IT WAS a weekend for shorter-distance runs for Thornbury Running Club members, with the second race of the season in the Gloucester Cross Country League, held at The Crypt School at Gloucester on Saturday afternoon.

The Club managed to run full teams in both the men’s and ladies’ events, but as usual the strength lay in the veteran runners, only one competitor not being in an older age category.

The course which has always been on the flat side, had been changed to make it even less challenging, and mostly comprised dry, flat, grassy playing fields with just a few yards of any sort of uneven ground.

All three Thornbury ladies had raced a marathon within the past week, but were pleased to find they had recovered sufficiently to race.

Ros Rowland, having a great season at all distances, sped away into 60th place overall and 3rd in the LV50 category in a time of 31.01minutes.

Angela Bushell took advantage of the flat course to come 111th in 34.24minutes while Judy Mills, preferring hills and mud, made use of the tougher stretches to gain a few places each lap, but could only manage 130th place in 37 minutes.

The men’s race followed with an extra lap to increase the distance, and Mike Willis soon took the lead for the Club, running strongly throughout to finish 137th and 2nd MV60 in 36.35minutes.

Captain Paul Thomas worked hard but couldn’t keep up with the older man, crossing the line in 175th place in 38.27minutes, then came Nick Langridge, 181st in 39.22minutes.

Kevin Arnold (204th, 42.08minutes) ran an even race and for a while looked to be in danger of being caught by Anthony Yates (210th, 43.00minutes) but in the third lap Yates lack of recent quality training caused him to lose ground.

Jeremy Clothier completed the team finishing 222nd in 47.30minutes.

Eight Thornbury runners turned out at Chipping Sodbury parkrun, many to support Suzy Cundy who was running her 100th event, an occasion which is traditionally celebrated with cake after the run.

Probably hampered by the extra company of husband Kevin (31.36minutes) and Judy Mills (31.34minutes) who insisted on running alongside her, she was some way off her personal best, finishing in 31.33minutes.

Quickest parkrun for the Club was Kevin Arnold (22.21minutes) who, like Mills, had a race later in the same day.

Malcolm Carr ran his 49th event in 26.39minutes ahead of David Palmer, 27.45minutes.

Karen Carr finished the 5k in 28.05minutes and Graham Bishop 34.58minutes.

Tom Usherwood again ran with son Richard at Stonehouse parkrun, just 12 seconds from Richard’s best time in 26.11minutes.

The Club’s own open race, the 9-mile Riverbank Rollick will be held on 15 January, and places are filling fast.

More details of this and other Club activities can be found at thornburyrunningclub.co.uk.