THE usual Thursday evening meeting of Thornbury Running Club changed format last week when the club moved just a few miles along the road to support the Rockhampton Fun-Run.
It was a very warm evening for the four-mile race which ended at the old cricket club with burgers and drinks to refuel and rehydrate runners and spectators.
At the front of the field, Rob Cowlard went into the lead and remained unchallenged – something he found slightly strange – to finish as he ended the race two minutes ahead of his nearest rival in 23.25mins.
Indeed, Thornbury runners dominated the top 11 of the finishing list with Matt Johnstone coming home behind Cowlard in second place in a time of 25.42mins, while Jim Godden third (25.52mins), Rob Hopkins fourth (26.14mins), Steve Allen seventh (27.02mins) and Jim Williams ninth (28.18mins) also ran well.
Veteran Nick Langridge was 11th in 29 minutes exactly.
Jo Plumbley was first lady back for Thornbury, second lady overall, for 17th place in 29.52mins.
Other Thornbury finishers were Ross Turnbull (30.35mins), Steve Dimond (31.25mins), Kevin Cundy (32.20mins), Hugh McPherson (32.41mins), Jeremy Clothier (33.31mins), Chris Foley (33.43mins), David Flemington (35.05mins), Angela Bushell (35.15mins), Judy Mills (36.23mins), John Watt (38.07mins), Jan Gaze (38.41mins), Jo Stirrup and Mike Stirrup (both 38.55mins), Karen Carr (39.16mins) and Malcolm Carr (39.19mins), Sue Pascoe (44.41mins), Rebecca Dunsford (44.48mins), Gary Dunsford (48.28mins) and Vera Lees (51.13mins).
l Dave Flemington continued his racing week with a half-marathon at Frome on Sunday, running the 13.1 miles in two hours 6.14.4mins.
Only Little Stoke Parkrun saw any Thornbury Runners on Saturday, with Garry Slater first to finish in eighth place in 19.21mins.
Kevin Arnold, at his 53rd Parkrun, clocked 21.46mins with Kevin Cundy 22.32mins.
David Palmer ran the 5k course in 26:44 and Anne Palmer recorded the only club personal best of the day with an all-time Parkrun PB of 30.35mins.
Saturday also saw a gathering of Thornbury Running Club for a social evening, with prizes awarded for Club events.
Winner of the 5k Winter Handicap races was Rebecca Dunsford, with a ‘golden running shoe’ award.
The Helen Ralphs Trophy was awarded to Cathy Watkins.
Cross Country awards were presented to Ros Rowland (overall female winner) and Clare Watt (age-adjusted winner) and to Ashley Hodgetts (overall male) and Nick Langridge (age adjusted).
While Thornbury Running Club encourages its members to take part in races, it acknowledges that not all runners are competitive, and the regular Thursday evening meeting allows for runners to run – or even walk – at a pace to suit them.