THE weather was close to ideal on Sunday for the Riverbank Rollick, a challenging muddy 8.7 mile multi-terrain race organised by Thornbury Running club.

There was a record entry of 289 and the men’s course record was broken by Phillip Matthews of Swansea Harriers in 54:57, beating his previous mark by nearly two minutes.

Katherine Matthews (63:33) of Chepstow Harriers was the first lady.

Thornbury themselves had a good turnout with Paul Horsfall 60:14 (6th) followed by Ken Ham 60:51, the first MV40.

Other Thornbury runners: Adrian Savery 64:25 (26th), Andrew Darton 66:46 (45th), Jim Godden 67:11 (51st), Bob Tyrell 68:26 (55th), Rob Cowlard 72:12 (80th), Jo Plumbley 73:42 (90th), Jacqueline Wadsworth 74:43 (96th and 1st LV50), Claire Watt 79:08 (119th), Adrian Tillin 79:09 (120th), Colin Symington 79:23 (123rd), Alan Gee 79:46 (129th), Selina Davies 79:54 (130th), Rob Hopkins 80;09 (133rd) and Jan Constable 84:28 (160th), Pete Mainstone 85:31 (171st), Judy Mills 86:26 (175th), John Watt 89:29 (183rd), Jeremy Clothier 89:45 (185th), Nigel Hale 93:06 (205th) and Martyn Fletcher 96:03 (226th).

A large group of Hogweeds also took on the Riverbank Rollick and Peter Willoughby added another MV60 award to his growing collection by finishing 30th in 65:13. Chris Martin and Jeremy Cross were next to finish, both in 68:54 with Richard Powell and Paul Chappell also close together in 70:02 and 70:06.

If they’d looked back they might have glimpsed Nigel Burford in 70:44 with Ian Rowland next in 76:15.

Sharon Wilkie was first lady Hogweed as she recorded the same time as Lee Masters in 79:40.

After this the Hogweed finishers came thick and fast; Gary Clarke 84:12, Martin Young 84:18, Ange Martin 85:10 and Jo Wilson 85:41. Helen Crook 92:58 just held off Paul Chard 95:03 with another group of ladies close behind, namely Jenny McCallum 95:18 (2nd LV60), Lorraine Palmer 95:19, Geraldine Bates 95:21 and Nicola Paice 99:46.