THIS week saw the culmination of the beginners’ course at Dudley Kingswinford Running Club as their 12-week progression came to its conclusion with the Gavin Tipper 5k.

A race held annually by DK to commemorate a former member of both the running and rugby club and the only rugby club player to have scored a try for the club at Twickenham.

Upon retiring Gavin devoted a great deal of time to coaching at both Tipton Harriers and Black Country Triathletes before his untimely death. Fittingly, the race donated the money raised to Action Heart, the cardiac rehabilitation programme at Russell’s Hall Hospital.

On an evening that threatened torrential rain and thunderstorms for the athletes toeing the line, they were lucky to miss the worst of the weather. With localised flooding reported throughout the area it appears someone was looking down on the field as the worst they experienced was a light drizzle making the course, mostly on grass, a little slippery on the corners.

It was a clean sweep for the green and white hoops of Tipton Harriers with Tom Holden taking victory in 15.30, Shaun Barnsley finished runner up in 15.52 and Paul Rogers claimed third place in 16.37.

In the ladies’ race Tipton were again to the fore with Sophie Lynch first across the line in 17.58 from Sally-Anne Walker in 18.47 and Bethany Walker was third in 18.56.

Simon Blizzard was first home for the hosts in 17.46. However, this was more a night for the club’s beginners rather than its established runners with most pulling on the yellow marshals bib rather than the blue hooped vest. The stand out beginners’ performance on the night came from Tom Porter who finished in a time of 20.30 to take 42nd place.

With the beginners’ event out of the way there was time for the more established runners to take on one of the toughest half marathons on the race calendar as a group travelled to west for the Trail Marathon Wales Half on Saturday.

The race taking place over 13.1 miles of hilly terrain around forestry commission land and mountain bike tracks around Coed-Y-Brenin Forest near Dolgellau. Mark Homer continued to impress in 40th place overall and fifth in his age group in 1.48.52, Phil Sayers was 327th in 2.35.15, Pete Krivosic was 357th in 2.39.17 and Sarah Krivosic finished in 3.11.14 to take 476th place.