THE SECOND Gloucestershire Cross Country League event took place on Saturday with the Malvern Hills bathed in warm autumnal sun.

The course comprises of a number of technical sections plus two noticeable climbs, one taking runners from the bottom to the top of the course and the second a sustained effort to the finish line, a classic course.

The women were out first, with five Dursley runners on the start line. Holly Gardner led for the team in her debut race, while Deb Peake ran well to finish 14th in her category on her debut, with Alice Lewis first FV55 and Margaret Johnson ninth VF45.

Once into the race Johnson led Lewis around the course with Gardner ahead of them. There was little variation in the distance between Johnson and Lewis, showing good pace judgement.

Gardner finished in 32.25mins for 50th place.

In the senior men’s race, Dan Anderson lifted himself up a place from last year, followed in by Brad Johnson.

After a slow start by Johnson, Rich Shirley was distressed as Johnson passed him on the last lap. Andrew Truswell, Gareth Bradbury and Dave Durden ran together for the first lap-and-a-half.

Durden then broke away only for Truswell to catch him on the last long ascent. Durden worked hard to keep Truswell behind, crossing the line a mere three seconds ahead.

Dursley Running Club’s Lanterne Rouges were Erica Fuller and Roly Hobbs who both put in great efforts on a very demanding course.

Results Senior Women: Holly Gardner 50th 32:25; Margaret Johnson 58th 33:24 (9th FV45);Alice Lewis 60th 33:42 (1st FV55) Deb Peake 73rd 35:06 (14th FV35) Erica Fuller 110th 38:33 (16th FV45);Senior Men: Dan Anderson 20th 37:53:Brad Johnson 62nd 41:37; Rich Shirley 68th 42:05; Dave Durden 82nd 43:10 (9th MV50); Andrew Truswell 84th 43:14; Gareth Bradbury 103rd 44:23; Mark Brasier 120th 45:56; Tony Wooldridge 121st 46:08 (2nd MV60); Roly Hobbs 191st 59:20 (8th MV65). Teams: Dursley Senior Men 10th of 17 teams; Masters 13th of 22; Ladies Masters 10th of 23 teams.

Also on Saturday, Gloucester’s Kingsway Park saw 14 Dursley Runners finishing their parkruns, with a raft of personal bests starting with Jo Ball who continues his development as an athlete by finishing tenth in 20.51mins.

He was joined by Shona Darley, Richard Hensman, Karen Eadon and Deb Macfarland all achieving parkrun personal bests.

Macfarland was another runner who had completed the Stroud Half last weekend with an amazing achievement of finishing in three hours 33.33mins!

Results: Jo Ball 10th 20:51;Neil Malpass 31st 23:59 (MV50); Shona Darley 49th 25:20(PB);Antony Ball 52nd 25:23 (6th MV45); Richard Hensman 58th 25:52(PB); Paul Lewington 59th 25:53(1st MV55); Becky Court 81st 27:23(4th WV35); Nicki Cowle 89th 28:51;Nicola Evered 98th 39:19(3rd VW50); Lousie Biddell 99th 29:22 (5th VW35); Sally Williams 112th 30:27;Karen Eadon 117th 30:54(PB);Nicki Grant 157th3:5; Deb Macfarland 166th 36:27.

Carolyn Thraves ran the Nightingale Nightmare 10k at Leigh Woods, Bristol, on the Sunday finishing in one hour 04.30mins, while, at the Weston Grand Pier Half Marathon, Emma Denton was third woman and 34th overall in a time of one hour 33.16mins.