ATHLETES from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club were amongst the prizes again at the weekend but didn’t have to travel far to claim success.

A short journey towards Hagley meant that in some cases the rewards covered the cost of the petrol.

A small group took part in the Cobra Classic 10k, a tough race with some brutally hard inclines over the second half of the race and whatever time can be gained of the first half gets blown away on the hilly second. Mark Homer was first back for the club placing 14th overall and first M55 in a time of 43.51 just holding off club mate Helen Tromans who was only a place and a few seconds behind in 43.55 claiming the runners up spot in the ladies race and a course best time. Dave Hickman was 30th in 47.14, Andrew Weaver finished in 65th in 55.06, Tim Rowe finished in 57.09 in 75th place and Preston Grundy was 93rd in 1.03.50.

Baljit Watson also competed over the 10k distance taking part in the Great Manchester 10k finishing in 3762nd in 55.09 and Samantha Hemming travelled to Wales for the Snowdonia Half Marathon finishing in 325th place and covering the 13.1 mile distance in 2.47.26.

And a large group journeyed north to Merseyside to take part in the Liverpool Rock n Roll Half Marathon with Kevin Herbert finishing in 1.39.17, Paul Baker in 1.47.06, Rory Campbell in 1.48.20, Dave Ede in 1.55.13, Bob Jones in 1.55.40 and Jane Campbell stopped the clock in 2.08.30. A large group then came home within minutes of each other with Clare Hancox finishing in 2.19.48, Simon Whitehouse in 2.21.46, Alison Thorneycroft and Malcolm Beddall coming home in the same time of 2.37.43 with Jan Burbie only a second adrift, Sarah Cox crossing the line in 2.46.03, Helen Noke in 2.48.33 although listed in the results as her husband Tony, Liz Smith and Diane Jones both finishing in 2.48.41, Leah Robins in 2.52.58 and Andrew Perkins in 2.54.24.