THE START of the Cross Country racing season always means that autumn is here, and for Thornbury Running Club there was the opportunity to race twice at the weekend, with the first Gloucester League race at Guiting Power on Saturday and the first Gwent League race at Bridgend on Sunday.

In the event, few members were available for both,  and sadly many available for neither, but the Gloucester race saw full men's and women's teams turn out for the Club.

The Davies family was to the fore in all their events, with Dad Andi first Thornbury man by over three minutes, 49th overall in 35.28mins for the 9.5k course at the Cotswold Farm Park. Marathon- and Iron-man Rob Hopkins barely had time to warm up over the distance but was 111th in 38.30min. New Cross Country Captain Paul Thomas held on to third place, 124th in 39.11 while Mike Willis ran a good race to finish 2nd Vet60 in 130th, 39.34mins.

Moray Sloan made his debut for the Club with an intelligent run, working his way up through the field to finish 142nd in 41.06, ahead of 3rd MV60 Nick Langridge, 41.57. Anthony Yates showed how much he has improved over rough terrain with two good laps before losing touch of his clubmates towards the end of the race, yet still 169th of 213 finishers in 42.51mins. The men's team finished in 17th place of 23; the veterans 11th of 24, and again it is beginning to look as though the Club's strength lies with the Over 60s.

Nicky Davies was the first for the Club in the 6.5k ladies' race, 78th in 31.26, followed by Angela Bushell 101st in 32.48 and Judy Mills 114th in 34.39mins, putting them in 27th place of 40 teams and 20th of 27 veterans.

Mention must be made of the rest of the Davies family. Heidi, having a great season and now in the U20 category ran in the same 6.5k race as the senior ladies, coming first U20 and second lady overall in 23.43mins. Luke Davies, running with his arm in plaster will no doubt improve as the season continues, 9th in the U15 age group in 17.48mins for the 4.9k course.

Mick Stirrup ran his first race for 18 months, taking-on the Matfen 10k near Hexham. Over a tough course, he ran well in 48.30mins to finish 2nd MV60. Jo Stirrup went one better than her husband: 1st FV55 in 56.55mins.

A few who couldn't manage the cross country event ran parkruns with Garry Slater (18.52mins) Daniel Harding (21.00mins) Ross Phillips (23.15) and Kevin Cundy (23.29) at Little Stoke and Andrew Darton (17.55mins) at Chipping Sodbury.

Thornbury Running Club meets at 7pm on Thursday evenings at Thornbury Leisure Centre, and new members of all abilities are always welcome.