MOST of Dursley Running Club’s athletes were taking a weekend off racing before the Dursley Dozen, with club administrators and members working hard to put on this iconic event for the 29th year.

The is race due to start at 10.30am on Sunday at May Lane.

With six hundred entrants, it is expected that around five hundred will start, recent weather making the course heavy going.

Last Sunday saw Dan Anderson, Dursley RCs front runner for a Dozen win, travelling over to the Slaughterford Nine in his preparation.

He was accompanied by Jon Tudor who described conditions this year as ‘very tough’. Anderson repeated his third place from 2017, whilst around 30 seconds slower he narrowed the gap on the winner from 90 seconds last year to just a minute this year.

Jon Tudor was very happy to run a personal best, whilst most runners were slower than in previous years.

Anderson was also very pleased with his run.

Result: Dan, Anderson, 3rd, 00:56:09, (3rd SenM); Jonathan, Tudor, 111th , 01:19:15, (44th SenM) Last Saturday saw Dursley RC orienteers Paul Gebbett and Alan Honey taking part in a middle distance race, over a distance of around 5km in the Forest of Dean. The evening then saw Gebbett taking part in another race of around 5km through the streets of Chepstow.

On Sunday, the orienteers returned to Speech House Hotel where Laura Britton came an excellent third out of 84 runners in her event.

Honey supported Caroline Jones on her first attempt at orienteering. He reported that ‘Caroline’s navigation was very good, her choice of places to cross streams was not so good. She ended up thigh deep at one point despite of this she has said she will be back for more.’ The Staverton 10 Mile took place on January 28 and saw 11 DRC athletes on the start line. It was the second event in the Glos AAA Road Race Series 2018.

Nigel Sankey and James Price took an early lead over the other DRC athletes, the rest of DRC working hard into a strong wind.

Dave Durden made a sustained effort to close in on the duo.

However, Price disappeared up the road, leaving Sankey in his wake and disappearing out of sight of Durden.

Price continued to work hard with a number of further efforts that saw him lead the club home in an excellent time of one hour 07:29mins.

Behind him, Durden eventually caught and passed Sankey in the last quarter of a mile, both were very pleased to run under 70 minutes in the windy conditions.

Next home was Alice Lewis looking controlled as she ran a personal best of ten seconds, to place first in the F55 category an excellent run in the conditions.

Dave Saunders was first in the M65 category having a steady run returning from illness with Jim Moss placing fifth M60 in 87 minutes.

The rest of Dursley ran well and were wreathed in smiles at the finish as they basked in the sun.

Results: James Price 1:07:30 45th (SM/17) (PB); David Durden 1:08:58 55th (MV50/06); Nigel Sankey 1:09:08 56th (SM/21); Alice Lewis 1:18:20 87th (LV55/01)(PB); David Saunders 1:21:43 99th (MV65/01); Jim Moss 1:27:17 123rd (MV60/05); Charlotte Palmer 1:37:09 150th (LV40/09); Steve Barnes 1:43:04 165th (MV60/08); Soos Moss 1:43:21 166th (LV40/10).

Twenty-seven DRC parkrunners ran on February 3. Running at Chipping Sodbury, Andy Probert was quickest DRC parkrunner on the day with a time of 21:30mins.