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!

Sedgefield Harriers will host the Summer Handicap for the Gerry Kearsley Memorial Trophy on Thursday 24 July. Starting and finishing at Bishop Middleham Village Hall, the race is about six miles long and follows a well-marked, two-lap, multi-terrain route on trails and old railway routes. Marshals will be out around the course to keep everyone right. Entry is on the night only, with registration opening at 5:15pm and the first runners setting off at 6:30pm.

Each participant’s handicap is based on their fastest 10K time from the previous 12 months, working back from 60 minutes. A runner who has a 10K time of 60 minutes will have no handicap and will start at 6:30pm. A runner who has a 10K time of 45 minutes will have a handicap of 15 minutes and will start at 6:45pm. This format leads to some exciting racing, with most athletes finishing within a few minutes of each other. The overall trophy will be awarded to the first runner back, not the fastest, though there will be other category prizes. Entry is free for those who are members of affiliated clubs and £2 for everyone else. The minimum age to take part is 15.

Find out more about the event at facebook.com/sedgefieldharriers or www.sedgefieldharriers.co.uk.

For the first time in its history, Sedgefield Squash Club has introduced an Honorary Lifetime Member award and this has gone to Kevin Heyhurst, who has recently resigned as treasurer after many years involvement with the club. Kevin started to play when the building was situated at Sands Hall back in the mid 1970s and has had an active involvement as a player and on the committee ever since. The club thanks him for all his loyal service - he will be a big miss.

Normally, the summer would mean a rest from competitive squash for most players, but the introduction of the new Match Point series has meant that the club has players in action throughout the closed season. Sedgefield 1st Team player and junior coach, Oliver Walls, won the recent A Event tournament hosted by the Northern Club in Newcastle. Other events are taking place in Yarm, Sunderland and Pontefract during the summer and the club wishes its players the best of luck at these upcoming competitions.

The club hosted some taster sessions for Northfield School and Sports College at the beginning of June. Sedgefield was approached by the school to provide some enrichment days for its Year 10 pupils. The club provided courts, equipment and an England Squash qualified coach for the sessions, which were very well received. The club hopes to do more of this type of work in the future, to introduce juniors to the sport. Sedgefield Squash Club is currently planning for a summer family fun day for members and friends of the club on the afternoon of 2 August, in Ceddesfeld Hall and grounds. This will include a bouncy castle, face painting and various physical activities. The bar will be open; bring your own food along. More details will be available on the club’s social media in the coming weeks.

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

By the start of July, the 2025 cricket season reaches its halfway point. Sedgefield Cricket Club’s 1st and 2nd XI teams are holding their own in their league divisions, with the 3rd XI providing valuable development opportunities for many of the juniors in their Sunday league.

The junior teams are all performing well, with perhaps the boys’ U13 side standing out the most, having won all their league fixtures up to the third week of June, and maybe showing early signs of emulating the hugely successful U17 team from a couple of years back. The production line of great junior sides does not happen by chance, and planning is constantly underway to develop the next crop of youngsters, beginning with the 5-8 year-old All Stars now training on Friday evenings. But each season sees new age group sides who need support and the club would love to hear from any parents who'd consider helping out with running those teams from next season.

The cricket club is a great place to socialise, whether with the family or friends, to watch the cricket or televised sport, have a game of darts, enjoy a wide choice of drinks at the bar, or however else you want to make the most of the good weather.

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.

Blade Taekwondo GBR is based just along the road from Sedgefield in Bishop Middleham Village Hall, and recently hosted a Kup Grading Promotion Test for students to gain their next belts. In total, 12 students took part in the grading, with the rest working towards the next one later this year, as well as a Black Belt Dan grading in Bradford in November.

All students passed the grading exam and the club now has plenty of higher grades, including those getting closer to black belt level. Darcee Brown, who has been with Blade since last year, also achieved the best of grade trophy for her amazing efforts. She was very pleased with her belt, trophy, and herself!

Blade runs classes every Monday at 7pm and Saturday at 10am, in Bishop Middleham Village Hall, and accepts members from the age of six. If you are interested in taking up taekwondo, please contact lead instructor and GB athlete Corey on 07923 951681 or bladetaekwondogbr@gmail.com.

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.