74 competitors took part in the fourth and final off-road night race at Mallards Pike in the Forest of Dean.\u00a0 The following day, 26 competitors ran the same course during the day.\u00a0 All those who had competed on Saturday night were given a free entry so they could have the opportunity of seeing, in the light, where they had run the night before.<\/p>\n
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The tough five mile course featured challenging climbs, twisting single track paths, hair-raising descents, and muddy forest trails, rounding off with an atmospheric tour of Mallards Pike Lake.\u00a0 Many competitors felt it was the best course yet of the night series.<\/p>\n
Painstaking marking with reflective tape and arrows ensured that not one competitor was lost in the woods.\u00a0 However, one runner got stuck in a bog, and had to be extracted by the sweeper marshal!\u00a0 She emerged smiling and later won a spot prize.<\/p>\n
Chepstow Harriers\u2019 Paul Murrin and Vanessa Lawson won first male and female night owl trophies in times of 33.38 minutes and 42.00 minutes respectively.
\nOther prize winners were James Smith second, Jon Barnes third, Patrick Woodisse first vet 40, Tony Marshall first vet 50, Neil Grant first vet 60, Niki Morgan second, Kate Wram third, Angela Jones first vet 40, Rosine Rowlands first vet 50. \u00a0Forest of Dean’s Mark Mathews was 7th in 37:56, followed by Dan Sandford 39:53; Graham James 49:09 and Graham Bennetto 56:00. \u00a0Prospective new member Carmen Rodriguez finished in 50:02.
\nIt was an eventful night, as one Chepstow Harrier spotted a pair of wild boar eyes glinting at her through the trees on her journey home.
\nExhausted, but jubilant after two days of exertion, all runners were rewarded for their efforts with delicious home-made cakes and tea in a huge, heated, inflatable pod.<\/p>\n
Paul Drew and Fairwater\u2019s Angela Jones won the day race and were presented with beautiful hand-carved wooden squirrel trophies, crafted by the organisers.\u00a0 Angela deserves special mention for winning a prize for both events, and also for spotting a wild boar when camped overnight. \u00a0Forest of Dean results were Dan Sandford 3rd in 37:43; Peter Short 48:01 and Graham Bennetto 55:30.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
74 competitors took part in the fourth and final off-road night race at Mallards Pike in the Forest of Dean.\u00a0 The following day, 26 competitors ran the same course during the day.\u00a0 All those who had competed on Saturday night … Continue reading