WITH Summer virtually over and head torches and fluorescent tops hoving into view, Spirit of Monmouth runners took several forays over the border on Sunday, reports NICK SLOPER.

The Howling Bull Run, a six-mile, mainly off-road race starting at Walford Village Hall, climbed up Bulls Hill along the Wye Valley Walk, then looped around the woodland footpaths on Leys Hill and Howle Hill.

Normally run later in the year, it was a pleasant change to run it dry underfoot.

Spirit had four runners in the 84-strong field with Brian Evans their first runner home in 32nd in 54mins 49secs, followed by Jeremy Creasey in 59.26, Cathy Fletcher 1.03.59 and Natalie Jane 1.13.54.

In the Safran Cheltenham Half Marathon around the regency heart of the town, starting and finishing in front of the racecourse’s Princess Royal stand, Matthew Visser was first Spirit home in 1.42.22 (746th), followed by Michael Visser in 1.54.02 and Sian Fielding in 1.56.13, smashing her first sub-two hour half.

Renske Bouwens also headed off to Cannock Chase for an Off Road Duathlon, with two running and one cycling legs.

With a strong first 5k run in 24.31, a 20k mountain bike ride of 1.00.46 and a 2.5k run finale of 12.55, she placed fourth in her category and 40th overall out of 89.

And finally as part of the Spirit championship, seven club members headed for the Severnside Oldbury 10-miler organised by Thornbury RC, held on a fast and flat course on quiet lanes starting from Berkeley Power Station.

Tom Chinnick was first Spirit home in the 276-strong field, storming across the line in 1.02.52 for 22nd overall.

Katie Adams was also seventh fastest female and third in her age category in 1.10.05 for 45th overall, followed by Barry Burns struggling with his knees in 1.14.14 (65th).

Nick Sloper beat his 2013 time by six seconds showing a return to form in 1.21.50 (129th), while Louise Hartree proved a new law of relativity by finding the entirely flat race ‘all uphill;, and especially the last half mile, but still managed a space-time defying result of 1.26.01 (158th) and a fourth in category.

Alison and Stephen McMenemy also ran together, both finishing in 1.46.20.

All had a good race in the nice conditions, but Nick, despite his Wye Bridge sprint training, was defeated on "Hartree Hill" by a spirited run off.

Elsewhere, Martin Blakebrough also played a ‘Cool Hand’ in the more obscure Luke Half Marathon in New Hythe, crossing in 1.53.54.

Meanwhile, Spirits were out and about again across the country on Saturday taking on a number of parkruns.

Stephen Reason ran at Upton Country Park in Poole, Renske was at the Forest of Dean with her son, and Martin secured his best time for the year in an impressive 21.22 at Brooklands,

Louise at the 400th Cwmbran Event picked up an impressive fastest in category, and was also joined in the large field by Sian Fielding, Julie Gee and Julie Glyn-Jones,

Nick Sloper at Lydney secured a second in category, while Stephen, Toni Merola and Tom took on Chippy, Matt Visser headed for Ross and Robert Nelson still managed a cancelled Mallards.