The final Sunday in October proved to be a busy one for Frome Running Club with the fast, flat Langley Burrell Lightning Bolt 10k race on 29 October. Alexander Fisher (MV40) was the first Frome runner to finish in 00:42:13 (PB), followed by Dave Williams (MV60), whose time of 00:43:13 earned him 3rd in age category, and Clare Dunning (FSE) in 00:54:26 (PB). On the same day, over in Dorset, two more Frome runners lined up for The Stickler, a 10.1 mile multi-terrain race covering 1500ft of climbing. Emma Surridge (FV40) crossed the line in 01:33:27 bagging 3rd in age category, followed by Ian Holmes in 01:38:44. Over in Calne, also on the29th, Frome Junior were out in number at the Clock Change Challenge Junior 1.5k race. This was the last race for the 2023 Wiltshire Athletic Association Junior race series and the Frome runners did not disappoint with Alfie Johnston and Isy Hopkinson-Scott both getting podium spots by finishing 3rd overall in the boy’s and girl’s race. Coach Pete Clardy ...

Frome at the Westbury Lions 10K The October running calendar got off to a great start with the Clarendon Marathon and Half Marathon on 1 October. The marathon starts at Laverstock & Ford Sports Club in Salisbury and runs along the Clarendon Way to Winchester, while the half starts at the village of Broughton and follows the second half of the route to Winchester. Emma Surridge (F45-49) completed the marathon in 04:47:42 while Rachel Bala (F40-49) finished the half marathon in 02:36:04. The following weekend, Frome Running Club fielded a strong team of runners for the Westbury Lions 10K, a mixed-terrain race starting and finishing at the White Horse Country Park in Westbury. First to finish Frome was Ronan Ferguson (MSEN) in 00:40:41, followed by Alexander Fisher (MSEN) in 00:43:13, Andrew Smallbone (MVET) in 00:44:08, Peter Clardy (MVET) in 00:52:15 and Nicky Thomas (FVET) in 00:54:03. Next to finish was Alan Brawn (MVET) in 00:56:08, Clare Dunning (FSEN) in 00:56:09, Paul Goodwin ...

Frome runners roam far and wide in September  Pete at the New Forest 5K September’s running escapades started with a trip to the Isle of Purbeck for The Beast, a challenging 13-ish mile trail run starting and finishing in the shadows of Corfe Castle. Paul Horton (MV50), Ian Holmes (MV50) and Emma Surridge (FV45) took to the starting line for Frome, with Paul crossing the line first in an impressive time of 01:50:02, followed by Ian in 02:14:22 and Emma in 02:23:45. On the same day, Ted Sprules (MV70) and Alan Brawn (MV50) lined up for the Carnival Chase 10K in Warminster, both runners putting in a blistering performance for the club with Ted crossing the line in 00:46:05 and Alan in 00:48:54.  Lynn at the Richmond Marathon The following Sunday saw more Frome runners on tour with Lynn Brand (FV60) battling the heat in the Richmond Marathon. Despite the challenging conditions, Lynn sped home in a time of 04:32:54, bagging second position in age category. On the same day, two mor...

August got off to a great start for Frome Running Club with the Wiltshire 10K Lightning Bolt in the village of Langley Burrell on Sunday, 13 August. This edition of the race also incorporated the Wiltshire 10k Championships and Inter Counties Championships, ensuring a very fast field of athletes. First across the finish line for Frome was Alexander Fisher (MV40) in a PB time of 00:42:56. He was followed by Emma Surridge (FV40) in 00:46:33, David Lee (FV40) in 00:47:06 and Alan Brawn (MV50) in 00:47:05. Hot on their heels was Victoria Stather (FSEN) with a PB time of 00:49:10, followed by Barrie Knight (MV70) in 00:50:15, Christopher Steele (MV60) in 00:52:32, Nicky Thomas (FV50) in 00:54:25 (PB) and Claire Dunning (FSEN) in 00:57:26 (PB). Just two days after this on 15 August, another Frome stalwart, David Alsford (MV50) posted a time of 00:22:10 at the Heddington 5k Series Race 3. Following the points from these two Wiltshire Road Race League races, Frome Running Club remains in seco...

Frome at the Heddington 5K Temperatures may have dropped in recent weeks but Frome runners continued to turn up the heat with some blazing results at local races in July. Paul Horton started the month off in style with the Ham & Lyme 50K Ultra Marathon on 1st July, completing the challenging route from Ham Hill Country Park in Somerset to Lyme Regis in Dorset in 05:28:52. Another Frome long-distance legend, Vicki Trundle, took on the Hope Trail Running Festival 36 on the weekend of the 7-9th July. In this gruelling endurance run, athletes have 36 hours to complete 100 miles over a five-mile loop. Vicki was the fourth woman to finish in a time of 34:22:47. On Tuesday, 11 July, Alexander Fisher sped round the Westbury 5K, completing the flat, fast road race in 00:20:36. On 16 July, Lynn Brand (FV60) took to the trails of Monmouthshire for the Wye Valley Tunnel Run. This picturesque run follows the railway line all the way from Sedbury to Tintern and Lynn’s speedy time of 02:07:52 ea...

Frome runners kept up the pace in the second half of June with a slew of classic local races including the Broad Town 5, a five-mile road race on country lanes held on Saturday, 17 June. Earmarked race number 4 in the Wiltshire Road Race League, runners participating in the race had the chance to win valuable points for the club. Alexander Fisher (MV40) finished first for Frome posting a time of 00:34:59. Hot on his heels was David Alsford (MV50) in 00:35:14, followed by David Lee (MV40) in 00:36:30 and Jo Fordham (FV50) in 00:37:13 (3rd in category). Peter Clardy (MV60) rounded off Frome’s performance with his speedy time of 00:39:46.   The following Tuesday, 20 June, saw the return of another key League race – the Heddington 5K, a fast, flat course around the quiet country lanes of Heddington. Dave Williams (MV60) finished in a blistering 00:20:58 (4th in category), followed by Alexander Fisher (MV40) in 00:21:01. One day later on the 21st, more Frome club runners ventured over ...

On May 21, Frome runner Alan Brawn ventured up to the jewel of the north, Manchester, to take part in the Manchester Half Marathon. Following a fast, flat route that takes runners past the city’s iconic landmarks, Alan crossed the finish line in an impressive 01:54:10. The same day saw the return of a local classic, the Dilton Dash. A number of Frome’s club runners turned out for this 10k mixed terrain race with Ronan Ferguson storming home in 00:46:46 to bag seventh position overall. He was followed by Emma Surridge in 00:51:56 (2nd female), Julie Chilvers in 00:58:36 and Emma Evans in 01:07:31.  Ted and Paul at the Bratton Hilly On the following Saturday, 27 May, another local favourite, The Bratton Hilly, put the perfect finish on the month. Frome fielded a strong contingent for this challenging 11k multi-terrain course, a fact that was reflected in the team result, with Frome Running Club finishing first in the team rankings. Leading the charge once again was Ronan Ferguson, wh...