FOR Dursley Running Club, the weekend started with parkruns, and personal bests for Jadie Cotterell, Julie Fenn, Jo Fearns, and Claire Searle, with Andrew Kilby making a debut appearance at Ashton Court.

Thomas Smith quickest of the weekend in 19:19mins was Luke Davis, a DRC junior, who ran a very impressive 21:50mins.

This was followed by thirteen DRC athletes at the Fission 20/20.

Steve Watson made a strong return coming home in two hours 39:04mins with Caroline Jones making an excellent debut at the 20 mile distance finishing well under three hours.

In the 20K, there was just over a minute between the five finishers who were led in by Hayley Hogg and Nicky Grant.

Annette Heylings had a very impressive run following up from her half marathon the previous week.

Results Fission 20 mile: Stephen Watson 91st, 02:39:04; Brendan Marrinan 115th,02:47:13 (40th)Ian Cole 159th , 02:54:42; Caroline Jones, 160th 02:54:48; Margaret Johnson 183rd, 02:59:095; Joseph Ball 216th 03:08:57; Becky Court 234th 03:13:44; Audrey Harris 161st 03:13:56 Fission 20k: Hayley Hogg 32nd 02:05:15; Nicky Grant 33rd 02:05:16; Annette Heylings; 37th 02:06:14; Shona Darley 38th= 2:06:27 (provisional); Louise Biddell 38th =02:06:28 Sunday saw the Bath Half marathon with strong runs from Mark Brasier, a course best and David Saunders with an impressive 15th M65 placing.

Others running well were Neil Parry, Mark Sprigings, Kim Bird and Francesca Lane Amigoni.

The club's Lantern Rouge Deborah Helen McFarland ran under three hours which was a great effort..

Results: Mark Brasier, 336th (M40 58th ) 01:25:57; Neil Parry 680th,(M50 47th) 01:32:14, Mark Sprigings 2282nd 01:37:24; Kim Bird, 1543rd , 01:38:41; Fran Amigoni, 2655th ,01:46:14, Emma Denton 2765th , 01:46:29; Holly Gardner 3065th ,01:48:11; Dave Saunders 3274th (15th M65) 01:49:04; Andy Hara 3702nd 01:52:19 Deb Deborah Helen McFarland 12253rd 02:56:47 Kevin Jackson led the DRC team home at the Minchinhampton 10K, with Dursley placing first M55, Result: Kevin Jackson, 15th , 43:11, (1st MV50); Chris Sweet, 36th, 45:24 (17th MV40);Hannah Brookes, 166th, 54:06, (15th SL); Catherine Pinnock, 228th , 57:01; Nicki Squire, 337th, 01:02:21; Cara Zoglowek, 556th, 01:16:29; Faith Minchella, 569th., 01:19:51.

Damian Lai competed the Wrexham Marathon in four hours 15:42mins, his marathon number eight, which was a personal best by 01:59mins.

Richard Pitts was first SuperVet at Tewkesbury Aquathlon, ahead of Dave Durden, after another fast swim. Result: Richard Pitts 6th 27:08 (1st Supervet) Dave Durden 11th 28:57.

At the infamous Grizzly, Nigel Sankey, DRC’s sole representative in recent years, was joined by six DRC colleagues.

The twenty all-terrain mile race saw Gareth Bradbury coming home in an impressive time of three hours 13mins, with Simon Jones also impressive, only seven minutes in arrears.

Tony Freer was in the lead until he reached the “stairway to heaven” this turned into his “highway to hell” and he was passed by Bradbury and Jones in the final miles.

Whilst Sankey enjoyed a sub four hour run passing many runners after a steady start.

Carolyn Thraves retired after a gruelling thirteen and half miles, leaving Tara Truman to finish in the Lanterne Rouge position for Dursley.

She commented that there were “thick knee deep muddy bogs Shrek would make a home on” but she “loved it”. In the “cub run” 9 mile event Charlotte Palmer and John Hookway finished in 401st and 402nd positions in two hours and fourteen minutes.

Result Gareth Bradbury, 204th, 03:13:34; Simon Jones, 276th , 03:20:35; Tony Freer, 386th, 03:30:38; Nigel Sankey, 731st , 03:58:19; Tara Truman, 961st , 04:14:28.

The previous weekend saw Richard Smith and Tony Wooldridge at the Tour of Torpantau. Smith took a significant scalp before he departs to the Lakes beating Wooldridge.

Result: Richard Smith, 21st (9th SenM), 01:28:48; Tony Wooldridge 22nd (1st M60) 01:28:57: At the Gwent League Kevin Jackson continued his League running streak placing 134th in 41:41 (12th MV55)