MORE than 300 runners turned out for the seven-mile Kymin Dash race in warm sunny conditions.

MonRoss Trailblazers runner Andrew Stephens was second overall 45 seconds behind Tewkesbury winner Richard Purkis, taking the over 40 class by 41 seconds from third-placed Cardiff finisher Huw Evans.

Runners tackled a challenging and scenic route to the top of the Kymin 850 feet above Monmouth, and returned along a loop of the Wye Valley via Staunton to Monmouth School’s sports complex.

St Briavels triathlete Tom Cooling was fourth, one minute 38 seconds back on the winning time of 42.08, also landing the ‘King of the Hill’ title by being first to summit the Kymin.

The best Forest of Dean AC (FODAC) performance came from Marcus Bennetto in seventh (45.53), followed by clubmate Leyton Fleet two places back (46.08), Dan Sandford in 11th (46.20) and John Russell 14th (46.59), which secured them the men’s team title.

Fastest woman and ‘Queen of the Hill’ was Plymouth’s former British mountain bike champion Maddie Horton in 18th (47.15), who crossed the line exactly a minute ahead of her closest rival, Spirit of Monmouth Running Club’s Alice Taylor in 24th.

Nikki Morgan of Chepstow Harriers was third fastest woman in 49.30, taking the over 50 women’s title in 28th, just one place and 27 seconds behind over 50s men’s winner Steve Davies of Pontypool RC, while Spirit of Monmouth’s Jane Beresford was second woman over 50 in 57.11.

MonRoss runner Gavin Jones scooped the first local male title in 22nd (47.56), while clubmate Vanessa Ball took the best local female title in 99th (57.22).

Team mate Robert Pritchard was 34th (50.40), while Chepstow Harriers duo Rob Hook and Jane Horler finished just 11 seconds apart in 52.39 and 52.50 respectively in 53rd and 55th.

There was a big turn out from Forest and Wye Valley runners for the Saturday, April 10, race, including 38 from FODAC, six from Chepstow Harriers, seven from MonRoss, three from event organisers Spirit of Monmouth, two from Lydney and one from Wye Valley Runners.

Any profits from the race, which was supported by Monmouth School Sports Club, Wild Trail, Walford Timber and Bosom Buddies, will be donated to St Michael’s Hospice.

Race results can be found at http://kymin.spiritofmonmouth.co.uk and race pictures at www.facebook.com/TheKyminDash/

•See this week’s Review for more photographs.