MANY Running Forever members resolved to start the year with a run, so headed off to Chard for the New Year’s Day Chard Flyer.

Always popular, this local event saw a good crowd take to the lanes.

First home in the RFRC colours was James Nicholas in 41.46, while new member Tom Brodie finished in 45.02 with Tanya Lewis (45.39) hot on his heels.

Gavin Clegg (48.43), Nigel Baker (51.59) and Tanya Herbison (59.18) were RFRC’s next finishers.

Rob Murr completed in 60 minutes, Robert Williams in 61 with Brian Brown and Pete Stretton fighting out on the finish line with their 64 minute times.

The club’s final finisher was Paul Clowes in 65 minutes.

Race winners

1st Male - Christian Green, Wells City Harriers, 34m 54s; 2nd Male - James Green, Axe Valley Runners, 35m 17s; 3rd Male - Wayne Loveridge, Chard Road Runners, 35m 58s.

1st Female - Hannah Moore, 40m 49s; 2nd Female - Francesca Rawlings, Clevedon AC, 41m 5s; 3rd Female - Becky Toovy, Romsey Road Runners, 43m 18s.

Category winners

Female 35+ - Lisa Mather, 44m 40s; Female 45+ - Frances Malin, Yeovil Town RRC, 44m 27s; Female 55+ - Mary Butcher, Minehead Running Club, 50m 52s.

Male 40+ Robert Collier, Axe Valley Runners, 38m 35s; Male 50+ Carl Ward, Taunton AC, 44m 2s; Male 60+ Nick Brooke, Dorset Doddlers RC, 42m 23s.

Ali Bisatt tackled the Hangover 10K in Weston and finished in 41.01.

Just before Christmas, a trio of members headed down to Portsmouth to take on the Waterside Marathon.

Sam Wharton took the third female place with her 3.22 storming run. Ray Tutton crossed the line in 3.54 and Brian Bandyszewski in 4.37.

A mass exodus of 44 members travelled to Stoke St Gregory for the annual Stoke Stampede 10K.

Chris Brown was first home in the colours with 38.18 to earn sixth overall.

Other finishers were:

Jo Carritt (39.21 and 3rd female); Simon Denson (40.04); Sam Wharton (41.51); Caroline Norris (41.55 and 3rd in category); Heather Pearce (43.03); Scott Weech (44.30); Gavin Clegg (46.14); Sam Stamp (46.19); Mike Parsons (46.18); Paul Clowes (47.19); Dave Bullock (47.32); Lisa Denson (49.25); Duncan Gordon (49.52); Simon Rowland (50.15); Michael Glide (50.29); Mercedes Thorne (52.03); Damon Butler (52.20); Sally Tuer (54.26); Nadine Prouse (52.55); Tanya Herbison (55.16); Vicky Hanna (55.28); Philip Parsons (55.57); Robert Williams (56.05); Carl Moppett (56.02); Richard Councill (56.35); Darren Purchase (56.48); Peta Aspden (57.32); Pete Stretton (57.28); Charlie Sargent (57.49); Brian Brown (58.13); Jules Griffiths-Jones (58.34); Paul Cooper (59.21); Louise Mills (64.02); Helen Phillips (64.27); Marina Tomsett (64.50); Liz Williams (66.00); Sandra Williams (66.01); Gareth Parsons (70.32); Rachel Reid (71.56); Lisa Windsor (72.02); Sarah Reed (77.03) and Sarah Holloway (83.15).

Parkrunning members have been far and wide over the festive season, taking the opportunity to visit new runs while on holiday and completing New Year’s Day doubles.

Tanya Herbison completed her 100th parkrun.

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THE start of the New Year can only mean one thing - it is just days until, what for many, is their first event of the year, the Stoke Stampede 10k.

Nearly 400 runners started this race through the village of Stoke St Gregory.

The pink and blue of Just Run could be seen frequently through the country lanes, as a record number of runners from the group took part in the event.

First over the finishing mat, and 33rd overall, in a PB time of 41:21, was Dan Brice.

Following, just under five minutes later, were Michael Watkins, 46:06, closely followed by Ashley Stewart, 46:24.

Next in was Ade Marchment, 47:46.

The first lady back was Julie Gilbert who finished in 50:12.

Alison Davidson finished in 51:53 and then Haydn North, 56:10, James L Pither, 56:11 and Kev Willcocks 56:31.

The battle to get under the 60-minute mark was achieved by Mandy Clements 59:03 and Rob Greenslade 59:25.

Just outside the hour mark came Katie Baker 1:00:37 and, with another PB under her belt, Donna Adams home in 1:02:13.

Liz Sorensen 1:04:11, Donna Halkett 1:04:16 and Kev Dunn 1:04:26 were welcomed back by the ever-growing support in the village square.

An amazing local event to start the New Year, many thanks to the organisers and supporters along the route whose enthusiasm was greatly appreciated by one and all.

Just Run meet at Enfield car park every Tuesday at 6.30pm. Sessions are also held on a Thursday and Sunday, please see the Just Run Facebook page for more information.

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MERCURCIAL Hannah Taunton was first lady in Stoke Stampede 10k.

Wearing the Taunton AC vest, Taunton finished sixth overall in a distance PB of 36.22.

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HYDRO Harrier Ian Salter won New Year bragging rights, finishing Longrun Meadow Parkrun in 19m 56s, with Andy White, conserving energy for the following day’s Stoke Stampede, posting 21-42. Brian Stenson recorded 24-03.

A turgid Rowland Lyons struggled around Valentine’s (Ilford) in 25-18.

Four Hydro Harriers turned out for last Sunday’s Stoke Stampede 10k road race.

In good conditions, Chris Perring was first Hydro over the line in 41m 8s, placing him 27th from 389 finishers.

Mark Foss’s impressive sprint finish saw him rob Chris Jones of 36th place, with Foss crossing in 41-47 and Jones three seconds and one place back.

Andy White continued his good form to come home in 43-9 (46th).