CHARD Road Runners were in action last Wednesday evening at the Ash Tree Trail 10k, and then off to the first running of the Dorchester Marathon and The Dorchester Casterbridge Half Marathon on Sunday.

First, CRRs headed to Ash, near Martock, for the Ash Tree 10k, a multi-terrain race across fields, footpaths and trails.

Eight CRRs set off from Ash Primary School heading out into the countryside, and leading the pack were strong contenders Wayne Loveridge and Rachael Collins.

Matt Baker was next to be forging ahead while Helen Baxter, along with Claire Gibbs, were making swift progress.

Mel Boarder, Liz Smith and Miranda Coleberd got into great settled pace, vying for position between each other.

Wayne Loveridge pushed hard to lead the event and crossed the line in first, in 41:03.

Next CRR, and first woman, was Rachael Collins in 48:51, followed by Matt Baker (1:00:22), Helen Baxter (1:10:45) and Claire Gibbs (1:17:35).

Mel Boarder (1:23:58) pipped Liz Smith (1:24:31), with Miranda Coleberd finishing in 1:25:21.

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Chard & Ilminster News:

REPRESENTING: Chard Road Runners at the Dorchester Marathon (left to right) - Ryan Hebron-Wheatley, Emma Male, Helen Baxter, Claire Gibbs, Andrew Leeson, Adrian Male.

IT was an early morning start at Dorchester for the Marathon and Casterbridge Half Marathon.

The Marathon saw CRRs represented by eight runners – Andrew Leeson, Bernie Genge, Adrian Male, Ryan Hebron-Wheatley, Andy Mear, Emma Male, Claire Gibbs and Helen Baxter.

Early pacesetter and first-timer Leeson judged his race well to finish in 3:21:47 (37/706) with Genge coming 60th (03:32:47).

Adrian Male posted 4:02:07 (169), Hebron-Wheatley 4:34:14 (359), Mear 4:43:52 (410) and Emma Male 4:55:28 (483), with Gibbs and Baxter crossing together in 5:39:11.

Wayne Loveridge was the sole CRR representative for the Dorchester Casterbridge Half Marathon.

Positioning himself towards the front of the near-700 pack from the start, he kept that lead and crossed the line in first place (1:17:52).