Several members of Axe Valley Runners made the short journey into Dorset on Sunday for the Bridport Half Marathon and 10K, organised by Beyond Events.

The sunny and cool morning made for perfect racing conditions for the picturesque, mostly on-road courses.

In the half-marathon, Axe Valley Runner Laura Kerr had a terrific run, finishing as third female from a field of 54, nabbing a big personal best of 1.53.07.

Given the undulating course she was delighted with her time.

Adele Girdwood was 21st in 2:01.09 with Angela Kerr, who was using the half marathon as a training run for other events, was the next Axe Valley Runner home in 2:07.23, placing her 29th.

Kathryn Thomson finished in 2:41(51st) in only her second ever half marathon as she continues her excellent progress towards the London Marathon in October.

In the 10k event, which also had one hill to negotiate, Sarah Whelan was the first Axe Valley Runner home in 31st place and a time of 1:03.51, with Tracey Stone finishing it in 1:11.18 (46th) and, in her first ever 10k, Caroline Wiseman came in 60th in 1:13.57.

Further afield, Tony Smith and Sam Miller ran the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The top-class field – although this time without their son, Jake – included Welsh athlete, Natasha Cockram, who won the women's race in 1:10.47 – a time that should see her secure a Commonwealth Games slot for Wales.

The mass participation race, that had been postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, attracted more than 11,000 runners. Tony finished in an excellent 1:41:45, with Sam completing it in 2:11.49.

Jason Hyde, who is doing three half-marathons in three weeks, also completed Cardiff in 2:41.25 having run the Hampton Palace half last Sunday. He moves on to the London Landmarks next week where he will be joined by a few other Axe Valley Runners.

At Saturday's Seaton parkrun, in cool, sunny conditions, Axe Valley Runner Matt Frost was second finisher, also nabbing a personal best of 18:37. On age-grade Eleanor Wood was, again, top in an incredible 91.01%.

Meanwhile at Teignmouth Promenade parkrun, Ellie Dominey was first female finisher in 21:27.

Last Sunday, Angela and Martin Kerr completed the 20-mile version of the Granite Way as ideal training for their upcoming Brighton Marathon. It was a sunny but very windy day up on the Dartmoor cycle way and Martin was first in the M70 category in 4:13.12 with Angela first in F65 in 3:18.22.

Diane Newton ran the Bideford Half Marathon recently, lining up with nearly 800 runners on what turned out to be a very cold and windy day.

The race starts with a loop around Bideford before taking an undulating route out to Greater Torrington, then on to the Tarka Trail alongside the River Torridge and back home. Diane was very pleased to finish in 2:37:29, and fourth F70.