THE Berkeley 10K saw Dursley Running Club trio claim age-category prizes with Alice Lewis, Dave Saunders and John Hieron respectively picking up up F60, M70 and M80 gongs, writes David Durden.

Meanwhile, Nigel Sankey led DRC home in 40:35, with Dan Lygo just behind him in 40:27 and John Bourne 3rd DRC male at 41:18. Alice Lewis led the DRC women, finishing in 47:49 with Hannah Osbourne second DRC woman and Katrina Fletcher third. At least one personal best was run by Claire Oxley with a time of 56:38.

DRC front-runners completed the first mile in a just over six minutes, they then slowed down after that. What seem like gentle inclines to the Salutation and a steeper rise to the Mariners, took their toll. However, the breeze blew the runners home. At the sharp end of the race Gloucester AC’s Steve Millward learnt from last year and ran it as a race and not a time trial. Hanging back, he allowed Richard Dare from Cheltenham some leeway and then hauled him in pushing on to win in 32:55, 35 seconds ahead of Dare, a good time but some way short of Dan Robinson's course record of 30:22 from 2002. The first woman home was Victoria Baker in 39:15. Cheltenham Harriers walked away with Men’s Team price with Almost Athletes claiming the women’s prize.

Results: Nigel Sankey, 51st , 40:33, (10th SenM), 67.36; Daniel Lygo, 55th , 40:40, (8th M45), 73.17; John Bourne, 65th , 41:15, (tbc), 64.89; David Durden, 68th , 41:25, (8th M50), 74.98, Kevin Jackson, 90th , 43:00, (5th M55), 74.78; Andrew Oborne, 114th , 44:44, (18th M45), 66.46, Russell Rolls, 141st , 46:28, (21st M40), 60.83; Andy Kilby, 142nd , 46:30, (8th M60), 71.6, Graham Tudor, 146th , 46:45, (9th M60), 71.97; John Delafield, 158th , 47:20, (14th M55), 67.21, Alice Lewis, 163rd , 47:49, (1st F60), 82.15; David Saunders, 193rd , 49:49, (1st M70), 72.37, Huw Poppy, 208th , 50:50, (27th M40), 56.05; Paul Lee, 212th , 51:01, (10th M65), 68.33, David Quarterman, 247th , 53:02, (27th M50), 58.44; Hannah Osborne, 256th , 53:29, (14th SenF), 56.73; Katrina Fletcher, 274th , 55:26, (8th F35), 55.08; Clair Oxley, 286th , 56:38, (10th F35), 54.64, Jackie Pennington, 313rd , 59:21, (17th F50), 60.27; Diana Gore, 315th , 59:37, (5th F60), 65.73, Adrian Carter, 317th , 59:58, (20th M60), 54.49; Steve Barnes, 326th , 01:08.7, (21st M60), 54.99, Annette Heylings, 331st , 01:01:26, (6th F60), 66.51; Jo Fearns, 364th , 01:08:10, (29th F45), 47.3; John Hieron, 374th , 01:10:07, (1st M80), 64.02; Victoria Newman, 378th , 01:11:13, (15th F55), 50.81; Eileen Hieron, 379th , 12:11.9, (2nd F75), 68.25.

A glorious sunny, weekend found a contingent of Dursley Running Club athletes at the Trail Events 10k/Half Marathon/Marathon and Ultra event in the Brecon Beacons at Talybont-on-Usk, with DRC represented in the ultra and half marathon distances.

Matt Read was in Snowdonia for the 53 Mile Ultra Trail Snowdonia. He finished the course in 17:09:43, running an amazing 16,730 ft or 5100 m of elevation. Rachel Brown ventured down to the Rushmore Estate on the Wiltshire/Dorset border to take part in the Ox Frolic.

Brown said: “The idea is you do as many 10.5km laps as you want to in 12 hours.”

On Saturday, in Brecon, Dave Woods said: “It was warm in the valley, but still cool on the summits when the ultra runners set off at 7.30am. The ultra was approximately 32 miles long with around 6,500 feet of ascent.

"Paul Hocking and Francois Low set off near the front of the ultra field with Dave Wood, Kate Browning and Imi Testa holding a more conservative pace. In almost ideal conditions Paul Hocking ran a superb race to finish 5th in 05:23:17 with Francois Lowe having a great race to finish 16th overall out of 160 finishers."

