The 2024/25 Durham & Cleveland League season turned out to be one of the most successful ever for the senior teams at Sedgefield Squash Club. The 1st team started the last round of matches top of their division by one point.

After some dramatic twists and turns during the final evening’s matches, the team finished in second place by just a point to Yarm. Meanwhile, the 2nd team finished runners up in Division 2, securing promotion to the top division next season. The club is looking forward to the fierce competition, rivalry and banter between its two teams in the top division.

The 3rd team led Division 3 virtually from day one and comfortably finished champions. And the 4th team was again involved in a dramatic last match, having to secure 10 points against Darlington to win Division 4.

They delivered on this challenge, securing top spot, and promotion for next season. The 5th team used 19 players across the season, giving opportunities to introduce players to compete in the league. They achieved some memorable results.

Sedgefield’s ladies’ team, by their high standards, had an average season, finishing fourth in the Ladies Division. This is still a great achievement, given some of the larger clubs in the area are not able to field a ladies’ team at all.

Congratulations to the team captains, all of the players, and other volunteers and spectators who have combined to make this happen.

The Sedgefield Squash Club Championships will take place from the end of April, with the finals being held on 8 and 9 May.

A reminder to all members that the club is holding its AGM in the Swinhoe Room at Ceddesfeld Hall on Monday 19 May at 7:45pm.

If you would like to get involved in squash or racket ball, you can contact the club at info@sedgefieldsquashclub.co.uk.

Easter weekend saw the local 2025 cricket season get underway, and Sedgefield Cricket Club’s senior 1st and 2nd XI teams went through the first round of fixtures unbeaten after drawing their opening games.

Throughout the season, senior home matches are now being live streamed online - to follow the action on your device, go to www.youtube.com/@SedgefieldCricketClubLive.

May sees the club's junior sides begin their campaigns, along with The Winkers, who are once again targeting cricket and bar domination in the North East Social Cricket League.

With the club bar now open every evening and all day at the weekend, showing all major televised sport, Sedgefield Cricket Club is looking forward to welcoming many residents over the summer. The club is open to both members and non-members, but if you are interested in a discount on your drinks prices, membership costs only £16 for 2025.

Last month’s update included a photo of Sedgefield boccia star Lee Maddison, but there wasn’t room for more details. The image was taken in Antrim, Northern Ireland, where Lee was competing in the UK four nations competition.

He won every game convincingly until the final match, which he lost by a narrow margin. In securing second place, Lee brought home another trophy. Lee was again grateful to his ramp assistant Chris Foster for his hard work.

It's been a busy start to the year for Fishburn Chi Taekwondo at Fishburn Youth and Community Centre, with a Kup grading (belt promotion) in early March, when 16 students were successful in obtaining their next level-coloured belts.

Also, students took part in a British Taekwondo sparring competition at Newton Aycliffe leisure centre, where Haydem Ali from Sedgefield won a medal in his weight category, fighting for the first time. At the time of writing this, the club is busy practicing for an in house poomsae (pattern) competition at the end of April and getting prepared for a demonstration at the Mediaeval Fayre, followed by a Taekwondo workshop in Ceddesfeld Hall grounds.

Taekwondo is a martial art for everyone and contrary to popular belief, young people who study it do not spend their time looking for a chance to show off their skills and what they know. Instead, in realising their capabilities, they search to avoid conflict at all costs. The serious atmosphere in which classes are conducted instils a sense of respect for the art in all students, young and old.

Fishburn Chi Taekwondo Club is continuing to grow, with over 40 students now meeting every Tuesday and Thursday night, from 6pm to 7:30pm. If interested in giving the sport a go, please contact: Mike Britton on 07743455065 or 07368818372. All instructors are DBS checked and Kukkiwon certified.

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.

Sedgefield Harriers held its annual dinner and awards night in March. The club is 20 years old in 2025 and the event kicked off the celebrations of this milestone.

Harriers’ chair, Sue Dobson, welcomed guests and thanked all who had been involved in organising and coordinating the night. During the evening, the 2024 annual awards were presented, in a range of categories:
Newcomer - Graham Price
Track and field - Frances Malcolm
Cross country - Chris Lines
Volunteer - David Graham
Club runner - Sadie Abel
Individual performance - Sadie Abel
Endurance - Rosie Warnett.
The Club Member of the Year award is now the Ali Horton Trophy, in memory of member Ali Horton. The trophy was presented to Beth Raine by Ali's sister Claire, a special guest at the event.

Other awards presented on the night included those for the monthly Time Trials and performances in a series of Grand Prix races during the year. The Time Trial winners were Jessie Davies (female overall), Lisa Darby (fastest female), Paul Cowell (male overall), Mark Raine (fastest male), and Peter Milburn (highest age graded percentage).

The female Grand Prix winners were Rosie Warnett (overall), Sadie Abel (senior), Rosie Warnett (V40), Jane Spink (V45), Marie Walker (V50), Sue Dobson (V55), Trina Price (V60), and Susan Milburn (V65).

The male Grand Prix winners were Justin Cox (overall), Rory Letts (U18), Aidan Maloney (senior), Andrew Featherstone (V40), Declan Munnelly (V45), Justin Cox (V50), David Walker (V55), and Peter Milburn (V60).

The club is grateful to all of the individuals and businesses who donated prizes for the event raffle, including From Loft to Loved, Aubergine Café, The Herd & Herb, and Back of Beyond Bookshop. The raffle raised £500 for Cancer Research UK.

Sedgefield Harriers will once again host the popular Neptune Relays event, on Wednesday 30th April. Held in Hardwick Park, the event features races of four stages of approximately 1.7 miles each on a course around the park, starting and finishing in the temple field. There will be a staggered start to the relays, with the men’s teams (including veteran categories) setting off at 6:45pm and all other teams starting at 6:55pm.

There will be trophies – and the traditional prizes of fruit – in numerous senior and junior categories, including one for nonclub runners. The entry fee per team is £16 for club/affiliated teams and £18 for unaffiliated teams. Entry is on the night only, with registration opening at 5:00pm at the visitors’ centre.

For more details about the event, contact secretary@sedgefieldharriers.co.uk..