MORE than 1,000 people took on the challenge of two popular runs, including a pair of sisters who were running in memory of their dad who died while training for a previous event. 

Celebrations for the Forest of Dean Spring half marathon’s 30th anniversary were put on ice by the snow of the Beast from the East a few weeks ago. 

It was re-run on Saturday while the Spirit of Monmouth’s Kymin Dash went ahead as planned on Sunday. 

The Gloucestershire event is organised by the Rotary Club of the Forest of Dean and is one of the group’s leading fund-raisers through the year. 

Spirit of Monmouth Running Club organises the Kymin Dash, a scenic but challenging seven-mile race in which runners face a steep climb to the top of the landmark before descending for a long loop of the Wye Valley. 

Among those taking part in the Forest event were sisters Amy and Lucy Pegler who were raising money in memory of their dad, Jack, who died in November 2007 on a training run for the half marathon  from Ross-on-Wye to Weston-under-Penyard. 

Amy, a textiles designer living in Hereford, and Lucy, a sales manager from Weston-under-Pen­yard have so far raised £650 towards a target of £1,500 for CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young – in memory of their dad, who was originally from Drybrook. 

Amy is running four half marathons this year – the Spring and Autumn Forest runs, Hereford and Swan­sea – to raise money for the charity which focuses on sudden cardiac deaths in young people. 

The sisters crossed the line together in a time of 2hrs 26mins and were among 832 runners who took part in the event which started at the Speech House near Coleford. 

The fastest local athlete was Marcus Bennetto, of the Forest of Dean Athletic Club, whose time of 1hr 22mins 10secs put him 10th  overall. 

The first local woman home was Ruth Hayden-Cox of Newent Runners who completed the course in 1hr 41mins 05secs. The quickest woman from the Forest of Dean club was Lynne Cro in a time of 1hr 42mins 01secs. 

Gavin Jones was the first of the Monross Trailblazers runners in a time of 1hr 25mins 06secs and Richard Newhouse of Monmouth Tri Club finished in 1hr 58mins 09 secs. 

Jeremy Masters of Spirit of Monmouth finished in 1hr 34mins 07secs and Emma King was the first woman from the club in exactly 1hr 47mins. 

Andrew Callard of Newent Runners posted a time of 1hr 37mins 59secs and Glen Meek and Suzie White were the first Chepstow Harriers to finish with Glen recording a time of 1hr 55mins 28secs and Suzie 3hr 14mins 24secs. 

The overall winner was Jonathan Barnes of Cheltenham in 1hr 15mins 10secs. 

Several of the runners who took part in the Forest run were also among the 296 who accepted the challenge of the sixth Kymin Dash on Sunday. 

Runners start the race with an 850-feet ascent of the Kymin and the fastest local to reach the Naval Temple in honour of Nelson and other admirals at the top was Andrew Stephens of Monross Trailblazers in 11mins 08 secs. 

Andrew was fourth overall, with clubmates Toby Dickens third in exactly 44mins and Luke Gray fifth with 45mins 39secs. 

The first Forest of Dean Athletics Club runners home were Cory Sherwin in 47mins 19secs and Chloe Wheeler in 47mins 57secs. 

Stephen Owen of  Chepstow Harriers finished in  53mins 28secs and Sue Ashton from the same club recorded 1hr 06mins 47secs. 

Josie Luckins of Monmouth Tri Club recorded 1hr 03 53secs and Howard Lowe of Newent Runners 1hr 06mins 45secs. 

The overall winner was Huw Evans of Cardiff-based Les Croupiers in 42mins 04secs who was also quickest to the top of the hill in 10mins 15secs.