AROUND 250 runners sported head torches to take on a five-mile evening race in the Forest.

The Rogue Runs Beechenhurst five-mile night race on Friday, January 10 saw both the Forest of Dean AC’s men’s and ladies teams take first places.

Chepstow Harriers’ Martyn Winser (36mins 49secs) and Peter Ward (37.04) were also on song, placing third and fourth respectively, with Peter the fastest men’s over-45 runner.

Best FoDAC runner was Cory Sherwin in eighth in 38.03, Lee Kibble in 10th in 38.37, Dan Sandford taking third in MV45 with 14th overall in 39.53, Richard Cronin in 15th in 40.02, and Andy Horlick 16th in 41.21.

Clubmate Rob Keeble (41.51) took the men’s over-40 class in 18th overall, while FoDAC’s Helen Brown was second fastest woman and fastest ladies-over 45 in 42.04 in 20th overall.

Just four seconds and a place back was Monross Trailblazers’ best finisher Chris Fletcher, while Mark Harper was first home for Monmouth Tri Club in 29th in 44.47, eight seconds and one place ahead of Chepstow Harriers’ top finisher Stephen Dilley.

Fastest men’s over-55 just two seconds back was fellow Harrier Rob Beves, while Monmouth Tri’s Emily Harper was third fastest woman overall in 46.05, just 24 seconds ahead of fastest junior girl, Rebecca ward of Chepstow Harriers.

FoDAC’s Jim Storrar raced to the over-60 men’s crown in 46.39, just two seconds ahead of Spirit of Monmouth’s Stuart Penny who was third fastest over-55, while the former’s clubmate Leanne Meek was second fastest over-40 woman in 49.15, with Spirit’s Claire Jackson third in the age-group in 52.01.

Neville Turner of FoDAC took second in Storrar’s class in 54.15, with clubmates Ruth Jones third in women’s over-55 in 56.49, and Margaret Powles first in over-60s in 57.12, as Dianne Haines of Newent Runners placed second fastest over-55 woman in 1.04.57.

The club’s Dan Sandford, Richard Cronin, Cory Sherwin and Lee Kibble pipped Parc Bryn Bach by just eight points to win the men’s team prize, while Helen Brown, Leanne Meek, Ruth Jones and Stefanie Frances were runaway winners in the ladies, winning by 124 points.

A small FoDAC team also made the trip to Rendcomb School in Cirencester on January 4 to grab a handful of medals at the latest round of the Gloucester Cross Country Championships.

The girls’ U11 team of Poppy Oliver, Jessica Stentiford and Verity Ainsworth took second in their team event chasing home Cheltenham County Harriers, who had the first and third-placed runners in the age-group.

Poppy placed fourth overall in 10 minutes dead, followed 11 seconds back in fifth by Jessica and Verity 20th in 11.45.

At the other end of the age range, FoDAC’s veterans landed a gold, two silvers and two bronzes.

Michael Strange took MV65 gold in 32.00, with clubmate Alan Robertson in silver 2.01 back, Catherine Roberts captured LV45 silver in 33.32, Leanne Meek bagged LV40 bronze in 32.39 and Jim Storrar also got MV60 bronze in the longer senior men’s race by just eight seconds in 48.10.

The first of the year’s Gloucestershire AAA series of road races also took place last Sunday (January 19) when the 26th Linda Franks five-mile race, put on by Almost Athletes from Cheltenham, attracted 270 runners.

Representing FoDAC were FV55 winner Rachel Wheeler, MV60 winner Jim Storrar and third-placed MV60 (but first MV65 in the race series) Alan Robertson.

The presentation evening for the 2019 Gloucestershire AAA Road Series was also held at the Gloucester CC Civic Suit in The Docks last week, with three FoDAC runners taking end-of-season awards.

Alan Robertson and Andrew Kaye took first in the men’s over-65 and over-55 categories respectively, while Catherine Roberts came away with second in the women’s over-45 category.

Finally, the dynamic duo of FoDAC’s Andy Raynor and Lee Kibble made the journey to Gloucester last weekend to take part in the 750-strong city half-marathon.

Both recorded new PB times for the 13.1-mile distance, with Lee finishing 15th in 1.17.35 and Andy five seconds and one slot behind in 16th.