ATHLETICS: Thornbury's Langridge takes the Fairford 10K in his stride

THORNBURY Running Club members have again been successfully winning age category awards at local races.

Starting with Nick Langridge, who competed in the Fairford 10k on Sunday June 5 and finished 89th in 44.35 minutes, well over two minutes ahead of the closest competitor in his Vet60 class.

Whilst the race instructions spoke of a few gentle hills, Langridge did well over a course he himself described as ‘surprisingly hilly’.

Depending on which side you are standing, 35 can seem very young to be counted as being a veteran, but in many events, this is where ladies age categories start.

This is possibly a relic from the time when the ‘weaker’ sex was considered too delicate to compete in anything as strenuous as a 26.2-mile marathon.

Jo Plumbley may look delicate but her competition record proves she is anything but, as did her performance at the Yeovil marathon on Sunday.

The weather held off, at least for the first three-and-a-half hours, allowing Jo to race around the flat course in three hours 35.17 minutes for 62nd place overall fifth lady and the winner of the Over 35 prize.

Also for Thornbury, Neil Roff completed yet another race at the distance, 150th in four hours 26.03 minutes.

All the club’s parkrunners made their way to Chipping Sodbury on June 11, with Karen Carr recording a new personal best for the 5km course of 27.24 minutes.

First Thornbury runner to finish was again Garry Slater in 19.11 minutes, with Kevin Arnold crossing the line in 21.50 minutes, Malcolm Carr 26.34 minutes and Anne Palmer 31.55 minutes.

Well over two hundred runners have now signed-up for the Thornbury 10k which will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday July 14.

For details of this race and all other Thornbury Running Club events, see