Race Date: Saturday 21st December 2025
A Festive Finale
Introduction
The annual McTaggart Trot Relay closed this year’s racing calendar in fine style. Known for its camaraderie and tradition of fancy dress, this event delivered all the fun expected as well as a race for those wanting more than ‘just a run’.
It’s a road race equivalent of cycling’s team pursuit – all three runners in all the teams run the first 5km loop. One steps out at 5km, and two continue round the loop for a second time. At 10km the second runner of each team drops out and only the third runner, and likely fastest, completes the third circuit.
Team Selection Issues
In the hour or so before the race start, organisers scrambled to finalise teams amid the flurry of late entries and (anticipated) withdrawals. My work was done more easily, needing to put myself into a team to replace a DNS and to explain to colleagues how to get a long run-out when only down for one leg. Of our 15 entrants none had asked to run only one leg, which meant I had to disappoint five people by ‘volunteering’ them instead. (What you do is step out as directed at the turnaround point, slip round the back, put the turbochargers on for 20 metres to catch up with the rest of the team, and then keep out of the way when returning so as not to confuse the timekeepers.)
Most of the 98 teams went with the same plan – fastest runners on the last leg.
Raceday Highlights
The format once again proved popular, with a near sell-out on the Sunday before Christmas. Those who came to race wore festive lycra, while those here to run wore antlers, jingle bells or inflatable suits. (I wore a ‘one size fits no-one Santa suit’, and carried a couple of Advent calendars round with me, offering chocolates to runners as mid-race fuel.)
With the race being on open, but very quiet, roads, teams set off at intervals maintaining a competitive but friendly atmosphere. The mixed ability format meant that every runner played a vital role, and the staggered start kept us guessing where we were placed in the standings; first to cross the finish line would not necessarily be the overall winners!
Cakes and Charity
The race raises funds for St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington – the event had a surplus of over £4,600 this year, from race entry fees and the cake stall donations. (The lemon drizzle was superb.)
Youthful Winners
The fastest team comprised three Juniors from Darlington Harriers & Durham Schools, running as ‘the mulled winers’ despite being under-age. James Callaghan, Daniel Callaghan and Matthew Foster completed the three laps / 9.3 miles in 00:57:21.
The first Teesdale Athletic Club team (The Tree Amigos), of Michael Dolderson, Jack Wheeler and Rhys Foster, finished in 01:04:16.
The first all-female team, Dinsdale Divas, Sasha Patterson, Charlotte Owens and Matilda Owens (also of Darlington Harriers, and also all Juniors) finished in 01:19:50.
I think I was the only Steel City Strider taking part. I led leg 2 for the Feliz Navi Dads, completing my leg in 00:25:16, and 10km in 00:51:04. We finished in 35th place with a total time elapsed of 01:15:57.
Conclusion
With its inherent laughter and friendly competition, the McTaggart Trot Relay capped off the year in style. Despite some headaches over team selection, the event was a resounding success and a fitting finish to the racing year.
