Cirencester athletes enjoy a successful year (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester athletes enjoy a successful year

A SUCCESSFUL year of competition was brought to a close last Saturday night with Cirencester Athletics Club's annual dinner and prizegiving held at the Royal Agricultural College.

Fifty members and guests were there to see the club's premier award, the Athlete of the Year, presented to Elaine Wilson.

Elaine, who has run consistently well throughout 2002, has represented the club in all but one of the cross country and road race club championship events.

The Veteran Athlete of the Year title went to Richard Waldron while Rupert Chesmore was voted Member of the Year for his work as a marshall at all club events and hauling a 14-foot long fish around the London Marathon in aid of charity.

The Robin Archer Trophy for triathlete of the year was presented to Richard Mant.

The club championship shields were won by Sarah Dinwoodie and Keith Firkin for cross country and Elaine Wilson and Dave Wright for road racing.

The awards were presented by the club's president, John Burgess.

The following morning, several members were still fit enough for the usual Sunday training run in Cirencester Park while the club's multi-terrain enthusiasts travelled to the Forest of Dean for a challenging six mile race.

As in last month's Sodbury Slog race, first Cirencester finisher was Terry Barry in 89th place out of a field of 180 with a time of 47 minutes and 50 seconds.

He was closely followed by John Dorling (92nd in 48.23) while the quartet was completed by John Jameson (117th in 50.35) and David Edelsten (134th in 53.25).

The club will be organising its own very popular ten-mile Chedworth Roman Trail multi-terrain race on March 30 and entry forms are available from David Edelsten (01285 720421).

Next event for the club is the third round of the Oxfordshire Cross Country League at Enslow Quarry near Woodstock on Sunday, December 29.

At the recent second round at Lambourn, the club held on to their second place in the ladies' league and fifth place in the men's and will be hoping that Christmas festivities don't blunt their defence of those positions.