IT was a sunny Sunday for the 2019 Herepath Half, hosted by Running Forever Running Club, with 159 athletes taking on the challenging 13.5-mile route on an ancient right of way.

The weather during the previous week ensured a challenging trail run with plenty of mud.

First home in a course record of 1.28.20 was Christian Green, of Wells City Harriers, with Matt Lusby (Street Striders, 1.29.37) in second and Daniel Piper (Avon Valley Runners, 1.35.22) third.

First female finisher was Rachel Astington (Running for Time, 1.42.21), with Joanna Carritt (Running Forever, 1.46.26) taking second spot and Verity Elston (Minehead RC, 1.50.05) in third.

The six ‘home grown’ competitors got extra cheers from the host club marshals; Dan Talbot and Dean Bennet both finished in 1.39, with Talbot just edging it by two seconds in the race for first Running Forever finisher.

Following second female finisher Carritt were Sam Wharton (1.50), Hannah Kirkman (2.16), Nic Saint (2.40) and Rachel Nicholls (3.08).

The race was well supported by all the local running clubs, with Minster Milers providing 12 of the 157 finishers.

The event starts and finishes at Thurlbear School, where the PTA provides invaluable support and cakes.

Race director Peter Hall was delighted to present the PTA with a cheque for £1,000 on the day.

While many RFRC members were helping with the Herepath Half, there were still some who won a bit of run bling at the weekend.

Adrian Edwards, Andy Burgess and Georgina Brice tackled the 33-mile Exmoor Ultra on Saturday.

Incorporating more than 6,600 metres of climb and a number of streams and bogs, Edwards and Burgess came home in 8.14, with Brice battling on through the weather for a 10.29 finish.

In sunnier climes, Katie Elliott finished the Valencia Half Marathon in 2.24.

The club’s parkrun tourists were at Edinburgh, Beckenham Palace, Eastleigh, Wimpole Estate, Victoria Glasgow, Pomphrey Hill, Watermeadows and The Old Showground.

Nineteen took part in the Longrun Meadow event, where Chris Adams ran a PB, and Paula Bisatt and Jemma Winterbottom both ran their 50th parkrun.

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TAUNTON running star Hannah Taunton sets off for Dubai on Sunday morning to compete for Team GB in the World Para Athletics Championships.

Her 1500m race in T20 category, which may be televised by Channel 4, is on the morning of Sunday, November 10.

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FOUR Hydro Harriers turned out for the second instalment of the 2019-20 Weston Prom 5-miler Run last Thursday evening. Good conditions greeted the 286 runners, with Ian Salter bringing home the bacon for the Harriers, in 61st place in a time of 31m 58s.

Following him in 67th place was Chris Jones (32.44), with Mark Foss, still recovering from his recent Exmoor Stagger exploits, coming home in 34.36 (95th).

James Wright wrapped up a solid team performance, crossing the line in 46.35 (246th).

Leigh Hunt was the sole Hydro Harrier taking on the seventh edition of the popular Herepath-Half trail race, last Sunday, finishing in a highly respectable 46th from 157 finishers in a time of 2h 0m 51s.

Hydro Harriers’ Ian Salter pipped Andy White at a wet and windy Longrun Meadow, last Saturday, home in 20min 20sec – 24 seconds ahead.

Meanwhile, Rowland Lyons struggled around Valentine’s (Ilford) in 28.44.