SPIRIT of Monmouth started the Hereford and Borders Summer XC league at Treworgan Farm in Llangrove in midweek, hosted by MonRoss Trailblazers, reports VICKY ROBERTS.

A humid and hot evening saw more than 100 runners race the hilly five-mile loop multi-terrain course that included fields, firetrack and a small water feature.

Spirit had 13 members involved, which allowed them to make two full mixed teams, finishing a strong fifth and 19th.

Sam Jason of Croft Ambrey proved fastest man in 28mins 52secs, followed by Abergavenny fell runner Wyndham Turner in 31.07, with Rich Foster fastest Trailblazer in sixth in 32.55.

Spirits’ Matthew Visser finished in 37.19 to finish 28th, just four seconds ahead of team mate Kirk Hill who was first over-50 man.

Club mate Katie Adams also retained the fastest woman title in 37.30, beating Blazers’ Lucinda Lumley by 36 seconds.

Spirit enjoyed the friendly social atmosphere, including delicious home baked cakes at the finish.

The same night, three Spirit runners also took part in the 130-strong second race of the Rose Inn series in Redwick in the Gwent Levels, named after the nearby pub.

The four-mile race consisted of two flat loops on the road, providing a fast course with many runners gaining PBs for the distance.

First home was Luke Williams of Mickey Morris Racing Team in a sizzling 21.01, with Louise Flynn of Les Croupiers first woman in 23.25.

Spirit’s Marina Wright finished in 30.15, with Robert Nelson just three seconds behind and Andy Hillis crossing in 34.56.

The following night (Wednesday, June 11), Martin Blakebrough and Jeremy Creasey gained a free entry to the Caerleon 5-Miler, starting and finishing at the amphitheatre and taking in the picturesque backdrop of the town's historic landscape and forestry tracks.

Martin finished in 39.01 to take fourth in his age group, while Jeremy crossed in 42.34 for seventh in his category.

The former continued his week of racing with a Saturday morning park run at Wroclaw in Poland, a warm-up for the night half marathon later that day, which started at 10pm and took 12,500 participants through the beautiful city.

Martin finished in 1.44.01 and said: “Even though it was very late the crowds were amazing. The city was illuminated in a rainbow of colours and at 11 miles we ran around the changing fountains set to classical music.”

On Sunday (June 15), Nick Sloper returned to the Barry Island 10k alongside Carol Oswell, Julie Glyn Jones, Emma Skipp and Louise Hartree.

It was a really hot and breezy day with over 3,300 runners racing around the streets, parks, docks and headlands, with quite a few hills thrown in.

There was fantastic local support for the competitors, with bands playing, choirs singing and a big energetic crowd cheering runners on.

Carol sped home in 49.51 while Nick, still returning from two rounds of knee surgery, came in with 50.38, just off his 50.00 target.

Julie loved running along Barry's sea front and gaining a new 10k PB finishing in 62.01, while Emma crossed in 74.31.

Louise had a more relaxed run accompanying her niece at her first 10k and finished with her in 79.53.