AN all-female group of Chard Road Runners set off to Honiton for The Honiton Hippo, an off-road race with loads of mud and rivers.

There was the added attraction of club championship points made this a great race to enter, while the recent rain had made the course the muddiest ever . . . truly living up to its name.

With river crossings in doubt because of high water levels, the rain made sure the runners wouldn’t stay dry.

Claire Gibbs and Helen Baxter set off together but, with little chit chat in the first few miles due to the steep hills and lack of grip, once into the woods, the downhills and the mud were reached, normal service was resumed and the fun began.

The two stayed together throughout the course, only trying for the maximum points at the end with a sprint finish.

Miranda Coleberd had made steady progress and came over the line next - a good performance considering she was feeling under the weather.

Also sticking together were mother and daughter duo Nicky and Lizzie Smith, who made the most of their recent longer runs to finish strongly through the energy-sapping conditions.

Times: Helen Baxter -1:51:55, 182nd; Claire Gibbs - 1:51:55, 183rd; Miranda Coleberd - 2:02:12 199th; Lizzie Smith - 2:20:24, 205th; Nicky Smith - 2:20:24, 206th.

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Chard & Ilminster News:

GOOD TIMES: Chard Crew in Combe St Nicholas.

ON Sunday, April 15, 15 members of Chard Crew Running Club took part in a Combe St Nicholas organised run.

They had 11 runners in the 5km run, and for eight of them it was their first competitive run after completing a Couch 2 5k group with Chard Crew.

Times: Julian Pring - 26:37; Chloe Pring - 28:17; David Hodson - 30:55; Margaret Beer - 31:26; Sophie Beer - 33:37; Jo Hounsell - 33:44; Kerry Bale - 34:48 (PB); Lucy Hodson - 34:52 (PB); Ruth Osbourne - 39:44; Jackie Beer - 40:50; Bex Smith - 41:33.

Four members of Chard Crew took part in the 10k run, meanwhile, with all four of them achieving personal bests with their finish times.

Times: Stuart Weech - 48:45 (PB); Andrew Grinter - 59:40 (PB); Richard Haston - 1:02:38 (PB); Janice Best - 1:06:15 (PB).

It was a very wet route with some challenging hills for both the 5km and 10km runs.

But everyone went over the finish line with a smile on their face, with a real sense of achievement.