THORNBURY Running Club’s Rob Watkins joined over two thousand runners on Saturday at the notoriously difficult Beachy Head Marathon near Eastbourne.

The course traces a route along the trails and pathways of the chalky cliffs of South Downs National Park, and is an uninterrupted sequence of climbs, culminating in the Seven Sisters hills in the final quarter of the race.

Thornbury Running Club has a proud tradition of representation at the Beachy Head Marathon, with car loads of its runners from the town making the journey south to the East Sussex coast in previous years.

However, this year, Watkins was the lone Thornbury participant at the race, and cheered on by his family, he ran a great time of three hours 59:35 minutes to finish the event in 148th place.

Indeed, Watkins is the current Thornbury Running Club record holder at the London Marathon which he he set in a time of two hours 56:15 mins in 2015, narrowly beating the mark previously held by Richard Illingworth for over twenty years.

Illingworth has been a club member for many years and was recently awarded with a present at a club night in recognition of his 70th birthday.

And, not to be outdone by the younger athletes on Saturday, Illingworth joined six other Thornbury runners at the Chipping Sodbury parkrun event.

And he was swift around the course as he finished his run in 32:01 mins.

Kevin Wood was the first runner for the club in 74th place in 23:25 mins.

Karen Carr won the club’s summer handicap competition and continued her run of good form to set a new personal best in 25:40 mins in 115th place and 18th female.

Carr’s husband, Malcolm, was next through the finish line in 26:53 mins, Kevin Cundy ran 30:25 min and Leighton Prescott was next in 36:42 mins.

The fast-improving Sean Underwood had a gentle stroll around the three-lap course in 39:02 mins.

David and Anne Palmer were at Bath Skyline parkrun and finished in 28:21 mins and 33:51 mins, respectively.

Thornbury RC have recently invested in training to help facilitate the growth of the club and there are now 16 qualified British Athletics leaders.

This means all levels of abilities can be catered for on the main club nights on Tuesday and Thursday, to ensure the runs are safe, enjoyable and challenging.

Details of the club nights and training sessions for athletes of all standards can be found by going to the club website which is www.thornburyrunningclub.co.uk/training/club-night-sessions/