THORNBURY Running Club’s Kevin Arnold set himself the target of running at least one race each month through 2016 – not including parkruns where he represents the club whenever time allows.

His choice for November was a bit special, as it was his 50th half-marathon, and was celebrated with a trip abroad to Benidorm, better known as a holiday resort with its 40,000 hotel beds, orange tans and some of the tallest tower blocks in Europe.

Starting and finishing close to the Town Hall, colloquially known as the ‘floorscraper’, the route ran first through the closed main streets; past the main hotels, bars and shops area, then through the Old Town and streets full of shoppers.

A visit to the neighbouring bay was followed by a run back along the 6km beachfront, finishing up a slope back in front of the Town Hall.

Arnold’s time of one hour 45.35minutes put him in 446th place and 66th in his age category which was a good result, with a solid, well-paced performance, though he knows he can do better.

Meanwhile, Pete Mainstone enjoys his annual trip to Devon for the Bicton Blister, usually organising a day trip for club members.

This tough, multi-terrain race is over sandy, muddy and stony paths across the Commons of East Devon.

For once he had to make do with the Bicton Lite, the Blister’s little brother and just 4.5miles in length.

Finishing in 49.14minutes he was beaten by Maddie Parrott in 48.31minutes but sadly aggravated an injury so put himself again out of action.

Emma Barnes was happy to take-on the 10-mile Blister, finishing in one hour 28.48minutes.

The third race in the Gwent Cross Country League took place at a rather chilly Blaise Castle estate on last Saturday.

Just two ladies took part over the 5.9km course, with Angela Bushell finishing in 184th place in 30.57minutes and Judy Mills 208th in 32.52minutes.

They were able to report to the men that the going was good with no real wet or muddy patches.

Again, most of the male team were in the Over 60 age group, but at least they had enough runners for a full team.

First to complete the 10km course was Rob Hopkins, apparently able to apply himself to either one hundred miles or 10km with equal ease, and finishing 221st in 42.52minutes.

Mike Willis ran another good race finishing in 43.58minutes and third VM60 in 256th position.

Nick Langridge finished the course in 276th place and 45.12minutes was for some time being tailed by Paul Thomas, who had to give up his pursuit of Willis.

But the younger man struggled to maintain the pace and slipped back in the third lap to 280th position in 45.28minutes.

There was then a pause before the next wave of Thornbury runners crossed the line, headed by Steve Dimond (VM60, 352nd in 50.22minutes ) and followed by the only other ‘youngster’, Kevin Cundy 357th in 51.24minutes.

Jeremy Clothier had opted to run in the men’s race rather than with the senior women, as over 65s are entitled to do and overhauled Hugh McPherson (VM60) to complete the course in 368th position in 55.02minutes.

McPherson wasn’t far behind at the end of the run and completed the course in 373rd place with a time of 55.45minutes.

Back marker was Arthur Renshaw (VM65) who made the wise choice to change into longer leggings at the last minute as he would have been cold in just his little red shorts, completing the course in 59.18minutes, in 375th place.

The team of Over 55 men were fourth, and currently lie in fifth place in the league standings.

It is several months since Nicky Davies ran a parkrun, but she stormed around the Bryn Bach course near Tredegar, Wales, on Saturday, and was first lady to finish the 5km in a time of 22.58minutes, her fastest for the course and one of her all-time-best runs as well.

Anne Palmer (33.05minutes) and David Palmer (27.49minutes) ran their parkruns over woodland paths at Coleford in the Forest of Dean.

Tom Usherwood finished in a personal best of exactly 20minutes at Stonehouse, while at Chipping Sodbury Andrew Darton recorded the fastest time for the club for the weekend – 18.26minutes.

Also running the course were Malcolm Carr, completing his 50th run in 25.46minutes, just four seconds outside his best time for the course, and Karen Carr, 15 seconds from her best time in 27.25minutes.