RUNNING: SPA Striders were in action away from home earlier this month to take part in the May the Fourth Half-Marathon in Shropshire.
Seven Striders completed the hill course in sunny conditions with Richard Sykes and Charlotte Everard performing best.
Sykes finished second overall in a time of 1hr 53mins and 38secs while Everard finished as second lady, finishing in a time of 2hrs 5mins and 54secs.
Sandra Stokes – 2hrs 39mins 41secs – embraced the Star Wars theme in fancy dress.
Also taking on the course were Tom Holbrook (2:30:10), Dave Lithgow (2:41:50), Claire Westrope and Dan Martin (2:50:27).
Elsewhere Striders were in action at the Silverstone 10km event as Andy Graham recorded a new personal best in a time of 37mins 46secs.
Tom Gotts just sneaked under the 40 minute mark while Dave Lindsay (44:27) and Kate Evans (52:32) also competed.
At the Stratford Half Marathon, runners enjoyed warm weather throughout the countryside course as Andy Roach showed a welcome return to form in a time of 1hr 33mins 21secs.
Chris Wilson ran a new personal best of 1hr 35mins.
He was followed by Iain McArthur (1:53:22), Andrew McKenzie, (1:55:13), Ben Cohen (1:57:58) and Bethan Gwynn (1:58:45).
In the Marathon, Mel Venables took first lady honours – cruising home in 3hrs 11mins 19secs in her third Spring marathon.
She has her sights firmly set on her 100k race in a fortnight.
Across the continent Cam Gow completed the Prague Marathon in 3hrs 56mins 16secs while closer to home Clare Bryan achieved a new personal best in the Lichfield Half Marathon – completing the course in 1hr 45mins 39secs.
Andy Graham ran his second personal best of the week with 29mins 54secs at the Marlow 5k while in Market Drayton Chris Jones finished in a time of 54mins 19secs.
Lastly Striders enjoyed a good morning at the Battlefield Duathalon with Andrew Bonjour finishing in 1st place and Tim Beresford right behind in 2nd place in the Olympic Distance.
Lucy Tugwell was 3rd lady in the sprint distance while Dawn Clark completed the long distance in 5 hours and 35 seconds.