Results: Paul Hocking 5th, 05:23:17; Francois Lowe, 16th, 06:07:50 ; Dave Wood 26th (3rd Male vet) 06:30:03. Kate Browning (5th female vet) 08:08:19; Imi Testa (6th female vet) 08:19:13. Starting at 9:30 am Tara Truman ran with Frampton runner Anya Wood completing the shorter but no less challenging half marathon course. Truman brought Wood home in 03:37.01 a huge PB for the Frampton runner.

Sunday, saw five DRC juniors made it to the Gloucestershire AAA’s Track and Field Championships at the Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham.

Three juniors took part in the 800m, Charlie Worsfold paced himself well over the first lap and then had to work very hard to win his heat becoming County 800m Champion for 2019 ((U15(B) 02:21.1); Emma Foran ran a PB in her first track event for DRC working hard all the way to the finish ((U15G) 02:52.1) James Durden ran in the Senior heat and paced his run well. ((U20M) 02:30.5).

Jessica Foran competed in the U11 80m Sprint. Another first timer she gave it her all to record a time of 13.4. Freddie Turner started the High Jump competition at his PB of 1.25, he progressed to a new PB of 1.35. Turner finished matters off for DRC Juniors with the 200, working hard into the last 50ms, to record 30.2. One Senior competed, Dave Durden M55 finished the 800 in 02:34.4 (PB)

The Stroud Trails event saw thirteen DRC on the entry sheet with Thomas Farley, Andy Hara Steve Watson and Matt Livall down for the Ultra 40 mile. Jon Tudor & Damian Lai down for the marathon, with Catherine Faye, Janet Matthews Rich Hensman and Paul Lewington the half with Luke Russell, Dave Saunders, having a go at the quarter. Dave Saunders achieved his highest position in a race, 13th overall, in front of David, Luke Russell placed 2nd and first senior male just 02:33 behind the winner.

In the marathon, Tudor was 26th overall, 6th senior male in a time of 05:00:36. A very good run by Tudor after his recent outing at the Great Welsh Marathon, Lai was enjoying his run with his fourth marathon in as many weeks. Matt Livall led the DRC Ultra team home in a great 5th place overall, Livall ran the 40 miles in an impressive time of 7:23. Thomas Farley was next in an hour behind Matt with Steve and Andy pairing up to finish in just over 9 hours. In the half, the DRC woman led the way with Matthews and Fay coming home together in just over two and half hours, placing 5th and 6th F35.

Paul Lewington was top of the age category tree for DRC with first M60 in the half.

Results, Ultra 40: Matt Livall 5th (4th SenM), 07:23:02; Thomas Farley 18th (9th SenM), 08:20:23; Steve Watson 26th (23rd M40), 09:06:20; Andy Hara, 27th (10th M40), 09:06:20; Marathon: Jon Tudor 26th22nd SenM), 05:00:36; Damain Lai 52nd (26th M40), 05:57:18. Half: Janet Matthews 99th (5th F35), 02:31:19; Catherine Fay 100th (6th F35), 02:31:19; Paul Lewington 104th (1st M60), 02:31:47; Richard Hensman 109th (31st M40), 02:34:15; Qtr: Luke Russell 2nd (1stSenM) 55:40; David Saunders 10th (1st M70) 01:05:03

Sunday, also saw the Tewkesbury Half Marathon, with five DRC athletes.

Kris Rymer crossed the line just in front of Jadie Cotterell on gun position, Cotterell faster on chip. Steve Barnes ran his fifth best half and was sandwiched by Clare Troy and Deb MacFarlane, who put in a big effort on a hot day. Results: Kris Rymer 255th 01:49:31; Jadie Cotterell 256th 01:49:26; Clare Troy 377th 01:56:54; Steve Barnes 621st 02:14:43;Deb Macfarlane 844th 03:08:02.

A team of 10 DRC athletes were wending their way around the trails of the Westonbirt 10K midweek. . Mark Sprigings was first home for DRC in 5th overall, comfortably sub 40. Catherine Fay was first DRC woman to finish in under 50 minutes.

Results: Mark Sprigings 5th 39:20 (4th SenM); Rich Hogg 25th 42:56 (11th SenM); Catherine Fay 102, 49:24; (22nd F) (15th SenW); Lucy Fairall 225th 55:09, (34th FemaleVet); Andrew Fergusson, 273rd 56:34, (88th MaleVet); Katrina Fletcher 274th 56:37 (60th SenW) Nicki Squire 389th 01:00:42 (99th SenW); Jackie Pennington 448th, 01:02:36, (123rd Female Vet); Di Gore 454th 01:02:45 (127th FemaleVet); Veronica Higgins 482nd 01:04:26 (137th FemaleVet).