WITH the running season drawing to a close Penarth and Dinas Runners tackled the Sospan Multi-Terrain 10 on the weekend.

It was the last club championship race of the season, with Penarth runners desperate to score points over their rivals.

The 10 miler started off with two relatively easy miles along the pathways of Pembrey Country Park, before embarking on a series of hills through the woodland.

Runners squeezed into a single file queue, tackling the first hill of the course, before the undulating course through the trees and along the trail routes.

It was a true multi-terrain race, with a mix of tarmac, woodland mud, gravel road, grass and concrete along the route.

There was even two miles along the sand, as the race took in part of Cefn Sidan beach.

Although the tide was due to come in at 12.30pm, with the race starting at 11am on Sunday, the ground was still hard enough to run on.

After the beach section there was a series of dipping pathways that resembled a BMX track, that proved both energy sapping and exhilarating.

After coming out of the forests into the daylight the runners had one last sprint to the finish line.

Ben Butler-Madden was the first Penarth runner to cross the finish line in 30th place overall with a time of 1.08.30.

Richard Jackson-Hookins, battling back to form and fitness after an exhausting year, was not far behind in 1.08.15 in 33rd.

Chris Nellins was next up in 1.14.25 in 70th.

Clem Clement achieved 1.16.15 in 84th.

Chris Seal, who did enough to secure 2nd in the senior men’s division of the club championship, finished in 1.19.31 in 121st.

Rob Wilson achieved 1.20.54 in 137th.

Anna Helsing was the first woman from Penarth to cross the finish line in 1.28.46 in 222nd.

Emma Jarrett sneaked under 1 hour 30 minutes with a time of 1.29.16 in 226th.

Janice Clement finished in 1.37.35 in 283rd.

Alison Whitfield was 1.38.48 in 291st.

Sara El-Khatib finished in 1.40.22 in 299th.

Michelle Hoey bravely battled through injury and illness to finish in 2.07.38 in 352nd.

The last race of the season for Penarth and Dinas Runners will be the Gwent League cross country fixture in Brecon on Saturday, December 6.

The club meets every Monday evening at Penarth Leisure Centre at 7pm. Anyone is welcome to attend and give it a try.