SPIRIT of Monmouth started the week with the second Gwent Leisure Centre League road race of the 2025/2026 series at Blaenavon, organised by Pontypool Runners, reports VICKY ROBERTS.

The course saw 381 participants from the nine Gwent clubs race a five-mile course taking in the World Heritage site’s historic railway station and Big Pit.

Spirit had no less than 32 members taking part, made up of 14 men who finished 12th and 27th in the team rankings, and 18 women who placed sixth, 19th and 26th.

Katie Adams had an excellent run finishing as first Spirit in 33mins 31secs, followed by Matthew Visser who stormed home first male Spirit in 34.28.

Katie, Sarah Heath and Alison McMenemy all ran strongly around the tough course, to take first places in their age categories.

And newer members Leah Powell and Ann Mansel also enjoyed their first ever GLCL event, both running well and loving the whole team vibe and league atmosphere.

Also on Tuesday, Nick Sloper continued with his Llanfrynach 3-4-5 race series, on undulating country roads beneath the peak of Fan Y Big, starting and finishing in the village.

This time it was the four-mile stage where Nick ran a swift race, finishing with a time of 32.28 and a position of 65th of 143.

At the weekend, Spirits took on The Crocodile-8, a multi-terrain eight-mile race organised by Wye Valley Runners at Burghill near Hereford.

The course followed country lanes, wild garlic-infused woodland, wheat fields and orchards with the infamous steep climb up the steps onto the 'Crocodile's Back' ridge - which even Matt had to walk up.

Spirits included Cathy Fletcher, Matthew and Michael Visser and Nick again.

The weather was perfect for the event and as usual was exceptionally well run and marshalled by Wye Valley Runners, with plenty of water and jelly baby stops and an enthusiastic crowd cheering runners on.

There was one casualty who collapsed at the top of the steps, but was quickly revived by one of Cathy's magic gels, and then sprinted off to finish the race.

Nick said it's always a challenging event but it was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Matt finished in 1.25.08 taking the podium spot of first Spirit home, with his dad Michael following closely behind in 1.27.53, while Nick finished in 1.31.15, followed by Cathy in 1.34.54 taking second in her age category.

Elsewhere in midweek, members of MonRoss Trailblazers headed for the Suckley Quarter Marathon, on a mixed terrain course in the Malverns.

Neil Harper was first back for the club, finishing 24th overall and fifth in his age category in 49.30, with Gary Griffiths 48th in 53.51, and Pip Cottrell 94th and second in her age category in 59.53.

Tony Davies and Rob Vidler came in close together, 123rd and 124th respectively, in 62.47 and 62.48.

At the weekend, five Blazers went the extra mile at the Dymock Half and 5 Mile Road Race through undulating country lanes on the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire border.

In the 5 Mile Race, Graham Bell finished 26th in 37.55 and Rob Vidler 66th in 43.59.

In the half marathon, Philip Conway completed the course in 1.49.31 to place 47th, and Rachael Aitken and Grant White running together were 68th in 1.55.48.