FOR Dursley Running Club it was weekend of amazing endurance performances on foot, by bike and in the water,writes David Durden.

On Saturday, the Sharpness 16 the race saw Kate Browning doubling up and competing in the ultra version of the event, Browning bagging marathon number 98 along the way. She ran a scorching 8:36 minute mile pace along the canal from Gloucester to Sharpness and back, to finish in 04:34 (strava).

This was despite struggling with a headwind, a new pair of trail shoes and the heat. Browning placed first woman. Saturday and Sunday saw the Race to the Tower event the double marathon taking the runners from Standish Woods to Broadway Tower.

Two DRC athletes took on the Double, Rachel Brown and Paul Lee. Browns aim was to beat last year’s time and try and get in under 14 hours. She smashed last year’s time by 50 minutes with an official chip time of 13:58:44 placing 269th and 23rd F40 out of 96 in her category, Lee also impressed finishing in 14:32:36, 123rd overall, and 5th M60. Quentin Somerset completed the first day marathon in 05:56:09, placings 32nd overall, and 12th M40 also notching up marathon number 98.

On the Sunday, Catherine Fay and Janet Matthews ran the second day marathon at Race to the Tower. Matthews was 21st overall,12th female (6th F40), 06:14:47; Fay 22nd, 13th female (6th SenF) 06:14:48. On the same day Hannah Osborne completed Ironman Staffordshire and completed the 1.2 mile swim in 52 minutes, the 56 mile bike course in four hours and 15 minutes and the half-marathon (13.1miles) in two hours and twenty nine minutes, adding in her transitions she finished in 7hour and 55mins.

DRC- Tri Teams annual trip to Lake Windermere to compete in The Great North Swim started on Thursday. The weather reports caused concern with warnings that races could be cut short or even cancelled, wetsuits would be compulsory and organisers recommended gloves and boots as water temperature was described as cold.

Sixteen athletes swam either two miles and 5k. By the day of the swim the water temperature was a high of 14.8 degrees. The following results show the resolve of a number of athletes to get to grips with open water swimming over the winter months plus the coaching support within the DRC-Tri Team, which has enabled previous non-swimmers to achieve a two-mile open water swim.

Results: 2 Miler Zoe Lamerton 01.10:06; Fred Yearsley 01.16.54; Julian Peachey 01.41.47; Susan Peachey 01.24.47; Nick Addison 01.27.34; Rachel Carter - 1.34.36; Tel Cother 1.34:58 5k: Sophie Young 01.34.12; Chris Young 01.37.02; Rob Woodward 01.42.45 Tara Truman 01.46.29; Adam Cook 01.57.43; Sarah Willcox 02.14.16; Ray Williams 02.15.20; Karen Eadon 02.29.30

DRC Tri-team took 13 athletes to the Wotton Tri 2019, including Mike Brown, Joe Browning, Caroline Whitlock, Cara Zoglowek, Shane Bond Teresa Walton, David Quarterman, Rachel Goatman, Paul Breen, Matt Hazell-Livall, Natalie Louise Saum and Leigh Allen.

The event comprises of a 362 m swim, ad 24km cycle and a 4kmm run. The team started with Teresa Walton David Quarterman and Cara Zoglowek in the pool with the rest following, all saying it was a tough choppy swim. Transitions was smooth leading to the bike ride and very hilly bike ride. Despite having to borrow a swim hat and goggles Mike Brown produced a swift 5.37 for the 400m swim on his way to what is thought to be his second victory in a Triathlon in the space of as many weeks the full results are yet to be confirmed

Whilst at the Cotswold 113, middle distance triathlon, Andy Kilby continued his fine run of performances with an impressive 4th in his M60-64 category with a time of 05:55:39, placing 496th overall, taking 44 :10 for the Swim (1.2 miles), T1 04:43, Bike(56 miles)02:59:49, T2 02:55 Run (13.1) 02:04:00, an impressive endurance performance.

Sunday also saw great junior performances at second event in the Low Key Series at the Prince of Wales Stadium.

Ten young athletes ran, jumped and threw, Representing DRC were Liz Hill, Henry Blakey, Jack Blakey, Ted Blakey, Harry Smith, Tom Smith, Jessica Foran, Emma Forran , Frank Skipp and Annabel Skipp. There were plenty of personal bests and podium positions. Liz Hill jumped a PB at speed bounce and Emma Foran achieved PBs at 1500m and High Jump, with Jack Blakey picking up a number of first places. For quite few it was the introduction to athletics competition and they not only performed well giving the larger Cheltenham Harriers club a good run for their money but also enjoyed themselves

Nine DRC athletes ran the 10K distance all, at quite different events. At the Chew Magna 10K Nicola Christoper and Darren Smith tackled a road course with one significant hill to overcome, which they both managed finishing in 56 minutes and 61 minutes respectively. At Fairford on a course with a number of climbs four DRC athletes competed with Steve Barnes leading the team home in 59:43 with Annie Hidden first DRC lady to finish in 01:04:48, with Sandra Lewis and Rachel Smith swiftly following her in. Off Road in the Forest of Dean Huw Poppy, Peter Allen and Clare Troy completed the Tough Mudder trail 10K, finishing respectively in 52:43, 55:34 and 57:24

Chew Valley 10K:Nicola Christopher , 376th , (29th SenW), 00:56:07; Darren Smith , 511th , (119th SenM), 01:01:37. Fairford: Steve Barnes , 259th , (16th M60), 00:59:43;Annie Hidden , 298th , (36th F45), 01:04:48; Sandra Lewis , 302nd, (38th F45), 01:06:31;Rachel Smith , 313th , (40th F35), 01:08:05

Tough Mudder Forest Trail 10K: Huw Poppy , 138th , (29th M40-49), 00:52:43;

Peter Allen, 182nd, (61st M30-39), 00:55:34; Clare Troy , 221st , (17th F40-49), 00:57:24