CHARD Road Runners headed to two events this week, the first being the midweek Haselbury 10k trail race.

With a record turnout for this evening event, it was going to be a challenge.

Wayne Loveridge was first to show for CRRs with Mike Egan just behind as the race opened up.

As they crossed the fields for the first of two laps of this hilly route, Liam Whyte was keeping good pace with Matt Baker pushing hard in the heat, while Philip Goodridge-Jones and Simon Hall started to trade places.

As the runners headed into the second lap, Gary Wheaton was just starting to make up some ground as Helen Baxter was driven on by the ever-improving Lizzie Smith. 

First across the finish line for CRRs was Wayne Loveridge, third overall out of 286, in a time of 38m 17s.

He was followed by Mike Egan (46:25, 39th), and after a real tussle both Liam Whyte (80th) and Matt Baker (83rd) crossed in 52:41.

Next were Philip Goodridge-Reynolds (55:00, 94th), Simon Hall (01:00:57, 137th) and Gary Wheaton (01:03:45, 155th). 

The first of CRRs’ female runners was Helen Baxter (01:05:40, 164th), followed by Lizzie Smith (01:14:10, 187th), Claire Gibbs (01:15:13, 192th) and Nicky Smith (01:27:09, 209th). 

The Road Runners’ next outing was off to The Shave Cross Marathon for a five-mile off-road race.

This race is very much about getting out into the beautiful countryside of the Marchwood Vale, and CRRs were represented by Stephen Barnes and Celia Cohen.

As the race opened up with a long downhill, Barnes took a few more places to sit in the top 10, and with the halfway point being approached Cohen put in a fierce pace in the shaded section.

Barnes gave a final push to cross in third place overall (31:27), with Cohen battling to the line for 38:00 (first in her age category).