BANK Holiday Monday saw the Devauden Races, an entirely off-road event starting from Hood Memorial Hall and heading off into Chepstow Park Wood, in aid of SARA.

The 10k race is run mainly around hilly forestry tracks taking in some considerable elevation, with a challenging uphill mile climbing Heartbreak Hill, and also some tricky technical sections including up and down the infamous muddy gully.

With a field of 60 runners, Georgie Dobbs was fastest overall and quickest woman in 45.10, beating first man Ross Walker by 21 seconds.

Former Spirit of Monmouth runner Julian Howe placed 14th (54.06) followed by current club member Nick Sloper in 16th (55.59) and Andrew Hillis 43rd in 1.04.30 taking a second in class.

Tuesday saw the return of the Gwent Leisure Centre League Road Races Summer Season over the Severn Bridge, with a massive Spirit turn out of 28 runners.

Phil Matthews of Parc Bryn Bach headed the field in 25.49 by 1.04 from Chepstow Harriers’ Tim Batchelor in second, while Parc’s Lucy Williamson was fastest woman in 29.45.

Nearly 500 runners headed out in force from the English side to be buffeted by strong estuary winds, with Ben Saunders (30.07) first Spirit home with a 10k PB and fifth in class, while Katie Adams was seventh woman and first in category in 32.31.

Vicky Roberts running her second fastest 5k time (within the 10k) was10th woman home and 2nd in category in 33.02, with Kirk Hill (33.51) fifth in class, Sarah Heath (35.33) first in age, Martin Blakebrough (36.00) fourth and Alison McMenemy (49.50) third.

Elsewhere, the Llanfrynach 3-4-5 three-mile stage, hosted by Brecon AC, saw Nick Sloper set a course PB 22.44 finishing 70th out of of 175.

Nick Sloper was again out two days later taking on the MapRun Catbrook 2026, his first forage into orienteering.

Whilst getting a very respectable gross score of 310, he picked up 160 late penalty points meaning he ended up with a net score of 150.

On Saturday, Louise Hartree decided to amble around a mere 47-mile circuit of Lake Windermere, a gruelling ultra marathon on single track and un-manicured trails, with some sections of boardwalk, fire road, steeper fell paths and occasional unavoidable short sections of quiet country road.

With some serious elevation of over 9000ft thrown in for good measure, she finished in 13 hours 42 minutes and third in class.

On Sunday Julie Gee and Fay Visser took part in the Wye Valley Challenge Walk raising funds for Breast Cancer, covering over 10 miles in 3.30.

Also on Sunday was the Scorpion Race, a 10k trail run based at Symonds Yat exploring the trails around Hillersland and Bracelands, dropping down to the River Wye and a sting in the tail of a final mile of steep climbing.

James Exton with his four-legged friend headed out first, with a 10 minute head start, taking on the cannicross format and finishing 10th out of 27 in 1.07.44, with Max looking very proud of his doggie finisher’s medal.

In the 10k format, Nick Sloper came 41st out of 113 in 1.10.12 and Chris Baber 55th in 1.14.28.