Storm Ciara blew the Dursley Dozen off Dursley Running club’s race calendar on Sunday, writes David Durden.

The club taking the view that the risk of injury to competitors, marshals and volunteers was too great and cancelling the race. The club will look at seeing if the race can be put on again later in the year. Despite the disappointment the week also saw lots of positives forth club. A renewed enthusiasm of DRC athletes to get out to some of the faster courses, alongside members’ willingness to give new events a try, plus the Tri-team in action.

Three DRC runners lined up at Burnham on Sea 5K on the 6th. The weather ideal, a slight crosswind and around 5 degrees. Jenny Binks-Gardner, Matt Hazel-Livall and James Price forgoing training, replacing it with a flat out 5K. Lining up Price was feeling confident and even thinking of a win until he saw Adam Holland and some others arrive. Binks-Gardner came to the race off a good block of training and was aiming for 19mins whilst Livall, suffering from a cold, was looking to set a bench- mark. Price James started ambitiously, running with Adam Holland. Binks-Gardner and Livall both started strongly. Livall pushing Binks-Gardner to keep on target. As they completed the second mile Price was starting to struggle and was shortly overtaken by Jack Pitcher of Emmerson’s Green. With half a mile to go Price felt a second wind, gritted his teeth and started to pull some time back but it wasn’t enough to catch Pitcher who had run a controlled run to beat him by around 6 seconds. Binks-Gardner had run impressively consistent c.6- minute mile splits, she continued to push hard having a large lead over the 2nd female. Livall coming into the last mile found himself in a back and forth battle and with 200m to go was still in a real race, he left everything out on the road, to finish in front of a chasing M40 competitor. A great night of running for DRC, Price running the fastest 5K for several years, Binks-Gardner also producing an impressive performance to finish 1st lady in 18:44. Results: James price 5th,(5th SenM), 16:39; Jenny Binks-Gardner, 17th,(1st SenW) 18:50; Matt Livall, 21st,(7th MV40), 19:42

The following night seven DRC athletes travelled to Chepstow Racecourse for the most technical of the 4-night races that Rogue Runs organise, the course of just over 5 miles was firm to soft and the weather dry, with a perfect air temperature. After the race briefing it was off to the gun, the waft of cordite flowed over the start line. Off up a hilly track and across some fields before entering some woodland and a precarious run along the cliff edge. A mile or so on a single technical path in the trees took the runners to a wider path leading them to the turning point and onto a downhill grassy stretch where runners navigated mole hills. A few undulations and a rickety gate to be climbed took the athletes to the water crossing. The depth varying with the route chosen, a couple taking a full dip. It was then over another gate and back into the woods on an undulating path, peppered with tree roots that kept the runners alert. The competitors faced a few more undulations until the last “sting in the tail” climb up the track to the finish. Rachel Brown who led the DRC team home said “My favourite night race, it is a more technical course…there is a water feature and a cruel climb to the finish.”

Diana Gore came over the line and was shocked but delighted to find out she had won first in age category, Veronica Higgings was 4th in her category in her first night race.

Results: Rachel Brown 80th (5th F45) 56;18; Kevin Brockway 131st (11th M55), 01:04:50; Leigh Allen 162nd (13th F40), 01:13:42; Vicci Phillips 163rd (14th F45), 01:13:43; Veronica Higgins 166th (4th F55) 01:14:52, Diana Gore 191st (1st F60), 01:21:53; Jackie Pennington 192nd (18th F50), 01:22:05.

Vicki Thrift was in warmer climes Dubai! Despite the nicer weather she was competing with another 2289 competitors in the Dubai Ironman 70.3. Experienced triathlete Vicki was out of the water in 63 minutes for the 1.9kms, then completing the 90 km bike ride in just under 3 hours before going on to run the half marathon in 02.09. Thrift completed the 70.3 miles in six hours and eighteen minutes.

Result: Swim 01:03:15, Bike 02:53.57, Run 02:09:47, 1418th overall, 207th woman and 37th in the F40-44 Category. Chris Young was the other DRC -Tri team competitor taking in the Tewkesbury Aquathon, in which the run awas more like a cross country event.

Forty-two DRC parkunners this week with yet again Berkeley Green attracting a hefty following of twenty six. The 42 out on Saturday have completed 2153 parkruns between them approximately 10,765km or 6728 miles, around 43,000 hours of healthy activity from U11s to over 80s. In a week of fast 5Ks, great times continued at Berkeley with Nigel Sankey running the fastest parkrun of the weekend, 19:36; Tim Ennis just 18 seconds behind. Alice Lewis posted a parkrun PB recording the fastest female parkrun time for DRC and unsurprisingly headed up the Age Gradings with an impressive 86.22%. Tara Truman was closest to her with a time of 23:06, followed by Cath Pinnock recording a PB, 23:30, Laura Harvey just 3 seconds behind. Annette Heylings achieved a 78% AG just ahead of Jacky Gilmour another runner over 70% on AG. David Quarterman ran at 23:51 PB. Also at Berkeley four DRC Juniors ran, Ruby and Lila Heath, Lilly Humphries and Sophie Christopher. Ruby Heath first in the JW11-14 category just ahead of Humphries, with Lila Heath 2nd JW10 and Sophie Christopher 3rd. The most important thing being their enjoyment. At Kingsway Tel Cother and Karl Rust ran PBs of 25:51 and 27:20. Contributing to the thousands of parkruns run by DRC members Steve Barnes ran number 175 this weekend