AFTER a busy year of running, Chard Road Runners have reminded locals that they are always welcoming new people down to the club.

It said: "As ever, if you want to find out what it's all about you can join us at 7pm every Tuesday and Thursday at Chard Cricket Club for our club runs.

"Or pop in for a pint in the club at 8.30pm on Tuesdays."

Earlier this month, runners from the club took part in the Full Montycute race.

A 10 mile trail race, the Full Monty takes place on Ham Hill and comes accompanied with the strap line "10 miles, 10 hills".

From there it doesn't take much imagination to work out what kind of race you're facing into.

The route starts near the Prince of Wales pub, straight through a massive muddy puddle, before winding round the monument and taking in every lump and bump in the Ham Hill and Montacute area.

If you're taking a leisurely jaunt there's a ton of great scenery to take in. If you're in full race mode you get treated the the views of mud, leaves, stones, hills and the heels of the runner in front.

This year Chard put out a top turnout, with 15 CRR members lining up to take the start and see who could get wet feet first! Conditions were excellent, with most of the water drained off leaving a few slippy patches but mostly stable clear terrain.

And as ever the organisation and marshalling from our neighbours Crewkerne Runners was absolutely top notch.

Chard & Ilminster News:

Predictably, Wayne Alexander Loveridge was first over the line, taking not just the accolade of 1st Chard Road Runner but that of 1st overall finisher. There's also some debate about whether it may have been a course record.

The Chard team also brought home another team prize for the trophy cabinet; the team of Wayne, Samuel Allen , Isabella and Rachel took the prize for fastest 4 mixed gender club runners.

To highlight the quality within the club, in the field of 249 runners, Chard had 8 runners in the top 50.

Full times and accolades of the Chard runners were as follows:

  • Wayne Loveridge - 1:07:49 - 1st finisher
  • Sammy Allen - 1:12:34 - 5th finisher
  • Kev Barratt 1:22:45
  • Isabella Sheldon - 1:23:30 - 3rd lady
  • Martin Holley - 1:26:10 
  • Rachel Collins - 1:27:03 - 4th lady, age category winner
  • Kate Phillips - 1:28:15 - 5th lady, age category winner
  • Nick Gray - 1:31:57 
  • Neil Adams - 1:35:11
  • Phil Goodridge-Reynolds - 1:47:19 
  • Jack Dickenson - 1:47:19 
  • Hannah Grinter - 1:57:15
  • Simon Hall -2:03:57
  • Claire Pomeroy - 2:32:25
  • Elizabeth Cox - 2:33:26