CHARD Road Runners were out in force at the Taunton Half and Full Marathon and the Devonshire Dumpling, at Budleigh Salterton, at the weekend.

With both the Taunton Half and Full starting at the same time, it was a crowded race from the off.

Taking on the Half Marathon with a quick getaway, Wayne Loveridge, Kenny Timpson, Martin Holly, Andrew Leeson, Nina and James Wagstaff were out to avoid pinch points as the race headed out of the College towards the town centre.

Meanwhile, heading out of Taunton, Ryan Hebron-Wheatley, Jamie Gibbons, Adrian Male and Stevie Potter started to move up places through the crowd as the hill started to take its toll.

Darren Murphy, Neil Adams, James Musselwhite and Emma Male were all lending support to each other with a rush towards the wet sponge stations.

As the route stretched beyond the halfway mark Helen Baxter, Mel Boarder, Liz Smith and Miranda Coleberd were all pushing hard up the hills of the redesigned route – this, in addition to the noon heat, was making life hard for the runners.

Heading in for the line it was Wayne Loveridge who crossed the line in 01:15:25 (6/1,000), Kenny Timson 01:22:57 (PB, 28/1,000), Martin Holley 01:27:49 (PB, 54/1,000), Andrew Leeson 01:28:46 (67/1,000), and Nina Wagstaff 01:30:0 (3rd in Cat) – team picture on page 47.

Results - 6 Wayne Loveridge 01:15:25; 28 Kenny Timson 01:22:57; 54 Martin Holley 01:27:49; 67 Andrew Leeson 01:28:46; 82 Nina Wagstaff 01:30:01; 122 James Wagstaff 01:35:02; 157 Ryan Hebron-Wheatley 01:38:34; 184 Jamie Gibbons 01:39:43; 185 Adrian Male 01:40:21; 187 Stevie Potter 01:40:28; 412 Darren Murphy 01:54:07; 457 Neil Adams 01:56:53; 508 James Musselwhite 01:58:16; 526 Emma Male 01:59:46; 830 Helen Baxter 02:23:11; 848 Melanie Boarder 02:26:14; 880 Elizabeth Smith 02:29:19; 914 Miranda Coleberd 02:36:41.

Five CRRs were running the Marathon and, from the off, Rod McLean and Bernie Genge were pushing hard, focused on personal goals.

Jeremy Taylor and Stuart McLean were swapping moves as the hills came into play, while Paul Masters was taking a steady approach, also seeking a good time.

Rod McLean crossed the line in 03:13:10 (28/192); next, gaining a London qualifying time, was Genge 03:16:18 (38/192).

Taylor crossed the line in a great time of 03:24:13 (46/192), Stuart McLean in 03:36:54 (65/192), and Masters in 03:42:13 (71/192).

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THE Devonshire Dumpling was a self-navigation race which took in the coastal paths and the hills of Woodbury Common.

Gavin Wyatt was CRRs’ only runner, taking on the steep hills. He made great headway down into Lympston before the long level section where Wyatt kept up good progress and crossed the 27-mile line in 05:10:10.