THERE were plenty of opportunities for athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club to pull on their vests and get involved in some competitive action at the weekend.

The cross country season continued apace with the Midlands 7 in Nottingham. Away from the Birmingham League action it was the equivalent of a cup game for the blue hoops and the chance to race with none of the added pressure of a league race.

Over a fast, relatively flat course there were only a couple of testing inclines and a ditch with a foot of water at the bottom to negotiate once on each of the four laps of the seven mile course.

Stuart Perkins was first back for DK, having been unavailable for the first league fixture he made amends with a strong performance to finish in 46th place in 45.22, Dave Norman chased him round to claim 52nd place in 46.11, Simon Blizzard came home in 47.46 in 63rd, a place ahead of Mark Homer who finished in 47.59, Steve Parr finished with a fine flourish to take 106th place in 53.26 and Andrew Weaver finished in 53.34 to take 108th place and complete the A team scorers. Richard Jones came home in 54.39 in 115th but Kevin Duckworth was unable to complete having been struck down with a recurrence of a hamstring problem. The performance by the team was enough to place the club in 8th place on the day, a respectable finish around midway but some distance behind the winners, Tipton Harriers, who dominated the even with their six counters coming home inside the top 15 place.

Twenty fours hours later John Andrews took part in the Beckbury Trail race, a 5.6 mile event over trails and paths through the autumn countryside. As the sole representative Andrews was first home in 52.05 to take 81st place. A small group travelled the short distance to Wyre Forest to take part in the Dirt Run 10k, a muddy run on fire tracks and woodland paths from the visitors centre at Callow Hill. Pete Krivosic was 75th in 1.04.19, Jan Burbie came home in 1.10.43 in 98th place and Sarah Krivosic was 127th in 1.20.04. And at a frosty Sutton Park Liz Hettle was 132nd in a time of 57.08, Alison Whitehouse was 169th in 59.21 and Keith Whitehouse and Gina Collins kept each other company finishing in 1.01.42 and 1.01.43 respectively to take 204th and 205th places in the Mo Run 10k.