School's old boys turn out in memory of master

4:00am Sunday 17th February 2008

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A SCHOOL'S old boys turned out in its historic cross country race for the first time in memory of their former housemaster.

Ex pupils of Barnard Castle School, in County Durham, ran the four-mile Barnard Run to raise money for research into pancreatic cancer, the disease which claimed the life of maths teacher Tony Parkinson at 44 in 2006.

The Old Barnardians joined more than 200 current students in Friday's race which has been staged every year since 1885 and is the oldest competition in the school's history.

It was started by another former pupil young rugby star Alex Tait, who plays for England Under-20s and Newcastle Falcons, who won the run in 2001 and 2003.

Rory Wood, the Old Barnardians vice-chairman, said: "This is the first time former pupils have come back to race in the Barnard Run and to do it in memory of our housemaster is extremely poignant.

Teacher Charles Alderson, who organised the 116th race, said: "We were approached by Tony Parkinson's daughter Lucy, a pupil here at Barnard Castle School, who raised the idea of supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK with sponsorship from this year's race.

"The whole school has been really enthusiastic and motivated and we're hoping that we can raise more than £5,000 towards research into this devastating disease."

Trophies were presented by Great Britain triathlon athlete and Pancreatic Cancer UK representative Dr Trace Allen, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2004.

Results: Barnard Cup for senior and intermediate boys' houses: North Yorks. Chatt Cup for senior and intermediate girls' houses: Bowes. Butterwick Charity Cup, Barney Bash, boys: Tees. Butterwick Charity Cup, Barney Bash, girls: Longfield. Geoffrey Turnbull Cup: Thea Thompson. Fred Turnbull Cup: Rachel Brown. Turnbull Shield: Katy Harrison. Ross Cup, junior girls houses: Bowes. Wilford Cup: Brett Upton. Blackett Cup: James Ingram. Lloyd Evans Cup: Josh Gibson. Junior Barnard Cup, junior boys' houses: York House & Durham House: The Ewart Tankard for Old Barnardians Nick Zissler.