Sedgefield Badminton Club currently has vacancies for new members, being experienced players over 18 years old. The club plays in the sports hall at the Hub at Sedgefield Community College on Monday nights, between 7:15pm and 9.15pm. Unfortunately, it is unable to accommodate beginners as it has no coaching facilities.

If you are interested, please contact Caroline Dalton on 07947 871005.

Sedgefield will host a major national athletics event for the first time next year. The English Cross Country Association (ECCA) has confirmed that the 2026 English National Cross Country Championships will be held in Hardwick East Park. Organised in partnership with Sedgefield Harriers and supported by Durham County Council, the championships are sponsored by SportsShoes.com and will take place on Saturday 21 February.

A local organising committee will work with ECCA and Durham County Council to deliver the event. Local venues and businesses have already stepped forward to offer support, including Sedgefield Racecourse and Hardwick Hall Hotel. The English National Cross Country Championships attracts thousands of participants and spectators every year and will bring new visitors to the area, and a boost to the hospitality economy.

Former winners of the English National Cross Country Championships include North East athletics legends Brendan Foster and Mike McLeod. One of the great aspects of the event is that anyone who is a member of a club can enter and line up on the start line alongside the elite athletes of the sport as an equal (for a few yards at least!).

Sedgefield Harriers will be hoping to field a big entry of young athletes at the Nationals next February, as the junior section of the club is thriving. The juniors recently held an awards event, celebrating effort, endeavour and great performances over the last year.

Not long before, many of the junior athletes had completed a special ‘quadrathlon’ event, which involved a sprint (50–100m), howler throw, endurance run (400–800m) and triple jump. Their results in each were assessed against a recognised national standard and they were graded from between 3 Star and Gold, as follows:
4 Star - Nieve Brownless, Matilda Hindson, Nathaniel Warnett, Chris Cooke
5 Star – Seth Morris, Emma Blakey, Maisy Stanley, Ruben Moan, Jack Churchwood, Max McArdle, Jack Shephard, Eve Brooks, Rosie Gray, Charlie Sawyer, Rowan Brown, Ella Park, Daisy Woodward

Bronze – Albie Shuffelton, Emily Swinbank, William Collins, Isaac Moan, Seb Sedgewick, Ava Foreman, Hattie Cook, Jack Sawyer, Theo Blakey, Toby Norris, Ruby Cole, Thomas Oaks, Abigail Swinbank, Alfie Featherstone, Sienna Shuffleton, Chloe Galvin-Storey, Charlotte Lower, Sophia Bellwood, Harriet McGill, Elliot Brownless, Leo McArdle

Silver - Alex Park, Mia Robinson, Amy Warwick, Kate Sedgewick, Ryley Grievson, Elise Davies, Elsie Skidmore, Lola Hunt-Fawcett, Oliver Upex, Isaac Walton, Isabelle Oaks, Cameron Hedley, Matthew Graham, Pheobe Grieveson, Isla Shuffleton, Ava White.

Other individual awards that were presented on the night included:
Time trial (over the Sedgefield junior parkrun course) Boys: 1st – Riley Grievson, 2nd – Albie Shuffleton, 3rd – Morgan Roe
Girls: 1st – Harriet McGill, 2nd equal – Phoebe Grievson and Ava White, 3rd – Elsi Skidmore
Highest age grade: Boys, Riley Grievson (75.12%)
Girls, Jess Davies (76.22%)
Most Improved Athlete
Minis: Emily Swinmbank
Juniors: Kate Sedgewick
Endurance: Chris Cooke
Athlete of the Year
Minis: Harriet Cook
Juniors: Harriet McGill
Endurance: Matthew Graham
Track Athlete of the Year – Phoebe Grievson
Cross Country Athlete of the Year – Jess Davies.

Well done to all of the award winners, and all of the junior Harriers, for a year of great progress, all made possible by their hard work, and the dedicated support of a team of volunteer coaches at the club.

It’s been a busy time again for Chi Taekwondo based at Fishburn Youth and Community Centre, with a Kup grading (belt promotion) in early July, where 20 students were successful in obtaining their next level-coloured belts ranging from 8th Kup yellow belts to 1st Kup black tags.

Also, late June saw two black belts earning promotion, Darren Mason from Aycliffe to 2nd Dan and Gemma Chapman from Sedgefield to 3rd Dan, both at a Koryo North eastern Dan grading event, with a surprise host on the grading panel - Grand Master Ian Leafe, and 8th Dan who is the CEO of British Taekwondo.

The club has also been giving small demonstrations around the area to promote Taekwondo in general, while doing small fund-raising activities for various causes. Next up is a large demonstration during Sedgefield Show on 9 August.

The club currently has over 40 students and meets for training on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6pm-7:30pm, and is open to all wishing to learn.

For more information, please contact Master Mike Britton on 07743 455065 or 07368 818372.

The fine summer weather continues to allow Sedgefield Cricket Club's teams to enjoy their seasons. 17-year-old Olly Johnson is certainly making hay in harvest season.

His maiden century in July was followed up the following week with a magnificent 166 not out for the 3rd XI away at Barnard Castle to help overcome a daunting looking opposition total of 246 in 40 overs.

This is thought to be a club record when batting second, but one record definitely made was the 1st XI's highest ever individual score, when skipper Ben Swindale hit 177 at home to Normanby Hall.

One team continuing to thrive is the boys' U13s who, as at mid-July, still have a 100% win record in the league.

They've put themselves in with a great chance of contesting the end of season championship playoffs, and we'll update you next time on how that went, along with news of how all the teams campaigns look like ending. The club remains open every weekday evening during the season and all day at weekends.

Sedgefield District Rugby Club has celebrated the end of another season in the Counties 2 division of the Durham and Northumberland League, with a family fun day, followed by the annual awards presentation. The event was held on the pitch and in the cricket clubhouse and the winners were:
Ted Wood Award - Iwan Edwards
Young Player of the Year - Jaimie Walsh
Most Improved Player - Jack Wiffen
Coach's Player - Jack Wiffen
Player of the Year - Tom Ducker
Players' Player - Gareth Pratt.

Preparation for the new season is already underway, with the club running touch rugby sessions for all genders (ages 14+) on Mondays at 7pm and full training on Thursdays at 7pm. Anyone wanting to get involved should get in touch. Keep an eye out on the club's social media channels for further updates.

Sedgefield boccia star Lee Maddison has secured a gold medal in his latest tournament - the Boccia Tatra Cup 2025, which was held in Slovakia from 18-24 June. Look out for more details in next month's sports update. For now, huge congratulations to Lee!

The Fishburn Bowls Club green is now open for the summer and residents are welcome to pop along and try the sport. The club is keen to attract new members. To find out more, contact Dave Sayers on 07970 629013.