There was no let-up in pace for Frome Running Club during the last half of September.
A highlight for the town’s runners was the Walcot Whopper, near Bath, on Saturday, 22nd September. This undulating, 10K multi-terrain takes runners out from Walcot rugby club through beautiful villages, tracks and wildlife trails and onto the breath-taking Cotswold Way.
Emma Evans (FV40) and Helen James (FSEN) both took to the starting line for Frome, with Emma finishing in 01:06:30, closely followed by Helen in 01:08:43.
The following day saw the return of Frome Running Club’s very own Mells Scenic 7. This 7-mile undulating course through the Somerset countryside, starts in the Somerset village of Mells and takes runners through the villages of Great Elm and Buckland Dinham before returning to Mells.
Jonathon Francis (MV40) was the first Frome Club runner to finish in a time of 00:55:49. He was followed by Ben Spicer (MSEN) in 01:00:20, David White (MSEN) in 01:00:54 and Harry Ebdon (MV50) in 01:01:31. Laura Millard (FSEN) was the first Frome female to finish, posting a time of 01:05:17, followed by David Millard (MV50) in 01:08:22, Helen James (FV35) in 01:13:26 and Nigel Williams (MV60) in 01:20:35.
The following Sunday, 30th September, was another key date in the local race calendar with the first ever, revamped Devizes 10K race. As befitting race number 8 in the Wiltshire Road Race League, Frome Running Club fielded a respectable contingent of athletes.
Peter Grist (MSEN) crossed the line first for Frome in 00:35:54 to finish 3rd overall. Kat Uphill (FSEN) was hot on his heels, finishing in 00:40:16, bagging first position in category and second woman overall. Next to finish was Lee Stone (MV40) 00:40:23, followed by Andrew Smallbone (MV50) in 00:43:31, Peter Reed (MV40) in 00:50:15, Sarah Smallbone (FV45) in 00:52:26 and Lynn Brand (FV55) in 00:53:25. Martin Ward (MV60) finished in 00:53:26 earning himself 3rd in category, followed by Anne Porter (FV55) in 00:58:10. Frome Running Club’s A team is now joint 7th in Division A, while the B team is 13th in Division B.
Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunning club.co.uk.