PAUL HOCKING put on an excellent performance to win the DB Max’s inaugural Westonbirt Easter Half Marathon, writes David Durden.

The Dursley Running Club ace won the half in just under 80 minutes. Kevin Jackson was next home for the team in 30th position overall and 4th M50, with Shane Bond third to finish for the club.

Clare Troy was first DRC woman home in just over two hours. Rach Goatman ran with Damian Lai enjoying his recovery run after a great run at the Brighton Marathon last weekend, the pair completing the course in 02:43, with Sarah Willcox just behind them and Sam Stevens finishing up for DRC in the half with a time of 02:54:20, a great effort.

There were more super performances in the 10K with Dan Lygo leading the team in, placing 8th overall and 2nd M40, Jacky Gilmour next to finish in 55:44 placings 3rd F60, with Andrew Eades and Caroline Harper-Easthope crossing the line together, although Harper-Easthope’s chip time put her eight seconds ahead! Eileen Heron continued her warm up for London placing 2nd F70 in a time of seventy-five minutes.

Results (Half): Paul Hocking , 01:19:33, 1st , (1st M40); Kevin Jackson , 01:38:23, 30th , (4th M50); Shane Bond , 01:50:09, 98th , (25th M40); Clare Troy , 02:03:02, 190th , (16th F40); Peter Allen, 02:07:03, 211th , (68th SenM); Lucy Fairall, 02:12:32, 252nd , (34th V40); Terry Cother, 02:14:31, 266th ,(27th M50); Rachael Goatman, 02:43:40, 392nd, (68th M40); Damian Lai, 02:43:41, 393rd , (64th M40); Sarah Willcox, 02:44:02, 394th , (69th F40); Sam Stevens, 02:54:20, 405th , (87th SenW). 10K: Daniel Lygo, 00:41:58, 8th , (2nd M40); Jacky Gilmour, 00:55:44, 178th , (3rd F60); Caroline Harper-Easthope, 00:57:15, 196th , (18th F40); Andrew Eades, 00:57:23, 195th , (54th SenM); Mark McConnell, 01:04:21, 349th , (35th M50); Jo Lewis, 01:04:21, 350th, (26th F50); Rich Barker, 01:09:03, 443rd , (58th M40);Nicki Cowle, 01:09:04, 444th, (76th F40); Dave Ashford, 01:09:53, 455th, (60th M40); Rachel Smith, 01:13:57, 505th , (128th SenW); Eileen Hieron , 01:15:22, 522nd , (2nd F70).

Easter Saturday saw 44 DRC parkrunners in action, with junior Jake Mathews running a personal best and the quickest DRC time of the weekend in 21:06 with an impressive age category percentage of 70.46, just three scored higher, Paul Lee at Stonehouse, 23;19 and 73%, Alice Lewis at Churchfield Farm, 25:28, 76.18% and Graeme Hawkins, Stonehouse, 22:32 and 79.2%. Annette Heylings was a first timer at Severn Bridge and happy to come away as first F60 and with negative splits. There were plenty of personal bests as well, Catherine Faye, Julie Davies, Julia Dawson, Mim Chapman Paul Lee, Clare Troy and Adrian Carter.

The previous weekend Tony Wooldridge was the sole DRC entrant at the Longtown Llanthony Loop fell race. The event is run over a 13.6 km course with 792 metres ascent, (8.5 miles and 2600 feet). He finished in 1:25:40 and was 2nd in the MV60 category, some six and a half minutes faster than his 2018 time. 

Another solo DRC performer that weekend was Richard Pitts who travelled up to Stockton-On-Tees in search of an ITU World Championship qualifying time. Distances were 5k, 20k, 2.5k he completed the first run in 20:08 spending 01:42 in transition 1, he completed the bike course in 34:27, with 02:37 in T2, finishing the second run in 11:37. This performance placed him 9th in his in the J Vet 3 category ina total time of 01:07:33, the race was a qualifier for ITU World Championships next year when he moves up an age group.