RUNNING Forever were out in force for the Taunton Marathon and Half Marathon as well as other races near and far.

Phil and Mike Parsons were off to Prague for the Half Marathon and just possibly a bit of sampling of the local brewed products.

Mike finished in 1.42 and Phil in 2.30.

Ben Timpson and Nadine Prouse completed the BHAM Trail 10K, Timpson in 51.30 and Prouse in 65 minutes.

Andy Staples and Georgina Brice travelled to Manchester for their marathon which takes in many famous sights in the city.

It was an excellent 3.16 for Staples and a cracking 5.03 for Brice.

Taking things a bit further were Dave Marshall and Alex Hughes, who traversed 32 miles and 7,000 feet of climb for their 8.01 finish in the Exmoor Ultra.

And so to Taunton, where there were awards aplenty for RFRC members.

Ali Bisatt was first member home in the full distance in 3.00, which earned him fifth place overall, second local male runner and first in the V50 category.

Dan Talbot was next home in 3.06, first in the V45 class.

Simon Malley (3.31), Simon Denson (3.41), Chris Gunn (celebrating his 50th birthday in 3.41), Sam Wharton (3.41) and Scott Weech (3.43) collected their medals next.

Wharton also earned a trio of awards as first FV40, first local female and a team award.

It didn’t take long for the club’s other runners Chris Reah (4.03), Bev Collins (4.07 for second LV55), Helen Phillips (4.32 and fifth LV50), Brian Bandyszewski (4.32) and Chris Buckman (4.51) to cross the finish line.

Wharton, Collins and Phillips also collected the female team award for their storming performances.

Club member Hannah Taunton was first female finisher in the Half with a 1.18 time.

There were many PB performances by members and some great first Half times.

They were:

Adam Crichton (1.27), Chris Brown (1.39), Caroline Norris (1.40), Dave Bullock (1.45), James Takle (1.46), Arthur Lewis (1.48), Simon Rowland (1.48), Richard Carman (1.48), Sam Stamp (1.52), Becky Coles (1.52), Lee Derrick (1.53), Mercedes Thorne (1.54), Duncan Gordon (1.54), Lisa Denson (1.54), Jamie Bouseeld (1.54), Richard Mackrory (1.55), Rachel Mills (1.56), John Allaway (1.56), Emma Harris (1.59), Rachel Staunton (1.59 and fifth LU20), Richard Staunton (1.59), Sally Tuer (2.01 for third LV60); Mark Always (2.02), Lin Lewis (2.06), Helen Moffat (2.06), Goff Welchman (2.09), Darren Purchase (2.09), Henry Cox (2.11), Nic Saint (2.12), Lucy Spring (2.12), Peter Stretton (2.12), Vince Jones (2.14), Paul Cooper (2.17), Tracy Marshall (2.22), Cathie Welchman (2.27 and third LV65), Kirsti Nelson (2.31), Shelley Clothier (2.36), Eliza Brodie (2.37), Rachel Jones (2.48), Ryan Duffield (2.49).

Parkrun tourists ventured to Minehead, Southwick, Forest Rec and Haldon Forest.

Eighteen ran at Longrun Meadow, where Paula Bisatt once again ran a new PB time.

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JUST Run members had Yeovil, Manchester and Taunton pencilled in for the start of the Spring Marathon and Half Marathon season.

The Yeovil Half Marathon was the last event in March and was completed by Duncan Shaun in a time of 1:37:28; Shaun’s third of four half marathons over a four-week period.

Next in for the Just Run group was Ade Marchment in 1:44:53.

First back for Just Run in the Manchester marathon was Ashley Stewart in an amazing time of 3:41:01 in his first ever marathon.

Not far behind was Chris Melley in 3:50:42, closely followed by Ian Stone in 3:55:37.

Great credit goes to Donna Adams, who trained so hard to achieve a time of 5:15:46.

Half the distance and nearer to home, the Taunton Half took place in ideal running conditions.

Week four meant event number four for Duncan Shaun, who finished in a very credible 1:35:18.

Slightly further back came Duncan’s brother Jim in 1:38:26.

First ladies back for Just Run were Julie Gilbert and Alison Davidson in a perfectly paced 1:54:50.

Training for London and finishing in under the two-hour mark was James Pither in 1:58:18 and just over the two hours came Haydn North (2:02:33), followed by Liz Sorensen in 2:05:06.

Just Run meet at Enfield car park every Tuesday at 6.30pm; see the Just Run Facebook page for more.

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HANNAH Taunton was first lady at the Taunton Half on Sunday.

She was absolutely thrilled as it was the race she has always wanted to win, being her local race.

She took three minutes off her PB to finish 14th overall in 1.18:24.

Hannah has trained incredibly hard for this and loved all the local support from the spectators.

Hannah’s brother, Ben, did his very first Half Marathon on Sunday in an excellent time of 1.38:23.

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IT was a day of personal bests and great achievements for Wellington Weavers Running Club in last Sunday’s Taunton Marathon and Half Marathon.

With conditions ideal, ‘The Weavers’ worked their ways through the throngs and towards success.

Luke Merchant ran the full marathon distance and gained a PB in 03:39:06.

The other Weavers ran the Half Marathon in the following times:

Paul Thompson - 01:32:27 (PB); Amy Elaine Walsh - 01:34:24; Alistair Gregory - 01:37:10; Neil Basil - 01:38:25; Rebecca Davis (course PB) - 01:52:22; Andrew Muller - 02:15:36; Eliza Brodie 02:37:05; and Simon Denson 03:41:25.

For more information about Wellington Weavers, contact Simon Booth on 07939274347.

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HYDRO Harriers’ Andy White recorded 21.24 at Longrun Meadow Parkrun last Saturday, with Rowland Lyons improving to manage 26.34 at Valentine’s (Ilford).