Hello all, and welcome to your Weekly CARC Update – bringing all the weekly Croft shenanigans straight to your inboxes and social media feeds!
With the past couple of weeks being a tad quieter than what we are used to, we can confirm that this week has been full steam ahead, with plenty of things for us to report on. So, get your brews and your biscuits and sit down to enjoy and emmerse yourselves in the world of Croft Ambrey Running Club.
We started the week with another successful Junior session on Monday evening, where they focused on relays. After a warm-up lap of the school playing field, it was onto some drills and Indian Files before the main relay session using laps of the running track. Well done all!
The third and final Handicap race of this year’s Handicap Series at Leinthall Starkes took place on Tuesday evening. Here is Mike Blenkinsop’s report on the evening:
“The Football (or is it “Soccerball” in America ?) World Cup may be about to kick off in the sweltering conditions on the other side of the Atlantic, but the hot competition was all kicking off in the cooler exotic north Herefordshire resort of Leinthall Starkados. The 3rd, and final, road race in the 6 race 2026 Bryan Markham Handicap Series offered the last chance to set a course PB or score valuable points towards winning the series trophy. Thankfully the predicted heavy rain showers passed by to the south, but it was raining PBs in Leinthall Starkes – 14 were set this evening ! I don’t keep records about such happenings, but I am convinced that this is by far the most ever set in one race and this was the 135th race around this traditional old course since its inception in 1989.
The honour of registering the final victory on the road section of the series went to a back-to-form and galloping Henry Eastman who sped past a remarkable 35 other competitors to set a new PB with a time of 31.16.It must have been like a slalom skiing event as Henry weaved his way past so many runners. Again, no records kept, but that is probably the most overtaking manoeuvres in one race. Second across the line was a hard-working Theresa Jones. Theresa is still searching for that elusive handicap race victory, but this was her 2nd podium finish. A few years ago Theresa had victory snatched away from her as she was cruelly overtaken by 2 other sprinting finishers in the final few strides. Next year ? Completing the top 3 was Rob Wood, who outsprinted a valiant Gary Gunner. Rob was encouraged by his improved performance after suffering during last month’s race. But does he deserve the bragging rights in the Wood household ? Rob’s better half Sue may have overshadowed his achievement by breaking the FV70 course record by an enormous 5 mins 14 secs ! This was, unfortunately, overlooked on the night as I can’t believe that she is a day over 40.
There were so many outstanding performances on the night but, maybe, the prize for the stellar tour de force of the event must go to the meteoric Mia Davies. The young midwife certainly delivered a sensational run as she broke her own PB by a huge 2.11 as she flew past 30 runners on her way to registering the rapid time of 33.36. This superb run means that Mia now features at no. 10 in the all-time fastest female runners over the historic course. Again, even more impressive when one considers that this is the 135th running of the event. Another to reorder the standings was nimble Nina Warmsley, whose new PB of 35.48 now sneaks in at no 18 in the charts – good going in Nina’s first season in the famous sky blue colours.
The one male runner to alter the best times listing was the in-form Andy Davies. Andy set off way behind everyone else and I am sure that the 26 runners that he overtook in the final stages must have been blown sideways by the draft as he swept past. Andy’s new PB of 28.40 sees him climb to no. 14 in the male charts.
There were so many exceptional performances, but some who are worthy of special mention. Steph King not only broke her PB by 2.16 in a time of 40.28, but also improved her best time by 3.45 over the series – all this after having run the course for many years and now in her 60s. Sam Harper is another who has discovered a purple patch of form as she set her 3rd consecutive PB after many years of running in the event. Even at this late stage of proceedings, there were 4 runners making their debuts on the course. They will have a chance to improve their times next year as all of the newcomers have over the course of the 3 races so far this season.
There were a number of family battles and each will claim their own bragging rights with their performances. What about the battle of the Luscotts ? Nicola finished one place and 5 seconds in front of Frank, but Frank’s time was 32 seconds quicker.
So we wave a fond farewell to Leinthall Starkes for another year. It has been an entertaining and well supported series so far with many uplifting performances. Creme de la creme, however, must go to Speedy Sam Juson for his magnificent 24.50 course record set in April to become the GOAT of Leinthall Starkes. I can picture grandad Bryan’s wide smile of pride.
As always a huge thank you to all the course marshals and helpers on the finish line. It got a tad hectic at one stage, but we came through with flying colours – well done all.
We have now reached the halfway stage of the 2026 series and the remaining 3 races will be held over the challenging off-road course on Bircher Common. The first of which will be held on Tuesday 7th July, when handicap start times will be based on a percentage of each runner’s time set this evening.”
Wednesday evening saw the action move to the streets of Hereford and the third and final race in the Courier’s 5k Spring Series. The weather finally played its part and the sun came out (the first two races had felt more like a winter series). There were some great performances and many Crofties improved their course times across the series. Unfortunately at the time of writing the link to the Race 3 results is broken but 8 Crofties did manage to complete all three races in the series. Well done to these runners and anyone who ran in the earlier races.
