RUNNING Forever Running Club’s much-travelled marathon specialist, Gerry Hogg, returned to his home town of Wanganui in New Zealand where he ran the Three Bridges marathon.

Hogg came to the UK in 1987 and had not run competitively in Wanganui for 33 years.

The race itself is over four laps of a flat course run entirely beside the Wanganui River, which it crosses numerous times.

It is so called because it uses the three bridges which span the river to make the crossings.

Weather conditions were warm and sunny, with temperatures in the low to mid 20s.

Hogg led the race for over 23 miles but eventually a combination of jet lag and warm conditions meant that he was overtaken with 2.5 miles to go.

He was still second, and first veteran, finishing six minutes in front of the third runner in 2hrs 52mins.

Hogg said he was delighted with his performance as he had ‘ticked another box’, this being the first marathon he had run in his home country.

n CONDITIONS were much tougher at the Longrun Meadow parkrun on Saturday when those taking part struggled against the wind down one edge of the course, slipped and slid on the far section, and ran through muddy puddles all the way round. A total of 232 took part including 28 first timers.

Headteacher and parkrun addict Kirsti Nelson ran her 50th event.

Eight children from the newly- formed running club at one of Kirsti’s schools, Norton Fitzwarren C of E primary, ran to support her. They were Grace Williams, Jessica Whiting, Daniel Whiting, Isobel Wood, Leah Goodman, Kira Prentice, Riley Prentice and Charlie Weston.

First man home was Ian Haley in 19m 07s with Tony Summerhayes second place in 20m 01s and Daniel Talbot of Running Forever third in 20m 07s. First lady home – and second overall – was Hannah Taunton of Taunton AC who finished in 19m 59s with Sam Wharton of Running Forever second in 22m 40s and Kate Drew of Taunton AC third in 23m 08s. The number of personal bests recorded today was just 15, unsurprisingly give the conditions. n Hydro Harriers Brian Pearson and Rowland Lyons were both in parkrun action on Saturday.

Pearson completed the Longrun circuit in 25m 11s while and Lyons ran at Valentines (Ilford), coming home in 27m 2s to finish 63rd from 195.

n Taunton Running Club’s ‘Mums Run’ starts today and then every Thursday at 9.30am from Longrun Meadow Barn.

The runs is a free, friendly, ladies only, weekly run/jog session and is designed especially for busy mums.

The sessions are supervised by Taunton Running Club’s own England Athletics-qualified running instructor to provide careful guidance and advice. Take your baby and buggy if you don't have a child minder.

Taunton RC parkrun results: Caroline Barratt 27m 05s, Sarah-Elizabeth Fudge 27m 39s, Paul Matravers 28m 06s, Jamie Hill 28m 48s, Ian Bellamy 29m 45s, Sharon Barrett 33m 49s, Claire Critchley 34m 29s, Sally Curtis 35m 34s, Lynne Adams 38m 28s.

Taunton RC meet at 9.30am every Sunday morning for long slow runs in preparation for the Taunton half marathon.

Additionally, this group meets at the Castle Sports Centre Track to work on tempo and intervals.