CHARD Roadrunners were in action across two races this weekend in Somerset and Devon.

The first attraction was the Stoke St Gregory “Stoke Stampede”.

This 10k road run is a fast route around the lanes of Stoke St Gregory, which has been held for more years than 30 years.

Five Chard Roadrunners took part, and in a large field of 450 runners, Nina Wagstaff led the team home, followed by Stevie Potter who set the waiting crowd wild with a cracking run to post a 44.00 personal best, taking around two and a half minutes off her previous best.

Simon Hall was pleased to come through in 56 minutes, having starting too fast.

Claire Pomeroy was next and close to getting under the hour mark, and it was great to see Miranda Coleberd run over the line in this early 2017 race.

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THE second event was the Axmouth Challenge, a 10-mile off-road, hilly and muddy race above the village of Axmouth.

This race starts in the centre of the village, with the first half mile being a steep road climb.

Addie Douglass, Matt Baker and Emma Male headed off together, enjoying the initial steep hills before heading across the fields and bridleways.

As the lead Douglass was the first to take on the first steep field section and the inviting mud that almost brings the run to a crawl to prevent slipping back downhill.

Baker found the going to his taste and passed a few runners on the climb, while Male – having stopped laughing – made good the climb to head along the flatter tracks before turning onto the next steep hillclimb.

With the 10 miles coming rapidly to a conclusion all three Roadrunners came in together for the final sprint to the line.

Douglass crossed in 1h 38m 22s, followed by Baker and Male both in 1h 38m 31s.