Series Results:
Jo Tilby – 1st FV40
Liza Austin – 2nd FV60
Tori Dickinson – 3rd FV60
Second Claim Runners:Eric Apperley – 3rd OverallSaffi Reid – 2nd Female Overall
Others who completed all three races
Craig Price
Nick Paviour
Bronwyn Preece
Dawn Haragon
Christina La Monica
This all led us to the ‘Super Saturday’ of Offa’s Dyke 15 and Man v. Horse.
Offa’s Dyke 15 is definitely a local ‘bucket list’ race (and was the reason the Club was first established). Covering some 15 ish miles from Hay on Wye’s clock tower to Lady Hawkins School’s playing fields in Kington it mostly follows Offa’s Dyke national footpath. 16 Crofties signed up for the full distance and Ali Davies did the second leg as a relay team with Rob Wood (who kept going and did the full distance). The sun was shining and there was a happy atmosphere in Hay as the runners and spectators assembled ready for the off at 11am. In many ways this is one of those events where there are lots of races within the race. For those at the front they were going full tilt from the start and running the hills (there are three main ones – up out of Hay, up out of Newchurch, and up out of Gladestry onto Hergest Ridge). For others it’s getting to ‘cut offs’ in time at Newchurch and Gladestry (although you don’t have to stop running as you will be on public footpaths you’ll just be unsupported – opening/closing gates etc.) or just trying to get ahead/stay ahead of those running around you. It’s an incredibly well organised, well marked and marshalled race with lots of local support all along the course (even in the most remote stretches). The ground conditions were mostly pretty good but there were some wet and slippery bits mixed in (sadly Hayley C. fell victim on one of these sections, going over on her ankle) and there’s some tarmac. Actually as someone who loves running downhill (its Tori D. writing this) I found the last mile down the most treacherous where I had to be careful not to slip on loose gravel on tired legs). The sun stayed out for the whole day so the many waterstops were welcome yet it was windy up on the tops of the hills. But the conditions did not stop the Sky Blues. By all accounts Eric A and Sam M. had quite a ding dong battle at the front with Eric A. just hanging on for the win (Eric always runs this race as a Sky Blue) and together with Sam M and Andrew Davies Croft took first Men’s team prize also. We were second in the Ladies’ team race also (with Irina W. Liza A & Steph K the first three home). The full results were
Offa’s Dyke 15: 2026 results
Eric Apperley 1:44:26 1st Male 1st SM Winning Men’s TeamSam Mayglothling 1:48:21 2nd Male 1st MV35 Winning Men’s TeamAndrew Davies 1:56:13 Winning Men’s TeamIrina Whitfield 2:22:42 3rd FV35 Second Ladies Team
James Bowers 2:23:01
Nigel Taylor 2:25:49
Henry Eastman 2:39:01Liza Austin 2:48:43 Second Ladies Team
Oli Cameron-Swan 2:55:05Steph King 2:55:59 Second Ladies TeamIan Price 2:58:12 1st MV75
Paul Lewis 2:59:22
Tori Dickinson 3:02:22
Lisa Gray 3:11:40
Rob Wood 3:18:28
Ali Davies completed the Gladestry to Kington leg of a relay team
Note: age categories are in 10 year groups
Man V Horse
A small but perfectly formed contingent of Sky Blue’s headed west to Wales’ smallest town of Llanwrtyd Wells for the iconic Man vs. Horse race. The course always changes slightly each year and by all accounts this year’s was super tough with some extra hills thrown in – Flora G. recorded a distance of 22.75 miles and 4262 feet of ascent. Like Offa’s Dyke 15 the conditions were sunny with blue skies all around.
The results are quite difficult to unpick but from what I can garner these are the results
Individual runners
Hannah Fletcher FV40 4:24:03 (Hannah took a nasty tumble and ran a good proportion of the race with an open wound on her shoulder).
Flora Gunner FV60 4:53:45
Howard Verran MV50 5:46:31
Paul Parker MV50 5:46:32
Ali Benwell FV60 5:46:35
Team runners
Natalie Covill and Joe Lynch – Joe completed the whole distance with Natalie running the third leg as their ‘Centaur’ team in a time of 4:15:15
Ingrid Mason, Claire Verran and Michelle Parker made up the Croft Blue Tits team in a time of 4:50:26
Huw Williams ran also but team details are awaited!
Magic Roundabout
Oli C-S shook off his tired legs from the previous day’s Offa’s Dyke 15 exertions to take on Hay Hotfooter’s Magic Roundabout race. This is a 10k undulating course around the Begwyn Hills – it’s a great race with the best cake at the end! He finished in a time of 63:06
Further afield
Going international Mark Lamonby and Sam Juson both completed Ironman Tours in Northern France on Saturday
Parkrun
We’ll round out this week with your Parkrun update, with Crofties taking part in 4 different Parkruns – Ludow, Queenswood, Hay and Ashton Court. For a full rundown of results, check out our consildation page here – https://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2116!
That’s all we have for this week. If you have been doing something that you would like included in the weekly roundup please let Bronwyn, Huw, Sam H or Tori know before 6pm on a Sunday.
We are always on the lookout for race reports to go on the website too. They do not need to be huge, or even go into too much detail, but let us know where you went and how it went for you together with a couple of photos and make our website current and up to date.
Enjoy your week of running everyone!