SEVENTY eight runners took on the challenge of climbing 1,000ft as part of the second six-mile Blaze the Biblins race.

The field had to negotiate steep descents down to the riverside and challenging muddy tracks around the Biblins area, before climbing up the appropriately-named Demon Hill back to the Doward car park near Whitchurch.

Organised by Monross-Trailblazers, the race saw a new course record of 41 minutes 16 seconds by fastest man Mark Hopkinson of Torfaen Runners.

Twenty one runners from the Forest of Dean Athletic Club (FoDAC) took part, with Ian Smith first man home in a time of 47.31, which bagged him the Veteran 50 category win and seventh overall.

Dan Sandford won the V40 category in 48.14 just a day after doing a fell run, while fastest FoDAC woman was Donna Sheen who claimed the V35 prize in 57.32.

Other FoDAC times were Gareth Amos 47.37, Richard Cronin 47.39, Andy Horlick 51.19, Richard Powles 52.08, Darren Smith 52.40, Andrew Thorpe 53.44, Oliver Rennison 54.08, Steven Richards 58.55, Suzanne Shergold 59.34, Richard Broad 65.04, Stefanie Francis 65.59, Jacqueline Wynds 68.37, Paul Allen 69.25, Melinda Ruck 69.44, Chloe Powels 69.45, Hannah Burley 73.05 and Chris Hawkins 77.25.

Richard Newhouse of Chepstow Harriers finished in 56.45, while Spirit of Monmouth’s Martin Blakeborough crossed in 58.38 and clubmates Nerys Chaplin and Cathy Fletcher in 63.35 and 65.48 respectively.

Steve Rees from Neath Harriers was second overall in 43.05, with Jon Like of Torfaen Harriers third in 44.13, while Torfaen’s Hannah Hopkinson was fastest woman in 52.23. Winners received a specially crafted wooden medal and a bottle of wine.

Race spokesman Gavin Jones thanked IM Gray Plumbing and Heating, Ross-on-Wye Flooring, and E&I Williams for sponsoring the event, plus Ross-on-Wye Community First Responders for supporting the race.

Monross-Trailblazers are a local running club that meet Wednesday evenings alternating between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth. For more information, contact [email protected], or check out the Facebook page.

Just 24 hours earlier, four FoDAC members went to the Fan Fawr Fell Race in the Brecon Beacons – a two-mile straight up and back down race, with some very steep climbs and descents.

The weather was windy and cold, especially at the top, but stayed dry.

First Forest runner back was Dan Sandford in a time of 20.25, followed by Julian Boon in 22.02, Stef Francis in 30.09 and Miriam Paris in 38.10.

Meanwhile, eight runners from Chepstow Harriers achieved PBs in the 20,000-strong Cardiff Half Marathon. Martin Winsor was fastest in a new PB 1hour 18.27, while Niki Morgan took the V50 women’s category in 1.27.10, her fastest ever Cardiff time.

Other PBs came from Mark Burbidge 1.31.37, Mark Batten 1.41.25, Jenni Bell 1.50.27, Rachel Plowman 1.56.56, Mark Nicol 2.13.23, and Helen Dymond 2.48.10, while Jonathan Carter was ninth in the men’s V50 class in 1.26.32.

Thirteen Spirit of Monmouth runners also took on the capital course with first over the line Rob Nicholls in 1.21.40.

Other times were Julian Howe 1.29.06, Leanne Meek 1.37.45, Alex Wilson 1.40.15, Emily Harrison 1.42.48, Jeremy Creasey 1.46.11, Sophie Williams, 1.51.41, Steve Gale 1.53.26, Linsey Holt 1.55.09, Jon Moody 1.57.29, Jon Pill 2.07.18, Helen Dunn 2.11.17 and Hannah Hill 2.18.56.

Five members of new Monmouth running club Rock Up and Run also completed the race.