SUNDAY proved a busy day for Spirit of Monmouth taking part in local races and overseas, reports VICKY ROBERTS.

All the way down in sunny Portugal, Marina Wright ran the Lisbon Half Marathon.

This was part of the super half series and started on the Portugal capital’s ionic bridge Ponte 25 de Abril. 

This gave participants a one off chance to run on the bridge and one of the most beautiful views of the city.

And Marina completed the race in one hour five minutes seven seconds and said she enjoyed the views and it was great to see other Welsh clubs racing at the event. 

Stuart Morris and Andy Jackson raced at the Pendock Spring Chicken 10k run
Stuart Morris and Andy Jackson raced at the Pendock Spring Chicken 10k run (Spirit of Monmouth)

Stuart Morris and Andy Jackson raced at the Pendock Spring Chicken 10k run  in the South Worcestershire Countryside. 

This race consisted of 5k of road and 5k of trail running with many hills and sloppy mud.

Both men ran well with Stuart, who said the views of the Malvern Hills were great at the top, finished in 16th place out of 237 in 45mins 55secs.

Andy also enjoyed running through the flooded sections and finished 49th in 53.11. 

Martin Blakebrough and Jeremy Creasey both ran at the local Howling Bull race in Ross-on-Wye, organised by Dan Sandford, which attracted a field of 87 racers.

This was a six-mile, mainly off-road running event, starting  at Walford Village Hall, and climbing up Bulls Hill along the beautiful Wye Valley Walk.

As well as trails and woodland  paths,  runners also ran up Leys Hill and Howle Hill. 

MonRoss Trailblazers had success in the Howling Bull race
MonRoss Trailblazers had success in the Howling Bull race (MRT)

First home was Tim Batchelor of Chepstow Harriers in 42.46, who was also fastest over-40, followed by MonRoss Trailblazers duo Rich Foster in 43.31 and Keiron Brown in 43.36.

Harriers’ Paul Murrin in fourth took the over-50 men’s class in fourth in 44.23, while Trailblazer Martin Woodhead in 53.58 took the over-60 men’s class.

First woman home was Harriers’ over-50 runner Vanessa Lawson in 58.59, followed by Forest of Dean AC’s Claire Jackson in 59.20 and fastest over-60 woman Fiona Turner in 63.08.

Spirit’s Martin ran well on the challenging route and crossed in 61.54,  while club mate Jeremy crossed the finish line in 66.15.

Spirit's Martin Blakebrough and Jeremy Creasey both ran at the local Howling Bull race
Spirit's Martin Blakebrough and Jeremy Creasey both ran at the local Howling Bull race (SoM)

Harriers’ Tim Batchelor, Paul Murrin and Douglas Briggs lifted the men’s team crown from Trailblazers’ Rich Foster, Keiron Brown and Martin Woodhead in second.

And the Chepstow club doubled up in the women’s team completion, Vanessa Lawson, Brigitte Allen and Wendy Sharpe-Nash pipping Forest of Dean AC’s Claire Jackson, Leanne Meek and Stefanie Francis.

Twenty one runners and their faithful friends also entered the canicross section, Robert Henderson home first in 44.06, followed by Paul Knight in 48.27, with Sarah Bucknell fastest woman in 54.19.

Meanwhile, spirit’s Sarah Baker also enjoyed a trip to Bath and enjoyed a more relaxed race enjoying the atmosphere along with 8,423 other participants and finished the half marathon in a good 1.50.23. 

The race started on Royal Avenue in front of the Royal Crescent and proceeded out of Royal Victoria Park.