ATHLETES from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club took advantage of last weekend's favourable conditions to post some top class performances.

A group travelled the short distance north for the Stafford Half Marathon and came back with prizes and personal bests over the 13.1 miles course.

Lorna Hulme backed up her Stafford 20 result with a finishing time of 1.29.44 for second senior lady. Helen Tromans was not far behind in 1.32.12 for third FV40, with both Lorna and Helen finishing in the top 10 in the ladies overall standings.

Brian Preston finished in 1.33.39 for 197th place, Paul Richards was 258th with 1.34.32, Andy Litchfield finished in 1.40.17 in 385th, Dave Hickman was 686th in 1.47.26, Natalie Litchfield finished in 2.06.47 to take 1,470th and Debbie Richards was 1,813th in a time of 2.20.29.

DK sent a male and female team to the Midlands Road Relay Championships at Sutton Park. The men’s team of 12, comprising of Andy Sprague, Mark Homer, Simon Hughes, Graham Wildgoose, Dave Norman, Rich Bate, Rob Sannwald, Pete Hood, Gary Bonner, Richard Jones, Phil Smith and Ben Foster, finished in a total time of 4.28.10 for the overall distance of approximately 44 miles. Holding their own in 33rd place despite competing against the likes of Notts AC, Tipton Harriers, Coventry Godiva, Wolverhampton and Bilston and Birchfield Harriers, only missing out on qualifying for the National event by a handful of places.

The women’s team of Sally McConville, Lynn Sprague, Jacqui Elton-Whittaker, Charlotte Tonks, Carol Fisher and Alison Whitehouse coincidentally also took 33rd place, with a total time of 2.14.05 for their six stage event.

Elsewhere, the blue hoops ventured to Spain leaving the Midlands behind, Roger Beddard putting his training miles to the test in the Barcelona Marathon and coming home in 3.58.55, just inside his four hours target.

Away from the DK club, Stourbridge runner Wayne Illidge also took part in last weekend's Stafford Half Marathon and finished 15th overall but first in the over 50 category.