IT was a local race that attracted Chard Road Runners out this weekend and, with the London Marathon just round the corner, the club had a sole representative in the Taunton Marathon, Bernie Genge.

Looking for a London 2019 qualifying time, he set off strong in a mixed field of half marathon and marathon runners.

At the half marathon distance Genge was well on target at 01:38:15. 

Keeping a clear focus on the second, far quieter lap, he headed across the line in 3:17:57, putting him 32nd out of 190, and securing a fantastic first place in his age category.

The Half Marathon had a few more Road Runners, and first over the line was Mike Egan, who is going from strength to strength, in 1:32:18. 

Next was Jeremy Taylor in 1:32:51, while Neil Adams had a better race than last year, coming in faster than his target time, finishing in 1:43:36.

Lizzie Smith, Claire Gibbs and Helen Baxter set off together, with Baxter and Gibbs staying together all the way round.

They finished in 2:29:06 and 2:29:12, slower than expected due to lack of training. 

Miranda Coleberd beat her time from last year as she came home in 2:33:05, while Smith finished in 2:44:43. 

Running her first half marathon in aid of St Margaret’s hospice was Lizzie’s mum, Nicky Smith, who finished in 2:55:52.