THREE Thornbury athletes tackled the Cotswold 113 Middle Distance Triathlon last weekend, which is contested over the traditional half ironman discipline of 1.9k swim, 90k bike and half marathon run (21.1k).

Emma Barnes produced a very strong performance across all three disciplines (33:05 mins swim, 2:43:51 bike and 1:51:04 run), to finish fourth in the very competitive 35-39 age category, 15th female and 277th overall. Her finishing time was five hours 14:06 mins.

Paul Clark started with a solid 33:53 min swim then let loose with a two hours 28 mins bike split, an average speed of 23 mph. Paul kept enough energy in reserve to complete the run in one hour 38 mins and finish the race in 111th out of 901 competitors in four hours 45:56 mins.

With the lighter evenings, there is more opportunity to fit in some midweek races.

One of the local favourites is the Blaise Blazer, an off-road four-mile race around the Blaise Castle grounds.

Clare Watt was the lone Thornbury runner and blazed her way around the course to win the FV45 age category and fiftieth overall in 30:50 mins.

Serial marathon runner Neil Roff registered his first in 2017 at Yeovil on Sunday and finished in four hours 23:14 mins in 132nd place.

The Bradley Stoke 10k is a surprisingly testing event; with a variety of steady inclines, short steep hills and a mix of different terrains.

Thornbury Running Club were well represented at this popular event on Sunday with 11 runners taking part and they were all keen to show off the stunning new kit design.

Matt Johnstone was ninth overall and first in VM40 age category in 39:09 mins.

Paul Thomas and Chris Dawes were next for the club in 22nd and 34th place in 41:37 mins and 43:34 mins, both finishing fourth in their respective age groups. Neil Jackson was 40th in 44:26 mins.

This time last year, Sean Underwood was carrying seven extra stones, which makes his time of 45:26 mins and 55th place all the more impressive. Kevin Wood was fourth in the VM60 age category and 78th overall in 46:59 mins, followed by Liam Jones in 50:24 mins for 139th place.

Kevin Cundy was making a comeback from a ligament injury and finished in 56:43 mins in 275th place. Suzy Cundy was in hot pursuit and so close to breaking the hour barrier again in one hour nine seconds and Magda Johnson finished in one hour 09:14 mins.

John Walsh manages Bradley Stoke FC’s first team, so was eager to perform well in front of his fans.

Before the start, he reflected on his team’s narrow miss to win promotion this season as akin to ‘doing a Theresa’, after his team were well placed to go up with only a handful of games left. Hopefully John’s stellar track record at the helm of Bradley Stoke FC and his time of 52:41 mins and 179th place will ward off any leadership challenges.

Paul Thomas started another by running 20:11 mins to finish in fifth place at Wotton parkrun.

The racing Carrs, Malcolm and Karen, completed the Chipping Sodbury parkrun in the same time of 26:40 mins and Tom Usherwood was tenth in Stonehouse parkrun in 21:15 mins.