THERE was action a plenty for athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club at the weekend with the blue hooped vest on show across the country.

Saturday saw three teams compete at Sutton Park in the British National Masters Road Relays where the cream of the nations over thirty fives from as far afield as Cambuslang and Kent raced hard over a three mile circuit.

The M55s were first off the blocks with Mark Homer leading the team out in a time of 18.48, Roger Beddard finished in 21.41 and Andy Weaver ran a 20.45 leg to bring the team home in 19th place in a total time of 1.01.14.

Dave Norman led out the M35 team with a time of 18.34, Simon Blizzard ran 18.41, Darran Bishop 18.12, Simon Hughes 18.16, Stuart Perkins 17.34 and Kieran Pitt 20.15, a total of 1.51.32 placing the team in 26th place. And an incomplete team, a man down after a late defection, ran in the M45s with Richard Jones running 21.04, Graham Wildgoose 20.46 and John Andrews 22.43.

Over his favoured terrain of mud and hills, Andy Sprague took part in the Shindig In The Shire race, a half marathon in deepest darkest Shropshire coming home in second place in 1.49.56. Lyn Sprague was 21st in 2.25.36 and Liz Hettle was 48th in 3.09.45.

Twenty four hours later a couple of hoops took part in the Worcester Marathon, Sue Payton placing 141st in 4.19.38 and Gina Collins was 194th in 4.59.30.

Stephen Marsh raced in the Burton 10, a tough, hilly race, coming home in 82.59 to place 151st.

And a larger group travelled towards Shrewsbury for a RAF Shawbury 10k, a flat course where there was a strong possibility of fast times. Paul Baker was first back for the club in 45.17 to take 47th place, Dave Ede was 94th in 48.51, Lee Avery was 105th in 49.32, Dave Garbutt was 124th in 50.22, Aimee Pugh was 300th in 59.16 and Tony Noke stopped the clock in 1.04.42 to take 351st place.