THE SECOND  weekend in May saw a return to competition for Dursley Running Clubs Junior section with five of the U13s heading up to the Prince of Wales stadium in Cheltenham to compete in the new Gloucestershire Athletics Junior League on Sunday the seventh.

A welcoming and fun atmosphere mean that Billy Smith, Tom Smith, Harry Smith Olive Jones and Charlie Jones all had a great time. They competed in a variety of events including distance runs, sprints, hurdles, vortex throwing and long jump.

The Dursley athletes showed great technique and performed well in the first competitive outing of the summer, with a number just off the podium positions.

Eleven DRC athletes completed in the Bristol 10K with James Hobbs leading the club home in 38:08 with Emma Denton first DRC female home and sixth in her category as she continues her running 40 races at 40 in aid of the Charity RP Fighting Blindness, there were personal best for Julie Fenn and Michelle Ball, Eileen Heiron was 2nd in her category.

Results: James Hobbs, 157th , 38:08, Nick Pollard, 527th , 41:38; Emma Denton, 831st, (6th FV40),43:26; Darren Kitchin, 1444th ,46:05; Annette Keevil, 3790th , 53:05; Michelle Ball, 4772nd, 55:19 (PB); Julie Fenn, 5216th, 56:24; Peter Bennetts, 5770th , 57:37; Eileen Hieron, 7843rd ,(2nd FV70), 01:03:12; Amy Griffiths, 9436th ,01:09:26; Emily Harding, 10791st , 01:22:20.

For Damian Lai the Shakespeare Marathon, Stratford Upon Avon, was his eleventh marathon in only two years. He paced himself well and finished in 04.09.34, a 04:51 marathon PB. In the Half DRC were led home by Fran Amigoni with the latter posting a personal best, placing an excellent 14th senior woman, her good form continues.

Marathon; Damian Lai, 325th 04:09:34. Half: 1:33:02; Francesca Amigoni, 312th , (14th SenF), 1:42:56; Audrey Harris, 689th , (21st F40), 1:54:15; Rebecca Court, 976th , (46th F35), 2:00:45

Steve Watson recorded a huge improvement at the Stroud Trail half marathon, coping with the hot conditions better than in 2016, knocking an hour of his previous time and finishing in the top twenty as a result.

DRC stalwart Kevin Jackson led the team home in the half marathon, in an excellent 16th place and was first in the MV50 Category, behind him Paul Lewington placed 2nd in his category. Shona Darley was just beaten to the line by Andy Hara but declared herself “Very happy with that. Feeling so strong coming off the marathon training”

Results, Marathon: Steve Watson 16th, 04:05:38 (9th MV40). Half Marathon: 13th Kevin Jackson 01:54:51 (MV50); Paul Lewington 73rd 02:21:53 (MV60); Andy Hara 84th 02:24:55 (Sm); Shona Darley 85th 02:25:09 (LV35) The previous weekend had seen Alice Lewis complete the hot and hilly Gozo Half marathon in 01:58:17 coming home first FV55. Kate Browning completed marathon number 51 as she heads towards membership of the 100 Club she was 68th in the North Dorset Village marathon in a time of 03:42:03 and 2nd FV45.

At parkrun Cath Hall completed her 4th 5K, a massive achievement There was a host of personal bests as well. Louise Biddell, Erica Fuller, Chris Curry, Alison Hambling, Denise Billings at Kingsway, whilst at Wotton Mark Brasier, Rachael Barker, Anthony Matthews, Liz Halford, Nicki Cowle, Tracey Goodwin and Carly Heath all ran bests over the firmer ground.