Orchard shops, Stockton-on-Tees.
Times:
Our sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Please check the BookFit app for more details.
