THE SECOND race in the Glos AAA Cross Country took place at the new venue of Charlton Park, Malmsbury on Saturday.

After torrential rain in the morning of the race the course was best described as boggy. Twenty Nine DRC athletes made it to the new venue.

By the time of the first race, U11 boys, it was a crisp sunny morning. The one small lap, was already quite muddy.

Elliot Russell showed great form leading the way for the DRC boys, just a short way behind him Bill Smith followed looking strong to the finish, and finally Charlie Jones kept his steady pace to the finish.

The boys had a great team result placing 11th out of the twenty teams. Next up were the U11 girls on the same slightly muddier course, Holly Clark led for the DRC girls, placing 24th, with rest of the team, Jessica Poskett , Ruby and Lila Heath pushing through to the end of the race.!

James Durden was on the line with both the U20s and U17s and at 15 years of age he, like a few other of our Juniors, was competing against much older and experienced athletes.

Completing two large laps of the 4 mile course, Durden showed good pace judgement, over a challenging course, finishing strongly in just less than 33 minutes.

It was then the senior women’s turn, with parts of the course having been churned up by the juniors the terrain was becoming more challenging as the afternoon progressed. Another good turnout saw eight senior women racing. Margaret Johnson again led the team home placing 4th F50 with a strong run of just under 32 minutes. Finishing second DRC woman was Jadie Cotterell with Alice Lewis 4th F55 in close attendance.

Catherine Fay finished strongly with Erica Fuller working hard just behind her. Andrea Sexton, Eileen Hieron and Karen Eadon all ran controlled races over the difficult course.

Twelve senior DRC men started with the course well and truly a quagmire. Dan Anderson and Mike Crompton were soon well in advance of the next DRC runners with Pete Chaffer leading Dave Durden and Andy Truswell .

Anderson and Crompton crossed the line in 32nd and 36th positions, both under 39 minutes. Truswell was able to break away from Durden on the last lap holding off a determined effort from Durden on the finishing straight.

Behind this action Chaffer and Tony Wooldridge were within just 6 seconds of each other; Chaffer 6th M55 and Wooldridge 2nd M60 (racing down a category) . There was then a steady stream of DRC athletes finishing, Mouse Clutterbuck placed an impressive 8th MV50; Garry Strickland, Andy Kilby, Neil Truelove and Andrew Eades all worked hard to complete the 10k course.

The senior men’s team placed 11th, the master also 11th, The woman had four counting teams with Senior Ladies A team 16th and Masters Ladies 14th.

Kate Browning completed the Gordano Round a self-navigated Marathon, covering the 28 mile course in 05:23:01, she was second Female Veteran and 56th overall, continuing to edge towards the magic 100 Marathon figure. In Hampshire Neil Nodgson completed the off road Meon Valley Half at a brisk 06:31 pace.

In cold and blustery conditions Mike Brown led DRC home at the Guy Fawkes’ Five on the Sunday, placing an impressive 18th overall with Dave Saunders ensuring a strong finish to his Gloucestershire AAA Road Race series finishing 2nd in his category with James Moss and Steve Barnes both top ten category finishers with Soos Moss completing the course in under 50 minutes.

Results: Mike Brown, 18th, 6th SenM, 31:34; Dave Saunders , 86th , (2nd M65), 36:47; James Moss, 141st ,(6th M60), 39:53; Steve Barnes, 186th,(8th M60),42:21; Soos Moss, 265th, (29th F40),48:02.

DRC's orienteers had a good week. On Thursday, novices Carolyn Thraves, Caroline Jones and Andrea Sexton joined old hands Paul Gebbett and Alan Honey for a fun, night race around Kingsway. Sunday saw the 50th anniversary staging of the November Classic orienteering event in the New Forest. Tim and Laura Britton both won the short course for their age classes, Gebbett finished 7th and Honey 5th in their age classes.

Twenty–two Parkrunners were out Saturday morning, as already indicated Neil Hodgson fastest just a few seconds off his course best at Andover with a 18:41 minute run, Tel Cother was the sole PB of the week end with 29:46 at Kingsway.