THERE was plenty of choice for athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club in what must have been one of the busiest weekends of the year.

The weekend started as early as Wednesday night for some club members, as two teams travelled to Staffordshire for the annual Shugborough Relays.

A popular event where teams of four run two mile legs around the country estate.

In the Open Men’s category Ben Foster ran a lightning fast first leg in 10.20, Rob Meredith ran second in 10.59, James Wright went off third in 11.27 and Matt Biggs bought the team home in 11.22 to finish sixth of 52 teams.

In the men’s vets category Mark Judge finished in 13.13, Dave Norman in 12.45, Darran Bishop in 12.17 and Kieran Pitt in 13.48 to take 18th place out of 47 teams.

It was on to Blakedown on Friday evening for the Blakedown Bolt, a testing 10k following off road tracks and paths.

Foster claimed victory in 37.28, James Wright was sixth in 40.14, Dave Norman was 29th in 44.31, Dave Hickman was 73rd in 50.24, John Andrews was 84th in 51.19, John Glover was 190th in 1.01.45, Lisa Newell came 201st in 1.03.46, Sam Hemming was 245th in 1.08.29 and John Gould finished in 1.09.20 to take 252nd place.

On Saturday morning it was on to Wales for one of the toughest marathons in the calendar, the testing Trail Marathon Wales following tracks around the Coed-Y-Brenin forest.

Phil Sayers finished in 5.26.22 to take 267th place and Sarah Krivosic was 323rd in 6.17.14.

Rob Meredith was the only representative at the Gnosall Carnival 10k but made the journey worthwhile claiming second place in 39.11.

Meanwhile, the Shropshire village of Blymhill came alive for the Blymhill 10k across fields and paths with Mark Gallimore finishing in eighth in 47.12, Stephen Wakefield in 29th in 55.52, Dave Garbutt in 30th in 56.00, Carol Fisher in 37th in 58.18, Lyn Sprague in 38th in 58.20, Jacqui Elson-Whittaker in 58.23, Marie Latreche in 40th in 58.24, Steve Davies in 43rd in 59.21, Julie Allen in 46th in 59.34, Karen Doy in 47th in 59.52, Robert Jones in 50th in 1.00.25, Ann Law in 52nd in 1.00.34, Andy Fraser in 55th in 1.01.26, Kathryn Sneyd in 58th in 1.01.57, Amanda Dawes in 72nd in 1.08.05, Max Jones in 74th in 1.08.21, Angela Jones in 75th in 1.08.21, Liz Hettle in 81st in 1.11.11 and Beryl Glover in 92nd in 1.18.39.

On Sunday, the husband and wife team of Andy and Natalie Litchfield travelled to Malvern for their half marathon. Andy finishing in 117th in 1.44.35 and Natalie clocking 2.12.11 to take 395th place.

Whilst in the Shrewsbury Half Marathon Matt Biggs took fourth place in 1.15.48, Graham Wildgoose was 113th in 1.30.09, Gary Bonner was 124th in 1.30.59 and John Sixsmith finished in 1.38.59 to take 291st place however the distance is disputed as the course came up half a mile short.

Finally, Foster and James Wright went in search of fast times at the Prestwold 10k in Leicestershire, Foster taking 14th place in 34.22 and Wright finishing in 37.58 to take 59th place.