AVR member James Sibley took part in his first road marathon on Sunday in Newport, South Wales, writes Dave Mutter.

The conditions were ideal and he finished in 3:40:42. Also on Sunday, 10 AVRs took part in their low-key duathlon.

It was the biggest turnout so far, with most getting PBs, either on the 4.4k First Run, the 17.8k Bike Loops, or the 2.2k Second Run.

Matt Hewer was first home in a time of 1:00.15 and a close second was Antony Chadwick in 1:01.29.

Tim Sibley took third place thanks to a very strong bike in 1:01.58.

Other AVR finishing berths and times were: Alex Todd, fourth, 1:02.31; Jon Day, fifth, 1:05.41; Simon D’Albertanson, sixth, 1:06.31; Chris Keeffe , seventh, 1:07.32 and Eleanor Wood, eighth, 1:10.37.

Alan Morbey took a Bike Loop shortcut by mistake, completing in 1:15.21 with Gill Day with a strong second in 1:30.35.

All results of past AVR duathlons are on the ‘Multi-sport’ section of the club website where further AVR low-key duathlon dates will be posted and on the Facebook group ‘AVR multi-sport’.

Many thanks to Garry Perratt for organising and recording timings at these fun events.

? AVR’s Jake Smith ran in the BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) national 10,000 metres championships on the track at Loughborough University on Saturday.

After a comfortable first kilometre, Jake took the race by the scruff of the neck and decided to make a break.

He was followed by a student from Loughborough and the two of them established a lead of around 100 metres over the chasing pack as they went through the first 5km in 14 minutes 56 seconds.

Jake traded the lead with his opponent over the next few kilometres and as they approached the final two laps, another runner from Birmingham University managed to bridge the gap from the chasing pack and took the lead.

Jake managed to hang in there and took home the silver medal in a new PB of 30 minutes and 15 seconds.

? AVR’s Tom Perry won the latest Seaton Parkrun and, in doing so, bagged himself a new PB with his time being 19:08.

Huw Davies was second in 19:20 and Gareth Tucker of Gade Valley Harriers finished third in 19:49. Honiton RC’s Jo Davey was the first female and 10th overall in 21:56 with Heather Stevens finishing as the second lady and 21st overall in 22:11.

AVR’s Kerry Board was the third lady home, 24th overall and her time was 22:54.

The final Saturday in April saw AVR duo Graham and Diane Newton indulge in a bit of Parkrun tourism while visiting their daughter in Worthing.

It was a little chilly, but otherwise fine running weather. Graham achieved a PB, finishing in 21:40, and he was also first male over 65.

Diane finished in 32:02, not a PB, but she does report that she thoroughly enjoyed her run.

? AVR’s Amy Greenhalgh was third overall and first lady in 46:94 at last Saturday morning’s Chardstock Revival 10k that started and finished at Chardstock Cricket Club and was organised by Chardstock Street Fayre.

In terms of the other AVRs at the meeting: Eleanor Wood was fifth and second lady in 49.75; Alan Morbey finished eighth in 54:22 and Anders Larsson was 11th with his time being 60:05. There were 41 runners and the race was won by former AVR member Josh Hopson.

Daisy Greenhalgh was fifth overall in the associated 3k and first U10 female in 15:03 while Tommy Greenhalgh was 29th in 31:37.