The sun shone for Frome Running Club’s annual Scenic 7 race, held over an off-road seven-ish mile course that starts and finishes in Mells, and takes in some gorgeous scenery, plus a fair few hills and plenty of mud.
Race director Becky Webb was pleased with the turnout of 180 runners; she was helped by a smiling army of marshalls and cake bakers, many of whom were recruited from Frome Running Club.
Becky, who took on the race director clipboard and tabard for the first time this year said, “Every runner I spoke to had positive things to say and will be back next year. We must have done something right!”
As well as marshalls, several runners in the red, gold and black of Frome also ran the course, with Joseph Donworth (SM) leading the charge with 47:42 to finish fifth overall.
The next FRC runner was Pete Larman (MV40) with 51:43, followed by Alex Francis (SM) 53:20, Tim Davis (MV40) 1:02:27, Steve Ratcliffe (MV40) 1:04:45, Joel Sudworth (MV40) 1:05:00, Lynn Brand (FV40) 1:05:22, Nathaniel Collier (SM) 1:08:59, Chris Steele (MV50) 1:11:15, Victoria Penman (FV35) 1:13:44, Adrian Mead (MV40) 1:13:56, Becky Horsfall (FV35) 1:14:04, Peter Lee (MV60) 1:19:22, Richard Corp (MV40) 1:22:59, Emma Flexon (FV40) 1:23:00, Sally Brooker (FV40) 1:23:18, Laura Francis (FV35) 1:23:58, Laura Coleman (FV35) 1:29:58, Andrew Barton (MV40) 1:30:25, Maxine Barton (FV40) 1:30:25, Bruce Lockyer (MV50) 1:32:34.
The overall results are as follows: Men: Kieran Young, Wells City Harriers, 46:19; Mick O’Doherty, Bristol & West AC, 46:55; Arthur Hayford-Taylor 47:13; Henry Hayford-Taylor 47:13. Women: Clare Prosser, Wells City Harriers, 50:41; Jo Taphouse, Minehead RC, 56:28; Lynn Hutchings, Wimborne AC, 58:44. Juniors: Jack Eglin 1:03:07. MV40: Paul Synnott 49:43. MV50: Mick O’Doherty, Bristol & West AC, 46:55; Steve Masters, Wells City Harriers, 50:53. MV60: James Beech, Crewkerne RC, 59:13. FV35: Clare Prosser, Wells City Harriers, 50:41; Alice Doggrell, Bristol & West AC, 1:01:26. FV45: Lynn Hutchings, Wimborne AC, 58:44; Hazel Hole, Minehead RC, 1:00:10. FV55: Lesley Nesbitt, Yeovil Town RRC, 1:10:20. Teams: Wells City Harriers; Frome Running Club; Avon Valley Runners.
Wiltshire Road Race League points were up for grabs from Frome Running Club athletes at the recent Melksham 10k, and the runners in red, gold and black didn’t disappoint with some superb performances on the flat course.
Joseph Donworth (SM) 37:16) led the charge, closely followed by Pete Larman (MV40), who took first place in the MV40 category with a personal best time of 37:19, then Lee Stone (MV40) 39:31 (second MV40), Stuart Clarke (SM) 39:32, Anthony Sprules (MV60) 39:33 (first MV60), Shane Ford (SM) 45:47, Chris Steele (MV50) 48:15, Ade Marchment (MV50) 49:30 PB, Kathryn Clarke (SF) 49:41 PB, Graham Farley (MV50) 53:54.
he result sees Frome A stay in eighth position in Division One, while Frome B moved up to fourth place in Division Two.
Three FRC teams of five took on the 29-mile off-road relay challenge of the Uphill to Wells race. There are six legs in total to the relay, with some runners taking on two or more legs.
First home for Frome was the men’s team of Martin Taylor, Steve Ratcliffe, Paddy Mead and Ali Smith, followed by the ladies team of Victoria Penman, Sara Elliott, Kate Wareham, Fiona Norris and Jo Riley; then came the ladies team of Lynn Brand, Dawn Prior, Angela Smith, Jude O’Connor, Lynette Grimstead and Emma Flexon.
At the Bristol Half Marathon, Pete Larman (MV40) bagged a new personal best of 1:23:07, while Keith Robinson (MV60) finished as the second placed over-60 male with 1:29:03. Richard Corp (MV40) was next home in 1:42:12; then came Fran Hunter (SF) in 1.44.15.
Meanwhile, at the Two Tunnels 10k in Bath, Dave Perrett (SM) was the first Frome runner home with 54:21, followed by Fiona Sweenie (FV40) 1:03:02, Harriet Kitcat (FV40) 1:05:12 and Claire Murphy (FV40) 1:16:27. In the Two Tunnels Half Marathon, Debbie Craven-Smith (FV40) took the price for the first female over 40, while Chris Fleming (MV40) finished in 2:22:35.
At the Great Wishford Run 10k, Chris Steele donned his off-road shoes to finish in a time of 56:02.
Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.org.uk.
