ATHLETES from Dudley Kingswinford pulled on their vests and travelled to various parts of the country to put their training to the test.

A huge contingent journeyed the short distance to Wolverhampton for a host of different events last Sunday. Kevin Duckworth ran the full marathon distance and came home in eighth place in 2.58.21, gaining automatic qualification for the London Marathon on only six weeks of specific training.

There were plenty of PBs and prizes to collect at the half marathon distance as Ben Foster claimed fourth in 1.14.53, also achieving the London Marathon qualifying standard, Rob Sannwald ran a PB of 1.24.45 in 16th place, Paul Richards claimed 1st MV50 in 1.26.40 in 23rd, Simon Hughes ran 1.32.13 for 44th, Helen Tromans finished 53rd in 1.33.28 to claim second woman and first in her age group.

Graham Wildgoose ran a PB of 1.33.56 in 56th, Malcolm Pillar claimed first MV65 in 89th place in 1.38.16, Mark Judge clocked 1.39.29 in 99th, Helen Davies was 208th in 1.49.38, Roger Beddard claimed third MV60 in 1.49.55, Narinda Hughes finished in 2.12.00 and Debbie Richards stopped the clock in 2.13.46.

Over the 10k distance, Nicola Wilkinson was 262nd in 1.11.24.

If Lisa Newell travelled north looking for company, she certainly got some, finishing in 18977th in the Great North Run in 2.12.21.

Elsewhere, a small group travelled to Kidsgrove to run the Gritstone Grind Ultra Marathon, a 35 mile race from Kidsgrove to Disley following the Gritstone Trail over such high spots as Mow Cop, The Cloud overlooking Congleton, Wincle Minn, Crocker Hill, Teggs Nose and Kerridge Hill before finishing through Lyme Park and running into Disley just south of Stockport. The route involved a total of 5900 feet of climbing following trails and public footpaths across fields before the finish.

Dave Norman was first back for DK in 6.37.06 in ninth place with Andy Sprague just behind in 10th in 6.37.10.

Mark Homer finished in 28th place in 7.36.51 and Sally McConville was 55th in 8.58.06. Unfortunately, Preston Grundy was unable to finish within the twelve hour cut off.