AFTER requiring oxygen following last year’s Midsummer Clevedon 10k, Paul Thomas returned undeterred to tackle this highly competitive midweek race.

Paul was Thornbury’s first finisher in 44:16 mins in 154th place, followed by the fast improving Sean Underwood in 44:44 mins in 164th place.

Ros Rowland continued her fine run of form in 10k road racing with 3rd place in the VF50 age category in a highly respectable 45:35 mins (186th overall) and recent recruit, Colette Jackson, had a great race to finish 5th in the VF40 age category (191st overall) in 45:58 mins.

Nick Langridge was Thornbury’s lone representative at Dursley Peaks Challenge on 31st May, which takes in some of the most challenging and hilly terrain in the local area. This is Nick’s kind of race and it showed as he was the 1st VM60 runner by a margin of 3 minutes and 77th overall in 45:03 mins.

Nick used the Peaks Challenge as a warm up for the Tour of Tameside. The Tour is a series of races on consecutive days set in Greater Manchester and was originally launched by running legend Ron Hill. In its current form of 4 races from Thursday – Sunday last week, it includes a variety of road and off-road races.

The first stage was X-Trail 10k, followed by the 6 mile ‘Hell on the Fell’. The ‘Hell on the Fell’ starts with a fast drop down for a mile, before 2 miles of climb and a perilous descent on a rocky path to the end. Nick finished in 78th position in 49:12 mins and at the Tour’s half way point had already racked up 2 wins in the VM65 age category.

Only 14 hours later was Hero Half Marathon. Nick is a seasoned competitor who still holds the club marathon record, but found the going exceptionally tough. Hot and humid conditions, combined with weary legs and an undulating trail course took their toll. His time of 1:47:01 was 8 mins slower than last year but he was 3 mins clear of his next VM65 competitor.

By now, Nick’s competitors must have been hoping he wouldn’t turn up for the final event on Sunday – the Dr Ron Hyde 7 mile. Of course, they would be disappointed as Nick battled the 27 degree conditions and completed a flush of victories in VM65 age category in 54:35 mins. His overall time of 4:15:51 was good enough for 58th overall and 11 mins clear of his closest age group rival.

Ros Rowland and Rob Hopkins travelled into central Wales on Sunday for Offa’s Dyke 15. This off-road race starts in Hay-On-Wye and follows the hilly Offa’s Dyke path towards Kington. Rob was 40th in 2:27:07 and Ros used some of that 10k speed to finish 4th in her age category and 59th overall in 2:39:19.

Malcom and Karen Carr ran well in the heat to set new personal bests at the Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun to finish 99th and 114th overall (11th female) in 25:27 mins and 26:15 mins, respectively.

Chris Dawes was 56th at Pomphrey Hill in 23:26 mins and Liam Symonds-Barry was 136th in Gloucester in 27:29 mins. David and Anne Palmer were 191st and 264th (87th female) in 28:57 mins and 33:39 mins, respectively.