RUNNING Forever hosted the Humdinger Half Marathon and Hurtle Races on Sunday. 

Based at the Wellsprings Leisure Centre, these are hilly races which always attract a good field of runners.

Conditions were challenging on Sunday with high winds and the occasional wintry shower but this didn’t deter the 187 Humdinger and 128 Hurtle finishers.

First man home in the Humdinger was Kieron Summers from Weston AC who finished in 1.18.54 for a new course record. 

Second was Daniel Cahill from Minster Miles in 1.21.32 with Christian Green from Wells City Harriers third in 1.22.43.

In the women’s race the winner was Alice Murray-Gourlay of Taunton AC in 1.28.54. 

Second place went to Alice Smith from Sunderland Harriers in 1.30.19 with Taunton AC’s Kim Hill taking third in 1.31.21.

The team prizes went to Weston AC for the men and Taunton AC for the women.

The Hurtle also saw the course record broken, by four minutes, with Hannah Taunton of Taunton AC (and Running Forever) and her 27.04 finish. 

Second in the women’s race was Julia Furrier in 30.31 with Nicola Fulstow of Weston AC taking third in 33.29.

First in the men’s Hurtle race was local man Sam White, who runs for Shelton Striders, in 25.58.

Second was Jason Scott of Running for Time in 26.17 with Marcus Albano of TNR Harriers taking third spot with his 27.35 finish.

A full list of finishers is available on www.fullonsport.com

Running Forever would like to thank all of those who took part or helped out on the day.

Thanks also due to the staff at Wellsprings Leisure Centre for help and also the local residents.

The hosting of the two races above meant it was Saturday events for most of the members.

Adrian Edwards and Tanya Lewis were on Dartmoor for their marathon. 

Extremely boggy, very cold and unbelievably muddy were some of their reactions but they dug deep and both completed the course with their shoes still on their feet in 6.27.

Jo Carritt took the Half option and finished in 2.39.

Emma Kiernan was in Exeter for their Half Marathon, finishing in an excellent time of 1.27.

Simon Denson also headed for warmer climes, completing the Barcelona Half in 1.28.

Gavin Clegg was orienteering himself round a week of events in Portugal and recorded 11th and 21st places in the early events.

Many of the usual suspects were involved in organising and helping out at the Hurdle and Humdinger on Sunday so it was a smaller field of Club runners who took part. 

First home in the Humdinger was Chris Brown in 1.34 with James Beach taking second club spot in 1.49. 

Matt Price recorded 1.57 and Julie Griffiths Jones 1.59. 

The club’s final two athletes, Lee Macklin and Helen Phillips, came home in 2.07 and 2.08 respectively. 

Well done everyone on a challenging course in what was pretty nasty weather at times.

The club had four entrants in the Hurtle and Sam Stamp was first home in 35.31.  

Peter Stretton crossed the line in 41.48 with Gill Taunton in 43.42 and Lisa Windsor in 46.51.

There were parkrun tourists in Minehead, Killerton, Bath Skyline and Barnstaple and 15 runners on the local course at Longrun Meadow where John Allaway recorded a course PB.

BRAVING an icy Barking Parkrun last Saturday, Hydro Harriers’ Rowland Lyons was eight seconds under a 24-minute pacing target, finishing 31st. 

Meanwhile, at a muddy Longrun Meadow, in another event won by his son Sam, Andy White was home in 20:48, an impressive 10th from 252 finishers.

To cap his weekend sporting triumphs, White was in action at Sunday’s Hestercombe Hurtle.

He finished in an excellent chip time of 30:11, placing him 14th from 129 runners and second in his age category (MV50).