THE rain (and snow) eased off with even a bit of sunshine, but not enough to dry out the trails, which meant another weekend of sloshing about in the mud for local runners.

Nearly 150 runners headed for Griffithstown Harriers’ Sorbrook Slog, starting and finishing in Croesyceiliog, a multi-terrain 7.5-mile race on country lanes, through soggy fields, streams, narrow rocky gulleys and up and down steep slippery hills, including up Coed y Paen and around Llandegfedd Reservoir.

MonRoss Trailblazer Gavin Jones splashed his way through the testing course to place 12th out of 148 in 59 minutes 38 seconds, in a race won by Dave Cleere of Lliswerry Runners in 53.44.

Spirit of Monmouth’s Mathew Visser shot off with the lead runners and came home in 1.10.29 for 35th, followed by an on-form Michael Visser in a respectable 1.18.59 for 60th.

Despite being his third consecutive attempt at this event and knocking five minutes off his PB, Nick Sloper could not keep up with the flying Vissers, crossing in 1.22.44 for 72nd.

Meanwhile, 12 Trailblazers headed for one of the flattest 10ks in the country on Sunday, the scenic Bourton 10k in the Cotswolds, hosted by the village’s Roadrunners.

And with the sun shining and the legs moving fast, no less than eight smashed their previous best times.

The event attracted a bumper entry of 629 runners, with Witney RRC's Matthew Lock first home in a sizzling 31 mins 20 secs, 19 seconds ahead of Cheltenham & County Harriers' Stewart Merry, while fastest woman in 35.39 was Isabel Brinden of Cheltenham Leisure Centre Striders.

First Trailblazer home in a new 37.43 PB in 85th overall was Ben Humphries, edging out Tom Walmsley in 96th by just 20 seconds, who also snared a PB.

Grant White was only 14 seconds further back in 105th, also scoring a new benchmark 10k, matched by Nick Cook in 39.53 for 152nd.

Martin Turner raced home in 43.06 to just pip first Blazer lady Megan Gore by 15 seconds.

Rachael Aitken stormed to a new PB in 44.36, matched by Emma Humphries with 48.09, while Tom Gore was also setting a new benchmark only eight seconds back.

Close behind was Emma Davies in 48.32, who placed sixth fastest over-55 lady, followed by her daughter Rosie Davies in 49.54.

And Pip Cottrell raced onto the podium with a PB 50.54 as second lady over-60.

Saturday was another busy parkrun day for Spirits, with Tom Chinnick first home in 19.04 at Monmouth’s Chippenham event, just five seconds ahead of Jon Griffiths.

Spirits Matt Visser, Brian Evans, Carol Oswell, Andy Clifton, Linda Lloyd, Fay Visser and Sarah Clifton also joined the bumper 206-strong field, with Claire Somerset of Clapham Chasers fastest woman in 20.42.

SoM’s Jeremy Creasey and Elizabeth Hattam both did the Belfast (Queen's) course, and Vicky Roberts had a cracking run in Andover as first woman in 22.02.

Robert Nelson and daughter Tegan in her first parkrun joined Renske Bouwens at Mallards Pike, while Martin Blakebrough was in Leybourne Lakes, Sian Fielding at Pontypool and Steve Reason at Chipping Sodbury.

Nick Sloper was also at a muddy Kingsway, while Lee Davies climbed the 36 steps at the Bath Skyline.