September was a busy month for Frome Running Club. The month got off to a monstrous start on 7th September with The Beast, a 13-ish mile trail race in the Purbecks.
Two Frome runners took to the starting line on Corfe Common, with Paul Horton (MV60) finishing in 01:47:49 (for third in age category), followed by Ian Holmes (MV50) in 02:03:03. On the same day, Frome fielded a strong team for the Compton Bassett 5 Mile, race no. six in the Wiltshire Road Race League. Everyone put in a stellar performance; Alex Fisher (MV40) led the charge with a finishing time of 00:31:49. He was followed by Dan Gaisford (MV40) in 00:32:14, David Lee (MV40) in 00:34:57, Neal Crowe (MV60) in 00:35:16 and Daniel Thomson (MSEN) in 00:35:23.
First Frome female to finish was Poppy Burton (FV40), who secured third in age category, followed by Claire Bowles (FSEN) in 00:36:22 (first in age category), Alan Brawn (MV50) in 00:39:27, Emma Yeo (FV50) in 00:39:34 and Clare Dunning (FSEN) in 00:39:46. Joanne Thwaite (FV50) crossed the line in 00:41:14 and Paul Goodwin (MV70) in 00:46:49.
Also on 7th September, Frome stalwart Barrie Knight (MV70) made the long journey up to Newcastle to take part in the Great North Run, posting a time of 02:00:28.
The league action didn’t let up with race 7 in the Wiltshire league, the Chippenham Half Marathon, taking place just seven days later on 14th September. Michael Gorman (MSEN) was first to finish for Frome Running Club in 01:26:48, followed closely by Dan Gaisford (MV40) in 01:28:19, Alexander Fisher (MV40) in 01:28:23, James Arnall-Culliford (MV40) in 01:28:58 and Paul Horton (MV60) in 01:30:56 for 3rd in age category. James Hood (MSEN) finished the 13.1 miles in 01:33:31, followed by Keith Vance (MV50) in 01:38:36, Nadia Miah (FSEN) in 01:40:33 and Claire Bowles (FV35) in 01:42:00. Ben Spicer (MV40) finished in 01:45:03, David Lee (MV40) in 01:46:28, Clare Dunning (FV35) in 01:51:52 and David Alsford (MV50) in 01:59:21.
Three days later, on 10th September, saw the final (6th) race in the TRRC Summer 5k series. Alexander Fisher (MV40) was the first Frome Club runner to finish in 00:18:44. Hot on his heels was Daniel Thomson (MSEN) in 00:20:48, Poppy Burton Morgan (FV40) in 00:21:36 and Brett Sadler (MV70), whose time of 00:25:42 earned him first in age category.
On Saturday, 21st September, FRC runner Ian Holmes (MV50) took on a challenge of a different kind with the Self Transcendence 24-Hour track race. The aim of the race is for participants to complete as many loops of a 400-metre athletics track as they can in the 24 hours. Ian completed 109.684 miles in the 24-hour timeframe.
21st September also saw the return of the Mells Scenic race. Two of Frome’s finest took on the 7-ish mile mixed terrain race, with Ronan Ferguson (MSEN) finishing in 00:47:45, bagging fourth position overall, and Annabel Litchfield crossing the line as first female in 00:50:56.
27th September, two more Fromies were in action, this time in Bath & Bristol for the Trail Escape: Bristol to Bath Marathon and Trail Escape: 25K run. Sam Baraud (MSEN) completed the marathon in 04:10:13 while Daniel Thomson ran the 25 km route in 03:59:34.
Rounding out the month was the 8th and final race in the Wiltshire Road Race League. Once again, Frome fielded and impressively large team to defend the club’s ranking in the league.
Michael Gorman (MSEN) was first to finish in 00:39:37, followed by Dan Gaisford (MV40) in 00:40:18, Alexander Fisher (MV40) in 00:40:35, James Arnall-Culliford (MV40) in 00:41:47, and David Lee (MV40) in 00:44:17. Claire Bowles (FV35) finished in 00:46:30 for third in age category, closely followed by Neal Crowe (MV60), whose time of 00:47:20 also earned him third in category. Nadia Miah (FSEN) crossed the line in 00:47:59, Andrew Fowler (MV40) in 00:48:16, Alan Brawn (MV50) in 00:49:57, David Alsford (MV50) in 00:50:32, Emma Yeo (MV50) in 00:51:18, Joanne Thwaite in 00:53:07, Jess Jones-Hutchings (FSEN) in 00:53:48 and Paul Goodwin (MV70) in 01:01:47.
Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.
