THE Oldbury 30-mile and 5K road races brought much success for the Thornbury Running Club and Hogweed Trotters last week, with some high attendances matched by a string of excellent times.

Both the 30-mile and 5K races proved to be a triumph for the competitors and the organisers, principally Thornbury Running Club in collaboration with Beyond the Limitations and assisted by members of the Hogweed Trotters.

Astonishingly, the 30-mile race attracted over 80 athletes and on the day some 60-plus runners completed the full distance with the winner being Dominic Croft of Woodstock Harriers, recording an outstanding 3hr 4min 52sec time. The first female finisher was Sue Bruce (Tewkesbury Harriers) in 3.40.59.

The only Hogweed Trotter competing was Shirley Brokenshaw, who was the first FV55 in a splendid time of 4.18.43. Trevor Roberts (4.39.30 - second MV60) was the only runner in Thornbury colours.

The marathon distance splits for the leading man and lady, Dominic with 2.43.16 and Sue with 3.13.56, made interesting reading as they showed that both athletes actually increased their pace in the final four miles to the finish.

In the 5K race 40 competitors crossed the finish line with two really top class athletes vying for the top honour.

Dan Duke (15.06) of Cheltenham Harriers was first with Martin Hula (15.14) of Bristol and West AC in close attendance. The leading Thornbury RC member was club captain Mark Williams (19.09 - first MV40), then Mike Willis (19.15 - first MV50), Mark Grimsey (21.52), Andy Sides (22.28), Richard Illingworth (22.40 - first MV55) and Dave Andrews (24.00). The only lady representing Thornbury was Sara Houghton (28.03).

The final round of the Gloucester Cross Country League was also held last week at Droitwich and certain changes to the course since last year were a cause for close scrutiny by the runners before the races commenced.

New features included a second stream crossing, a tough climb over mud and protruding tree roots and some extremely slippery, undulating, muddy woodland tracks, making for an altogether more challenging race than in previous years.

The senior/veteran ladies race covered essentially two laps of the course, a distance of 6.2km. Rosina Rowland (32.15) had a fine run and was closely followed by the ever-improving Rachel Willis (32.37), then her mother Katrina (34.35). Next were Val James (35.45) and Carole Bishop (37.42).

The senior/veteran men raced over three laps (10km) on ground that had become badly cut up, providing very testing racing conditions. Nevertheless, Jim Godden (46.40), Mark Williams (48.3), Mike Willis (49.07) and Nick Langridge (49.13) were close at the finish.

Chris Pearce (52.00), Jon Greenwood (53.47) and Phil Brown (56.11) also coped admirably in the circumstances. A lot further back was Graham Bishop (71.29), who was able to give some of his club-mates an encouraging cheer as they lapped him.