Silver Hares on the Cotswold Way and fast ladies on the Love Trail

Cotswold Way Relay 4th July

The results won’t be final until 8th July, but if confirmed our “Silver Hares” team came 6th overall out of 104 teams and was also the fastest veteran team, which would be a brilliant result !

Team organiser Ian Barrett thinks we had 4 top 10 finishes on the day – Rob (2^nd) , Aaron, James and Bill (2^nd ). And another couple just outside the top 10 for their leg, including the 2 non-members Jonny & John.

Ian did a sterling job with his last/only leg given his injured status (see below) – his time would have placed him in the top third of the field last year (this year tbc). Following as it does Karen Higuera’s brave run with a broken arm last year, let’s hope this is not a trend to continue next year!

We have photos and/or some feedback from the individual runners here :-

Leg 1 Andy Fellows

{Ed. Andy's photo appears as the "headline" with this newsletter by virtue of it being taken chronologically first amongst all those I've used. Whilst it is perhaps a just reward for his very early start on Saturday, if any reader can tell me how to persuade Wix into letting the Editor choose which photo takes star billing he would be very grateful.}

Leg 3 Aaron

Tough going. Legs felt good but had low level stomach issues and struggled to find another gear. Feeling a little disappointed but it’s a great race and looking forward for the rest of the results to come through.”

Leg 4 James

not my best race but will take top 10

Leg 5 Simon

More elevation this week than the whole year I think. Back went early on and struggled on the climbs after that. Water over the head half-way through and then pushed on and recovered a few places back.

Leg 8 Stuart

Hot. 13th

Leg 9 Bill

Hot and humid but maintained steady effort and just edged away from 3rd in the final 400m

Leg 10 Ian B

Personally, I was hoping the slower pace would let me get away with my bad hamstring, but it actually went towards the top of the first climb, when barely running. Walked a bit, managed to find a pace that was bearable just as it was the fastest way off the mountain! And took a few wrong turns in Bath just to compound the day. Need to properly rest and rehab it now though.

But it is always a fun day. It would be good to get at least a 2^nd team out next year, although we forged an alliance with RSE to get lifts this year, so that worked well.

Gower Coast Classic

Have you heard of Love Trails? No, nor me. Not a 70's song lyric but a run/dance event {Ed. presumably James W was there?}

Storm Trow and Helena Sexton went along this year and thought it was Fab ! It’s four days on the Gower Peninsula

“…alive with experiential runs, hikes, live music, wild swims, adventures, workshops and unforgettable nights. A gathering that feeds your body, mind and soul. It’s a global community of adventure seekers, coming together to celebrate the joy of movement.”

The ladies chose to run the 27km event (c. 16 miles) described by the organisers thus.

“Get ready for a running adventure that goes far beyond the ordinary half marathon, not just in distance, but in breathtaking scenery, complete with a zesty amount of elevation! 

Runners will start and finish at the Love Trails Festival site, with high energy music (and the crowds to match). The route unfolds by summiting Llanmadoc Hill with panoramic views that stretch across the peninsula. From here, runners will head towards the famous Worms Head, traversing Rhossili Downs where the terrain opens up into expansive grassy plains dotted with wildflowers. With well-defined trails and views of vast golden beaches, this route takes in the absolute best of the Gower Peninsula. Runners can expect two fantastically stocked aid stations on this route keeping that morale and energy level sky high at roughly 10km and 15km. This is a fully marked and supported route.”

Helena confirms it was “a stunning route worth the elevation! Chatty as always with Storm Trow 🫶

Storm reckoned it was “the hilliest run I’ve ever done! Stunning views 🤩. Fuelled by watermelon and Welsh cakes”

They not only enjoyed it but finished 9^th/10^th ladies in a field of over 600 – congratulations !

Helena Sexton, Storm Trow, Gower Classic 2026

The scenic course involved comfortably (well maybe not comfortable at the time…) over 3,000 ft of elevation. They enjoyed it so much they ran a garmin 5k add-on event as a warm down.

Looks like they run a waiting list so if you fancy it on 2027 sign up now (although maybe not if you want to run the CW relay).

4 July 2026, Love Trails Festival, Gower Peninsula, 27km trail

1 Daniel Connolly (Salford Harriers) 1.52.35

37 Helena Sexton (Cirencester AC) 2.45.30 – 9th lady

38 Storm Trow 2.45.31 – 10th lady

630 finished lovetrailfestival.co.uk

Serpent Trail 100km - Haslemere to Petersfield

Who do you know that would sign up last minute for a hot 100k if they hadn’t been training for it?? Spoiler - photo at bottom of newsletter.

Here’s a clue – their strava activity read like this

“Last minute entry to a great ultra in the south downs and heathland. Obviously unwise to embark on a long run like this without due consideration. But that's my vibe. Was sick, obviously, but restored myself with an ice cold, heavily salted glass of lemonade. It was the least I could do as I'd just vomited outside their pub garden. Anyway, that brought me back to life and allowed me to deliver a fast, and widely acclaimed ; final 5k. Boom. 5^th V50 man, 39^th overall”

Well done........ Dave Musgrave........ for recovering to finish – and ahead of >20 other V50’s.

1 Jamie Stephenson (unattached) 8.56.13

48 David Musgrove (Cirencester AC) 13.40.15

132 finished serpenttrailrace.com

Parkruns

Rich Allen was first home for the club again at the Ciren event, in a close finish he stayed 2s ahead of the much younger third placed runner and logged his best time since March.

The only other member under 20 minutes was Luke Campbell down by the (Exeter) Riverside – he was fairly happy with his 19:18 but less so to be beaten by brother Ollie. We might see some more runs from him on this course during July – the benchmark has been set!

Martin Croucher continued his recovery from injury with his 150^th parkrun at Witney in a course PB of 22:01.

The Tapleys on holiday in Suffolk couldn’t really not go to the Clare course -

“It had to be done - it’s even spelled correctly! Super pleased to have run the first lap and a tiny bit without stopping ….. and even managed negative splits! Somewhat annoyed with the Strava time - that annoying second but official time was 38 minutes. I’ll take that!”

Cirencester: 2 Rich Allen 18.38, 14 Dave Wright 21.47, 87 Alan McAdam 26.43,104 Jonathan Higgs 27.59, 125 Rachel McAdam 29.00, 145 Susanna Austin 29.56,165 Amanda Naylor 31.02, 252 Kirsty Leggate 38.13, 309 finished.

Tetbury: 48  Stephen Hale 24.21, 54 Ben Hilditch 24.49, 109 Peter Rowland 29.31, 198 finished.

Marlborough Common: 52 David Moss 27.30, 139 finished.

Three Brooks, Bradley Stoke, Bristol: 326 Ruth Fulford 36.17, 401 finished.

Witney: 15 Martin Croucher 22.01, 290 finished.

Exeter Riverside: 17 Luke Campbell 19.18, 555 finished.

Clare Castle, nr. Cambridge: 28 Colin Tapley 23.15, 167 Clare Tapley 38.00, 188 finished.

Nidda, Frankfurt, Germany: 66 Samantha Timms 30.24, 104 finished.

Last minute Ultra man