Dursley Peaks Race: Nobody can stop Stopford in his running tracks

Seventy-five athletes took part, but it was the first time in four years that a DRC athlete did not cross the line first and the event saw Lee Stopford from Stroud and District finishing very strongly to break Dan Anderson’s course record, completing his run in 43:07.

Stopford was almost five minutes ahead of Andy Kirkup from Wotton Runners in second place and in turn Robert Harding of TACH a minute back.

Evita Gonzalez-Szamocki was first female to finish in 52:59, still some way of Liza Barry’s course record set in 2015 of 52:11. The second and third woman home were Zoe Lammerton and Fran Amigoni who had both raced on Monday at the Westonbirt Triathlon, impressive runs by both. Another unrested athlete was Francois Low who had run the Hogweed 10K also on Monday, he led the DRC team in and was 13th overall in a time of 56:00 with John Bourne just 33 seconds behind him, with Lammerton 3rd home for DRC. There were personal bests out on the course, Clair Oxley, Carly Heath and Andrew Eades to name but three. Pete Brown showed that age is no barrier to running a “fell race” finishing in first in the M70 category in 01:18:08

Results Francois Low,13th, 54:38, (8th SenM); John Bourne,14th,55:09, (9th SenM); Zoe Lamerton, 18th,56:33, (1st FV40); Stuart Watts, 21st,59:01, (5th MV45); Francesca Amigoni,29th, 01:03:05, (1st FV35-39); Damian Lai, 36th,01:05:42, (3rd MV40); Lise Hindshaw, 37th, 01:05:59, (1st FV45); James Hosken, 39th, 01:07:57, (4th MV40); Catherine Pinnock, 40th, 01:08:04, (2nd FV35-39); Andrew Eades, 49t, 01:12:45, (5th MV40); Louise Biddell, 50th,01:13:01, (3rd FV35-39); Pete Brown, 62nd, 01:18:08, (1st MV70); Julie Froggatt, 63rd, 01:21:02, (1st FV55); Claire Searle, 63rd, 01:21:02, (1st FV55); Andrew Ferguson, 65th, 01:21:04, (6th MV40); Kevin Brockway, 66th, 01:21:07, (5th MV50); Clair Oxley, 69th, 01:22:24, (5th FV35-39); Carly Heath, 69th, 01:22:24, (6th FV35-39); Amanda Hensman, 74th, 01:27:00, (8th FV40); Teresa Walton,74th, 01:27:00, (2nd FV60).

Meanwhile, Mark Sprigings lined with Nigel Sankey and Rich Hogg at the Pomphrey Fast 5, As with the Aztec Series these races are littered with very fast runners, The race won in a time of 15:51. There was significant congestion on the narrow course at the start as athletes sought to get a fast start. The DRC athletes set off fast and struggled to maintain their pace in the 2nd and 3rd miles. Sankey and Hogg were neck and neck until around 2k when Hogg had to slow due to a niggling back problem. All ran personal bests. Results (Field of 128): Mark Sprigings 43rd, 18:18; Nigel Sankey 61st,19:11; Richard Hogg 85th, 21:12

Richard and Sandra Lewis took part in the Swansea Triathlon 2019 a Sprint distance event with a 750m open water sea swim, 20km flat and fast bike and 5km flat seaside run. Sandra Lewis finished 7th in her age category. Meanwhile Kris Rymer was in Evesham for the Triple Blue Sprint Tr. This Involved a 700m swim, 22k bike and 5K run. He finished 44th with a time of 01:37:11.

Swansea Swim T1 Bike T2 Run Total

Richard Lewis 12.45 3.24 37.30 54 24.21 01:18:56 157th (46th MV)

Sandra Lewis 14.56 4.44 40.46 1.39 33:16 01:35:23 543rd (7th FVV)

Triple Blue

Kris Rymer 21:59 3:57 43:59 1:11 26:04 01:37:11 44th (6th M40)

30 DRC parkrunners out on Saturday. Fastest of the weekend was Charlie Wosfold, DRC Junior at Kingsway, 18:38, whilst Mark Sprigings ran 18:45 at Gloucester City. Alice Lewis was top of the Age grading’s with 83.7% at Kingsway whilst Charlie scored 77.8 in the JM 11-14 category. Dan Lygo achieved the solitary parkrun personal best of the weekend.

Results: Ashton Court: Steve Rugman, 263rd , 28:30; Jude Rugman, 522nd, 38:49; Cirencester: Andrew Oborne, 35th, 23:00; Gloucester City: Mark Sprigings, 3rd , 18:45; Tara Truman, 54th, 25:14; Kingdom (Sussex): Paul Lewington, 32nd, 29:06; Kingway: Charlie Worsfold, 4th, 18:38; Joseph Ball, 31st, 21:59; Alice Lewis, 46th, 23;10; Catherine Pinnock, 65t , 24:14; Darren Smith, 78th, 25:19; Ethan Matthews, 95th, 26:01; Janet Matthews, 97th, 26:09; Antony Ball, 100th, 26:16; Steve Barnes, 207th, 31:53; Mike Hanman, 208th, 31:54; John Spicer, 217th, 32:16; Jo Fearns, 272nd, 37:47.Lullingstone Nr Dartford Kent: Richard Pitts, 7th , 22:32; Seaton: Rachael Goatman, 164th , 32:02; Stonehouse: Daniel Lygo, 17th , 22:16; Andy Kilby, 34th , 24:04; Wepre Nr Wrexham: Kath Hudson, 84th , 31:52; Wotton: Matt Rogers, 5th , 20:08; Clair Norman, 63rd , 28:27; Julie Gowing, 71st, 28:57; Julie Froggatt, 88th , 31:09; Victoria Newman, 103rd, 32:43; Michael Froggatt, 120th , 36:42.

Starting on Friday, May 31 with a ‘Sunset Shuffle’ 5k run. Sam Martin, Jacky Gilmour, Richard Jones, Charlie Jones, Olive Jones and Caroline Jones enjoyed a relaxed introduction to the first ever RunFestRun event in the grounds of the Bowood Estate. Later that evening Pete Dunn and Mark Waller made quick work of a woody 5k LightUp Night run.

Timed races followed on Saturday. Waller, Dunn and Caroline Jones completed the trail half marathon 2:00:45, 2:15:44 and 2:06:27 respectively.

The 5k race, starting at 11.30am saw the Jones family, Martin, Gilmour and Annette Keevil in action. Martin was the only DRC entrant to the 10k race, achieving 57:37 in by now incredibly hot conditions. The highlight of this race being Martin overtaking Paula Radcliffe (who was running with her daughter). The last race of the day for the DRC competitors was the Running 4 x 1200m Club Relay; with forty-six teams on the start line, including Thornbury RC and Avon Valley Runners. The all ladies team of Jones, Gilmour, Keevil and Martin completed the relay in 24:47 and 24th position.

DRC completed the weekend celebrating 50 years by running 5 legs of 10K around Dursley, , Dave Wood, Damian Lai, Francois Low and Nigel Sankey managed to complete the whole 50k with many other DRC athletes joining in along the way.