Pewsey success for RRR’s: Two Romsey Road Runners competed in the Pewsey Vale Half Marathon on 24 August, which took place on country roads just south of Marlborough. The undulating, circular route passed through scenic countryside, taking in one of the famous white horses, before finishing back at the village’s primary school. Brenda Topliss, who finished 96th overall in a time of 1:56:02, won the FV65 category and received a trophy when awards were presented after the race; Di Cross finished just ahead in 1:55:33 (91st, 20th woman); both runners used the event as part of their training for the Clarendon trail races in early October. The race was well organised, expertly marshalled and very friendly.
A further contingent of Romsey Road Runners travelled westwards to Corfe Castle in Dorset to run part of the notorious ‘Beast’ route just for fun! This annual club trip to Corfe is affectionately referred to as the Beast ‘recce’. The Romsey runners run about 9 miles of the race route, which can be confirmed as being accurately described as undulating and extremely hilly! Part of the course includes the formidable Houns-tout cliff where the runners climb around 200 steps to the top and experience breathtaking views across the Purbeck coastline; before finally returning along the cliff top and back to Corfe Common.