BOURTON Roadrunners were well represented at the Gloucestershire AAA Road Race Series opener this month.

Organised by Cheltenham’s largest running club Almost Athletes Cheltenham, the event kicked-off this year’s road race series and, as usual, attracted many of the area’s best runners.

Bourton’s Darren Long was the first club member to complete the two-lap route in 30 minutes and 40 seconds, fighting-off repeated attempts to catch him in the final yards. He was closely followed by Chris Nesbitt who had a brilliant run in 31:22, also holding a strong challenge to the end.

Kevin Goodwill reaped the rewards of his recent training, achieving 35:29 and managing to stay ahead of triathlon athlete Maxine Emes, who had a fine run, finishing strongly in 35:54.

Other Bourton Roadrunners included Claire Cox (36:11), John Harding (40:56), Gill Carrick (43:21), Noelle Morgan running with husband John (47:23), and Imogen Cox (50:05).

Elsewhere, club members took on the various Park Run events: 

Cannon Hill, Birmingham: Helena West - 23:28 (course PB).

Cardiff: Chris Dry - 29:16.

Chipping Norton School: Clemmie Bright - 23:45 (course PB), Lee Hutton - 24:49 (course PB), Julie Smith - 35:45 (course PB).

Hastings: Barry O’Leary - 25:46.

Newport: Jaq Underwood - 26:44.

Oxford: Liz Hulcup - 26:54, Louise Hamilton-Smith - 27:19.

Perth, Scotland: Susan Hunt - 26:05.

Warwick Racecourse: Sharon Rees - 33:21, Lorna Shawcross - 33:21.

Witney: Nick Harper - 31:06, Kate Price - 34:44, Jenny Evanson - 37:53.

Worthing: Nicky Patterson - 34:28.

Bourton's Lorna Shawcross battled the wind, mud and the hills to finish the Ilmington Winter Series 10K race in a fine 59:24 (eleventh woman across the finish line).