HUNDREDS of intrepid runners launched out on muddy tracks in the Forest of Dean Autumn Trails Half Marathon on Sunday after heavy overnight rain.

Thankfully the forecast torrential downpour held off the race itself, and despite sticky going underfoot, there was a silver lining for home club Forest of Dean AC as the men’s and women’s team both stormed to superb silvers.

Marcus Benetto in sixth overall in 1hour 19mins 5 secs, Wayne Bevan in 20th in 1.27.02 and Cory Sherwin in 22nd in 1.27.30 gave the men an aggregate time of 4.13.39 to finish just over four minutes back on winners Gloucester AC and nearly 15 minutes ahead of Southville RC from Bristol in third.

The FoDAC women’s team of Rachael Wheeler (26th fastest female in 1.48.23), Joni Tingle (31st in 1.49.50) and Rachel Nash (58th in 1.56.48) just pipped Westbury Harriers to silver by four seconds in 5.35.02, with Clevedon AC overall winners.

Wheeler’s time was doubly impressive, as it also secured the women’s 60+ title by 17 minutes, while clubmate Jim Storrar secured the men’s equivalnt title by some six minutes in 1.46.05.

There was also success for Mon Ross Trailblazer Alice Taylor who finished fifth fastest female overall and took third in the senior women’s class in 1.36.25.

A total 683 competitors raced the half marathon 13.1-mile distance, starting and finishing at the Speech House and passing Mallards Pike.

The annual race, organised by the Rotary Club of the Royal Forest of Dean and in its eighth year, was won by Cheltenham’s Eliot Taylor in a time of 1.16.22.

Second was Swansea’s Matthew Rees followed by Gloucester AC’s Steve Kenyon.

The first lady finisher in 10th overall was Birmingham’s Molly Browne in 1.25.23, more than three minutes clear of Clevedon’s Jo Gallagher with Eryri’s Faye Johnson another minute back in third place.

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Fastest Forest of Dean AC man was Bennetto in sixth overall, while Taylor was fastest Wyedean woman, followed by Wheeler and Yorkley’s Kate Breeze, who finished in 1.48.34.

Another 96 runners also took part in the Forest Autumn 5k race, with Ben Miles fastest man in 17.34 and Ann Marie Hazell fastest woman in 20.37.

As well as the Rotary raising funds for charity, many runners in the longer race put their best foot forward to raise funds for their own worthy causes.

They included Adam Ainsworth from Lydbrook, CEO of landmine and explosive clearance firm Safe- Lane Global, based in Ross-on-Wye.

The former Army officer was part of a team running in the race as part of the SafeLane Global Gallop, a worldwide fundraiser he instigated for victims of landmine accidents, which saw 100 staff members running half marathons on Sunday around the world, including in Somalia, Sudan and the Falkland Islands.

The effort raised a huge £12,000 for charity.

And company spokeswoman Rachael Davies said: “Their commitment has seen the fundraising target of £10,000 already exceeded.

“The funds will be used in countries such as Yemen and Afghanistan, to supply medical equipment to those affected by explosive accidents and to fund mine risk education programmes.”

Before joining Safe-Lane, Adam served in the British Army for 12 years and saw active service in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.

“Last year, Adam fell ill and was diagnosed as suffering from Lyme disease, which rendered him uncharacteristically lethargic,” added Rachael.

“As part of his recovery, he began training for the Forest of Dean Half Marathon, and in solidarity with their CEO, staff on international projects offered to join him and run half marathons on the same day.

“The idea gathered momentum and half marathons were run on three different continents, while Adam led the SafeLane Global Gallop Forest of Dean Half Marathon team home on Sunday,” she said.

SafeLane delivers a range of projects worldwide to counter the threat of explosive hazards; from live conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East to construction sites across Europe and in the UK.  

It surveys, detects, identifies, protects, clears, mitigates, consults and trains to build safer communities across the globe.

The company has been operational for 30 years in 60 different nations, and delivered in excess of 20,000 projects.

It currently has more than 1,000 personnel and 120 working dogs on projects in 16 countries.

Full results of the Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon and the Forest Autumn 5k are on the Rotary website at www.rotary-rfod.org.uk

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