By Liza Darroch. 

DESPITE the Christmas period, determined members still managed to find competitive races.

With 2018 at an end Barbara Thomas joined16 others in running the Pilot Inn 4, which she completed in 34.46 as one more towards her annual 100 race target.

Pilot Inn '4', Hardwicke, nr Gloucester, 4 miles road: 1 Chris Brown (Severn AC) 22.05

16 Barbara Thomas (Cirencester AC) 34.46 17 finished.

New member Nicola Wood travelled to Mortimer near Reading for the ten miles of hills and mud involved in the The Gut Buster.

Her now regular Thursday morning outings made the first eight miles feel comfortable but she reported that there was little left for the final two miles when ‘the princess would have given half her kingdom for a road to run on’. But, after struggling past many others who were walking, she finished in 1.42 completely unaware that a fellow club member, was only a minute behind her.

In contrast Becky Collier, who was back competing after minor surgery was just thrilled to be running and finishing.

Gut Buster, Mortimer, nr Reading, 10 miles multi-terrain: 1 Rob Corney (Reading Roadrunners) 57.27, 268 Nicola Wood (Cirencester AC) 1.42.28, 272 Rebecca Collier 1.43.29 329 finished.

parkruns, 5km trail

With a plethora of parkruns done and many more to come over the New Year it was mostly regulars who ran this Saturday.

Ollie Campbell tackled Pomphrey Hill near Bristol to finish 2nd in 18.35, Ian Barrett was 5th with 17.55 in Torquay while Isaac McAdam was 4th at Chipping Sodbury with 17.45 and the rest of the family in hot pursuit.

Run of the week to Rachel who finally came in below 26 minutes with a great 25.45 new PB.

Nearer home, Mark Sysum led the team to finish 6th at Cirencester followed by Neil Morrissey and an (unusually) competitive David Moss.

Good runs from Dorian Matts and Brendan McCarthy who was back for more.

Rachel Ranger post injury and buggy pushing Simon Campbell followed. Kate Sackett nipped round Stonehouse, Barbara Thomas was also on her own at Swindon as was Ruth Fulford at Moreton in Marsh.

Slowest runs of the week for Liza Darroch and Rupert Chesmore who were supporting daughter and 7 year old granddaughter round their first parkruns in Gloucester.

Cirencester AC finishers: Cirencester: 6 Mark Sysum 21.12, 17 Neil Morrissey 23.04, 20 David Moss 23.38, 24 Dorian Matts 24.31, 67 Brendan McCarthy 27.46,

70 Rachel Ranger 27.53, 123 Simon Campbell 33.28, 164 finished

Swindon: 188 Barbara Thomas 27.23, 475 finished

Stonehouse: 12 Kate Sackett 23.33, 82 finished

Chipping Sodbury: 4 Isaac McAdam 17.45, 17 Jacob McAdam 19.49, 85 Alan McAdam 24.27, 119 Rachel McAdam 25.45, 414 finished

Gloucester City: 142 Liza Darroch 34.51, 181 Rupert Chesmore 51.19, 185 finished

Fire Services College, Moreton-in-Marsh: 111 Ruth Fulford 30.46, 180 finished

Pomphrey Hill, Bristol: 2 Ollie Campbell (J) 18.35, 280 finished

Torbay Velopark: 5 Ian Barrett 17.55, 294 finished