A clear night greeted runners for the latest Weston Prom Run,

THE skies cleared and the wind dropped to set the stage for the sixth race in Weston AC’s five-mile race series.

The club’s runners were out in force among a strong field of 257 runners, all keen to do battle with the flat course.

This month’s spoils went to Nicolas Saillard of North Somerset, who just nudged home under the 27 minute mark in 26.59. First woman back was Serane Stone of Tiverton Harriers in 29.54, finishing under 30 minutes for the third time.

Chris Old was first Weston male to finish, in overall fourth place, and four seconds clear of January’s time in 28.10. Dominic Taylor-Jones was next in 28.33 and Kieron Summers took third in 28.57, both also tearing chunks off the previous month’s times.

Phil Richards is showing no signs of taking a back seat for the prom, finishing first for Weston’s women for the fifth month in a row, taking over a minute off January’s time and storming through the line in 32.55. Second and third female club places went to Tamara Bourne in 37.54 and Mary Nutley in 42.12.

Lesley Bowskill and Julie Shergold were hot on Mary’s heels both earning new personal bests of 42.26 and 42.36 respectively. Chris Edwards bagged a personal best for the second month in a row, finishing under the nine minute mile pace in 44.47.

Jaylan Bacon retained his winning position in the junior one-mile race, finishing in 5.34. Callum Smith and Oliver Cunningham swapped places this month finishing in 5.50 and 5.59 respectively.

Connie Ballentine won for the girls’ this month in 6.46. Freya King took second in 6.51 and Annabell Cunningham was right behind her in third, five seconds faster than last month in 6.57.

The next races in the prom series take place on March 27. The one-mile race starts at 6.45pm, and is free for junior runners aged seven to under 16. It is followed by the main five-mile Weston Prom Run at 7.30pm.

Runners can enter on the night at the race HQ at the Pavilion Bar, Knightstone Road, and find out more at www.westonac.co.uk

Club members spread the net wide taking on three events, each one with its own set of challenges to contend with.

The Bath Half is billed as a flat course, but the two-lap course throws in a couple of gentle climbs for the runners to contend with, which coupled with the wind and rain made some members’ times even more of an achievement.

For the Weston females, Georgie Ford finished first in 1.48.55, Elizabeth Nicholls came next in 1.51.31, followed by Julia Withers in 1.57.15, all three also earning themselves new personal bests for the half marathon distance.

The first Weston man to finish was Kevin Minty in 1.27.30, closely followed by Steve Kibblewhite in 1.28.01 and Andrew Sandiford in 1.32.16. Steve also achieved a new personal best.

Other members who finished the race in their quickest time over the distance were Stuart Diamond in 1.38.01, Helen Diamond in 1.58.22 and Lesley Bowskill in 2.00.27.

Over 100 miles away in North Devon, a hardy bunch of Weston’s runners were taking on the Bideford Half. David Stock romped home first for the club in a blistering 1.21.05 and nailed a personal best. Marc Bostock was next in 1.33.23 and Jim Hayward third in 1.36.50.

Tyres were replaced by trainers at Silverstone where Dominic Taylor-Jones did his best to burn rubber finishing in 1.21.16, followed by Dave Elliott in 1.38.10 and Kevin Knight and Amanda Hunter both in 1.52.52.

Saturday also saw two club members take on a race in the Gwent Cross Country League on the Blaise Castle estate. Adrian Noble was first Weston member to finish in 41.09 and Andy Chadburn was not far behind in 43.06.