WITH the cross-country race season now well under way, teams from Thornbury Running Club travelled to Brecon on Saturday for the second fixture in the Gwent League.

After the first race, when no ladies were available, this time three club regulars turned out, enough to come 14th of 43 teams in the Masters Over 35 category and 25th of 63 ladies teams.

Over a fairly fast, fairly flat course, Ros Rowland made her usual fast start but was in time overhauled by Jo Emerson who went on to finish the 5.7km course 58th of 228 runners in 27.18minutes.

Rowland continued strongly finishing in 76th place in 28.08minutes. Judy Mills, initially near the back, found new strength in the second lap, gradually pulling through the field but only as far as 176th place in a time of 33.42minutes.

Again, the majority of the men’s team had already celebrated their 60th birthdays and it was veteran Mike Willis who once more led home for the club, 200th place in 43.36minutes and third V60 over the 9.4km course.

Paul Thomas in the V45 category was 250th in 45.32minutes with Nick Langridge 254th in 46.19minutes; the placings and intervals very similar to the results of the previous week.

Mike Bennewitz (336th in 53.06) and Jeremy Clothier (346th, 54.50minutes) provided the club with the important team results, 15th of 54 in the Masters Over 45; 57th of 92 overall but a better result for the Masters Over 55: 5th of 32 teams.

The Sodbury Slog is a 9.5-mile mainly off-road race, always held on Remembrance Sunday. When entries opened in May, they were sold-out in 48 hours.

This year just five members of Thornbury Running Club arrived at Chipping Sodbury School in bright sunshine, ready for the customary two-minute silence and Last Post before the run.

The course was drier than in some years, but still challenging, and those further back in the field found their progress delayed as runners queued to get into a muddy ditch.

Nearer the front, Rob Cowlard was well clear before the surface was churned-up, bettering his previous 14th place to finish 12th in one hour 6.35minutes; second MV40.

Also having a good run was Matt Johnstone, 44th in one hour 12.38minutes.

Caught in the traffic jams were Ian Peacock (420th in one hour 43.42minutes); Steve Dimond (454th, one hour 46.06minutes) and Judy Mills in her second race of the weekend (520th, one hour 52.32minutes), but at least all in the top half of the field of 1,096 finishers.

There were several parkrunners out at five different locations in the rather damp weather on Saturday morning.

Andrew Darton, at the Forest of Dean event was second to finish in 19.48minutes.