SPIRIT of Monmouth members headed out for some muddy trail and X-country fun at the Doynton hard half marathon and Parc Bryn Bach Gwent Leisure Centre League event at the weekend.

A team of Spirit runners also headed for Parc Bryn Bach and the Gwent Leisure Centre League XC
A team of Spirit runners also headed for Parc Bryn Bach and the Gwent Leisure Centre League XC (SoMRC)

The half took runners on a challenging tour of the countryside over three distinctly different sections from Doynton village.

The first few miles were hard hill running, with a steady climb to the top of a muddy lane before descending through farmland and then climbing again before another descent to a short river crossing and through a short wooded section.

It was mainly made up of forest tracks and farmland with lots of deep thick mud, with the last section taking runners on a circuit of Wick and its quarry before finishing on the cricket ground.

Vicky Roberts, back for the fourth time, crossed in 2hrs 10mins 53secs for a new course PB by nearly three minutes, and said: "Despite the hills and mud, it's one of my favourite races.”

Some of the Spirit crew at the downtown Hard Half Marathon
Some of the Spirit crew at the Doynton Hard Half Marathon (SoMRC)

Cathy Fletcher and Jeremy Creasey crossed together after running alongside some Forest of Dean AC members in 2.50.01, while Marina Wright followed not far behind in 2.5.17.

Nick Sloper enjoyed the course as part of his big event training, and crossed in 2.57.25 also taking three minutes off last year's time.

Sian Fielding was talked into doing the race and finished in 3.08.08, while Renske Bouwens, suffering with a small niggle, took on the race as a walk/run, enjoying the beautiful views and finishing in 3.31.31.

Other Spirits headed to Parc Bryn Bach for the fourth GLCL X-C event, where James Blore of local rivals Chepstow Harriers came third in 27.38.

Although a beautiful morning, the recent weather meant mud and water features for the 180 runners in the 4.2-mile four-lap event.

Ben Saunders had a flyer, skimming the water features and finishing as first Spirit in 31.53 in 27th overall.

Kirk Hill stormed through the marshy land in 34.25 for third in his age category, with Sarah Heath third Spirit and fastest in her class in 34.50.

Brian Evans, Lee Davies, Matthew Visser, Mike Visser, Fay Visser and Julie Gee all worked hard to complete the four muddy laps, which got more churned up each time.

Other Harriers runners were Paul Murrin sixth and fastest over-50 in 28.32, Mark Gillett 11th in 29.15, Tony Marshall 15th and fastest over-60 in 29.46, Douglas Briggs 18th and fastest over-55 in 30.33, and Paul Dodd 22nd and fastest over-65 in 31.35.

Chepstow’s Kathy Stringer was second fastest woman in 31.39 with club mate Katherine Matthews third and fastest over-45 woman in 32.09.

Elsewhere, Spirit’s Maixent Gaillard took part in Minehead Running Club's relay race, boasting monster hills.

He ran leg one alongside 10 other runners, and took a wrong turn and went through a cesspit of cow poo followed by brambles and barbed wire, but was washed nicely in a brook near the finish before his team finished eighth.

Meanwhile, MonRoss Trailblazer’s Rich Foster stormed to victory in the 4.25-mile Hatterrall Fell race at Pandy on Saturday, crossing in 32.14 just over a minute ahead of San Domenico’s Harry Trend.