THORNBURY Running Club runners were out in force at the weekend, taking part in events ranging from 5k parkruns to 50-mile ultra-marathons, writes Matt Johnstone.

In 2019, Rosina Rowland embarked on a mission to complete a series of ultra-marathons in Cleveland Way National Park and North York Moors. The Hardmoors series of races ranges from 30 miles to 200 miles. Rosina’s target is to complete five of these races in 2019, which comprise the Hardmoors Super Slam. After already completing the 30-mile race earlier in the year, Rosina ran the 50-mile race on Saturday, which had 8,000 feet of climbing throughout the course. Strong winds were a theme of Saturday’s races and Ros encountered chilly gales and constant rain on the Moors. A relieved Rosina reached the finish line in 16 hours 49 minutes after she started.

The 20:20 Fission is a 20 mile and 20K road race, which both start from just outside Berkeley Nuclear Power Station and loops around the local Deer Park, one loop for the 20K and two for the longer race. The wind was a constant menace on one side of the course, and once the turn was made in Rockhampton there was some very welcome tail winds to help make up the lost time. Phil Lucker was the first of the TRC runners in the 20K race, finishing 6th overall and 4th MV40 in 1 hour 24:35 mins. Chris Hill was next in 39th in 1 hour 47:38 mins, followed by Sarah Newnes in 1 hour 53:21 in the top half of the field in 47th place.

In the 20-mile race, Matt Johnstone was 27th in a time of 2 hours 21:58 mins. Selina Slater was the first of the 3 Thornbury women to cross the line in 319th place overall in 3 hours 23:21 mins, followed by Judy Mills in 3 hours 33:49 minutes. Suzy Cundy’s preparation for London Marathon is moving in the right direction, she was 13 minutes quicker than her target time in 3 hours 47 minutes in 399th place.

The half-marathon season is now in full-swing and TRC runners were dotted around the country on Sunday in several races.

There were personal bests across the board from the trio at Bath Half Marathon. Dylan Roberts was 254th in an excellent 1 hour 23:42 mins, followed by an inspired Paul Clark in 1 hour 24:36 mins in 282nd. Taryn Roberts set the fastest half marathon time from a TRC woman for 12 years in 623rd and 62nd woman in 1 hour 30:31 mins.

Kevin Arnold and Martin Smith were both running at Fleet Half Marathon, which also serves as the Army Half Marathon championships. Kevin and Martin were short of full fitness, but still made it round in 1181th in 1 hour 44:54 mins and 2350th in 2 hours 12:48 mins, respectively.

Mike Bennewitz is on a personal crusade to complete a half-marathon every month in 2019. On Sunday, he moved one step closer to his target, by finishing Weymouth Half Marathon in 620th place and 4th in the 60-69 age category in a time of 2 hours 6:19 mins.

Ian Evans joined the masses at Reading Half Marathon and set a new personal best in the process, finishing in 1017th place in 1 hour 36:53 mins.

Saturday’s parkrun results included a comeback from Liam Symonds-Barry at Kingsway in Gloucester in 30:17 mins. Rebecca Taylor was on the opposite side of the country in Norwich and ran 26:30 mins.

Jim Godden was the sole TRC runner in Thornbury and was 2nd finisher in 21:14 mins.

Laura Orna ran 21:05 mins at Chipping Sodbury, followed by Henry Orna in 21:06 mins, Chris Lee 27:15 mins, David Palmer 28:57 mins, Clare Evans 29:36 mins and Anne Palmer 35:39 mins.

Clare and John Watt ran Keswick parkrun in 25:30 mins and 31:32 mins, and Malcolm Carr finished Lee-one-the-Solent in 28:59 mins.