RUNNERS headed for the last race of the Hereford and Borders Summer X-Country series at Newton Court Cider in Leominster last Wednesay.

A free pint of cider at the finish spurred them on, with MonRoss Trailblazers declared top team overall across all four races and club members Keiron Brown and Gavin Jones top and second senior man respectively.

Blazers’ Laura Lelievre was also top woman on the day in 33.19 and Vanessa Ward top over-35 woman for the series.

Ben Saunders finished first Spirit of Monmouth runner in 33.51, with Lee Davies next in 37.19, followed by Andrew Hillis in 47.35 and Natalie Price in 56.03.

Club mate Nick Sloper also enjoyed the Sorbrook Slog, a 10k testing hilly run around the lanes of Coed y Paen and Sluvad by Llandegfed, hosted by Griffithstown Harriers.

With some long steep climbs and descents, Nick came strong late on and finished in 56.21 for 78th out of 134.

A weekend full of racing saw Nick joined by Cathy Fletcher, Abigail Buckley and Marina Wright in the Pen Y Fan half marathon challenge, hosted by Off the Tarmac, and including two climbs to the summit.

Nick said it was a very physical challenge with some long knee-breaking descents thrown in, but fantastic views.

Helen Shepard took her challenge just a little further away, all the way to Seattle in the US.

The Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon is a fast, gentle downhill course on one of Washington's most scenic trails, North Bend, located 31 miles east of Seattle.

Runners enjoyed beautiful views as they ran through the Cascade to Palouse on a hard-packed shaded dirt/gravel trail.

Helen thoroughly enjoyed the race supported by her family and gained herself a new half marathon PB 1.58.00.