CHARD Road Runners held their own race, The Forde Abbey 10k, last Thursday evening.

This off-road race, with plenty of hills and two river crossings to tackle before the finish line, attracted a field of more than 200 runners in the full 10k and more than 100 runners in the Junior Race.

Crossing the line first for the 10k was Chard Road Runners’ Wayne Loveridge, followed in second place by Matt Clyst, from Axe Valley Runners.

Third was CRR Daniel Cahill.

Taking the top spots for the women were Ellie Steer (Taunton Athletics Club) in first, ahead of second-placed Eleanor Wood (Axe Valley Runners), and Lisa Watt (Lyme Regis Gig Club) in third.

Chard & Ilminster News:

WIN: First female finisher Ellie Steer with CRR chairman Simon Hall.

The hotly-contested junior race, starting and finishing in the grounds of Forde Abbey, was won by Rocco Sughayer, of East Coker School.

In second was George Chapman, of Charmouth School, with Toby Tutton, of Kingsbury Episcopi, coming home in third.

First place for the girls went to Darcey Cockburn, of Gold Star Runners.

She was followed by Ellie White, of Ashlands School, in second and Kendra Druce in third spot.

The organisers thanked all who supported this event, including hosts Forde Abbey.

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CHARD Road Runner Martin Holley was off on Sunday to compete in the Worthing Triathlon.

Having just been celebrating a friend’s 50th birthday party, Holley found himself at the start of a 1500m sea swim, trying to work out how to swim into a current that was almost as fast as he could swim.

This set him back for a while and he was well down the field as he started the 40km cycle.

However, maintaining an average speed over 20mph, in sometimes wet slippery conditions, he worked his way back up through the field.

A solid 10k run saw him finish in a time of 2:41:04 (52nd out of 128).