ATHLETES from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club were spoilt for choice last weekend with a number of races to choose from even if local conditions weren’t exactly conducive to fast times.

The weekend started at the County Raceway in Stratford Upon Avon with the Shakespeare 10k over two laps of traffic free tarmac. Paula Alder was first back for the blue hoops in 121st in 50.15, Steve Davies clocked a personal best of 52.57 to take 159th and Matt Hawker finished in 169th in 53.33.

A day later, another trio took on some more testing terrain in weather conditions that were considerably worse. Sally McConville competed in the Beckbury Trail race, 5.6 miles of off road running between the villages of Beckbury and Badger finishing in 59.26 to take 127th place. And James Wright came home in 1.16.58 in 44th place and Andy Sprague was not too far behind claiming 49th place in 1.18.17 over a more testing course of the Wrekin Wrecker zig-zagging up and down the Wrekin on numerous occasions to complete the 8.1 mile distance.

In far warmer conditions, Ingrid Cain put months of training to the test in the Valencia Marathon finishing in a very creditable 4.24.47 to take 11,717th place overall but 32nd in her category.