SPIRIT of Monmouth runners headed for Cwmbran on Tuesday (July 1) and the fourth Gwent Leisure Centre League summer race – a 5.4-mile run hosted by Fairwater Runners.

Starting by the Olive Tree, the course began with a mix of narrow hard-packed tracks, tarmac paths and grass around Northfields Park.

A large field of 376 runners jostled for places heading out onto the roads and the main climb up Llan-yr-Avon Way and a descent down Turnpike and Meadland Road, before heading back into the park and a final two miles following the banks of the River Llwyd.

With 23 Spirits in action, the Ladies team stormed home taking fourth place.

Vicky Roberts led the pack as seventh woman and second in class, followed by Katie Adams as 10th female and second in class, Sarah Heath 17th woman and first in class, while Renske Bouwens was third in class, Holly Jane-Thomas sixth in class and Alison McMenemy second in class.

Overall times were Tom Chinnick 33:16 (32nd), Ben Saunders 34:49, Vicky Roberts 35:40, Katie Adams 36:06, Lee Davies 36:42, Brian Evans 38:32, Sarah Heath 38:38, Martin Blakebrough 40:02, Renske Bouwens 42:28, Marina Wright 42:46, Nick Sloper 43:39, James Exton 43:56, Holly Jane-Thomas 44:17, Jeremy Creasey 46:04, Chris Baber 48:39, Helen Shepherd 49:02, Alison McMenemy 55:03, Stephen McMenemy 55:03, Susan Lincoln 55:11, Sian Burns 55:12, Julie Gee 58:19, Laura McLoughlin 58:19, and Catherine Eales 64:14.

Wednesday saw a 204-strong Hereford & Borders Summer X-Country Series race at Bearwood on a 5.5-mile course, with Sarah Heath coming home 60th and first in class in 37:33 and Brian Evans 78th in 39:07 despite having raced the night before.

The very next night saw the Tintern Trot hosted by Chepstow Harriers over 5.7 miles with 730ft of ascent, heading over the Wireworks Bridge, then uphill to Offa's Dyke through Passage Grove down to Brockweir and back.

Forest of Dean AC’s Max Eckert headed the 126-strong field in 37:45, with club mate Katie Waller fastest woman in 10th in 41:30.

First Spirit home was Sarah Heath in her third race in three days, placing 28th, second woman and first in class in 47:05.

On his fifth attempt, Nick Sloper scored a course PB 54:02, followed by Jeremy Creasey not far behind in 55:24 and Cathy Fletcher in 61:05.

Saturday saw the Cotswold Relay – a 103-mile, 10 stage off-road race through the Cotswolds, starting at Chipping Campden and finishing at Bath Abbey – with Marina Wright running leg six from Dudbridge to Dursley for Forest of Dean AC and Jeremy Creasey leg nine from Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton.

The Black Country (long) Half Marathon the same day along the canals from Wolverhampton to Birmingham saw Holly Jane-Thomas run the 13.5 miles in just under two-hours.

Sunday‘s Porthcawl 10k incorporating Rest Bay, Trecco Bay, Coney Bay, the town centre, historic Grand Pavillion, Porthcawl Lighthouse and amusement park saw Nick Sloper finish in 49:18 for 814th out of 5,178.

There was a strong headwind on the way out and a long drag at 7k, but he was happy with his second fastest time at the event.