DAVE Halford provided Dursley Running Club’s standout run last weekend. Halford has been training for a number of months to compete in the Greenman Ultra Marathon.

The race closely follows the same route as the “Green Man Challenge” and consists of a 45-mile course.

The runners have to get to check points before set cut-off times, failure to do so means the runner cannot continue. Halford was following in the footsteps of Kate Browning and Rebecca Topham who had completed the event in 2013 with Browning running it “barefoot” in 2014. Halford was a running with Jim O’Brien.

The race starts with an ascent on Dundry Hill which was very slippery and O’Brien struggled from the start. Halford nursed him through the first twenty miles or so. Having surrendered the hope of a sub-ten hour run O’Brien as not in a good place.

However, with the arrival of a supporter with a can of coke and coffee, he was revitalised. Halford said that mental strength was as important as the physical effort, with one long 13 mile section between two of the checkpoints a gruelling part of the race.

He enjoyed the trails around Keynsham and Bradley Stoke and described the run down to the finish as quite magical with the Clifton Suspension bridge illuminated and only a mile to the finish.

Halford left O’Brien for dead at the end opening up a 14 second gap, to place 118th in a field of 201 with significant number not finishing the event.

Result: Dave Halford: 118th 10:39:35 Three DRC athletes completed Half Marathons on the Sunday Annette Heylings ventured into windswept Wales today for Newport Half and was back to her 2016 best. At the Warwick Heart Foundation Half Nicki Cowle ran a PB, with Karen Eadon just over two and a half hours.

Newport: Annette Heylings 1329th 02:13:26 (7th F60). Warwick: Nicki Cowle 1136th 02:08:12; Karen Eadon 1560th 02:33:48 Earlier in week Joe Ball led a team of 5 DRC athletes home at the Aztec West Fast 5K. In a high quality field Alice Lewis achieved the highest category position with 4th , with both Joe Ball and Jadie Cotterell running well. Results: Joseph Ball, 107th, 20:12, (61st SM); Jadie Cotterell, 137th , 22:18, (16th SW) Rich Pitts , 139th , 22:21, (8th M50); Alice Lewis , 148th , 23:00, (4th F55) Antony Ball , 161st , 24:11:00, (12th M45).

Eileen and John Hieron took part in the 'Around the Bays' 8.4km fun run with over 19,000 participants in Auckland, New Zealand. Eileen Heiron was 3rd F70-79 in 53:20 with husband John 2nd M80-89 in 56:40.

Tom Smith was again quickest parkrunner for Dursley in the slippery conditions at Wotton with Steve Watson not far behind, first timer Tony Ball placed 9th just ahead of Rebecca Topham to make 4 DRC runners in the top ten.

Shona Darley manged a personal best despite the wet conditions.

At Stonehouse the Denton family supported Matt Denton to a PB. Annette Keevil was pleased with a 5k PB at Kingsway and first in category, Annie Hidden 3rd in category and a PB, with Diana Gore also running a best time.

Gary Strickland travelled to the “Humber Bridge Country Park event, placing a respectable 5th in category he was one of many DRC runners achieving over 60% on age grading.