IT was another amazing week for Dursley Running Club athletes, some on land and more in the water for the DRC Tri-team whose exploits included the Great North Swim and an Ironman, with the highlight on land being the completion of the 'Race to the Towers' Ultra by Rachel Brown, Shona Darley and Sam Hill.

The racing week had started on Monday with the Stroud Beer Race, cool and breezy conditions made for ideal running around Minchinhampton Common for the seven Dursley entrants to the 2018 edition.

The course was undulating, with a sharp descent through Amberley leading into what felt like a never-ending ascent back up to the common, with only a few flat sections for relief.

Three laps were completed, with the uphills naturally becoming more challenging with each passing lap. Dave Halford was first home for Dursley, with a very even-paced run Andy Kilby showed good form for his upcoming Bolton Iron Man with the best age grade score in the club with Julie Gowning first DRC woman home.

Beer Race Results: Dave Halford, 26th, 52:50; Andy Kilby, 43rd , 58:42, Pete Dunn, 45th , 59:13; stave Barnes 55th, 01:07:23; Julie Gowing 57th, 01:11:57; Ian Roberts 58th 01:11:57.

Also on the start line of the Race to the Towers were DRC’s Rachel Brown, Shona Darley and Sam Hill, Hill running with her sister and Darley with her partner.

All three admitted to facing the double marathon, 54.2 miles, with some trepidation, not knowing whether they could cope as much mentally and physically.

As already reported in the Gazette, the Hill sisters were raising money for the excellent cause of the Bristol Children’s Hospital’s Wallace and Gromit appeal.

All the runners tried to break the races down in to “bite sized chunks” with all facing moments of physical and mental exhaustion.

Darley said: “The hills were brutal. It was so hot, but the views were stunning."

Lots of on-line support, alongside plenty of determination, saw the DRC athletes completing the challenge. Darley came home in eight hours 12:17mins, Brown in eight hours 18:09mins; and Hill in 12 hours 01:35mins.

Hill concluded: “RTTT is tough but amazing at the same time. Tested me to my limits. Has the most beautiful views. A really well organised race, with great pit stops and the RTTT team did an amazing job."

Brown, with the benefit of hindsight advised “I wouldn't run a full off-road marathon just two weeks before."

They were amazing efforts by all three and both Brown and Hill have not ruled out give it another go.

Steve Watson was DRC’s other Ultra runner completing the 54k event at the Keswick Mountain Festival, he finished in six hours 58 minutes.

Yet again Watson had to cope with “hot conditions” over what the organisers advise "is a perfect training run/race for the Scafell Sky Race or the UTLD Lakeland 50” giving some idea of the challenge the route poses.

Running a personal best at the Southend Half was Becky Court, over two minutes faster in an overall time of one hour 55:40mins.

Lisa Young took part in the Man v Horse in Llanwrtyd Wells. Young, competing with a team of three, commented: “It was an amazing event that I would highly recommend. There was 22 miles of road, trail, fields, and hills, chased by riders on horseback."

This year the race was won by horse and rider by just twenty seconds.

Catherine Faye was the sole representative at the Bradley Stoke 10K with Cath Hall and Liz Jane completing the race for Life, all three enjoying the events but not the hot weather. Meanwhile, just over thirty DRC athletes ran parkrun on Saturday.

Tony Wooldridge, on a rare appearance, was quickest with 21:07mins at Wotton, 80.19 per cent age grading, which was of course surpassed by Alice Lewis 84.6 per cent off a run of 22:37mins, which was the fastest DRC woman’s time of the weekend.

Personal bests were achieved by Kris Rymer, Annette Heylings, Darren Smith, Andrew Obourne, Jackie Pennington, Margaret Badger and Mike Froggatt.

Dursley RC tourists were Eileen and John Hieron running in Penrose, close the Lizard in Cornwall with Veronica Higgins at Wythenshaw.

The Chipping Sodbury DRC parkrunners used it as warm up for the St Mary’s Fun Run in Yate. Julie Gowing reported that it was 'lovely one lap. Pretty flat loop'.

Rymer was first home for DRC followed by Gowing then Lise Hindshaw, Ian Roberts, Nicki Cowle, Rich Barker and Sam Stevens.

DRC;s weekend was completed on Sunday with the “Local Open” U14 Track event at Cheltenham Prince of Wales Stadium.

Bill Smith came first in the long jump also running well in the 800m. Tom Smith placed third in his heat and showed great technique in a very competitive high jump competition.