Cranes blaze to double victory in Blaise race

THE Cranes enjoyed a family double in the opening race of the Blaise Blazer, with Matt winning the men's race and Grace the women's.

Matt Crane, who competes for Bristol & West AC but was in the colours of the Bristol Orienteering Klub, clocked a very fast 20mins 53secs to finish 1min 26secs clear of Westbury's England junior fell runner Felix McGrath. BOK's Matt Franklin was third (23:08), with Westbury's John Terry fourth (23:21).

Grace, meanwhile, clocked 26:21 for top spot in the women's race.

â The Clevedon Midsummer 10k road race this Tuesday (7.30pm) incorporates the Avon Championships.

The race HQ is Mary Elton School, in Strode Road and entries will be taken on the night. For further details, check out www.clevedonac.co.uk.

â For sheer stamina, Stuart Wilkie's weekend takes some beating.

On Saturday, the Hogweed Trotters' athlete finished 25th in the Dartmoor Discovery ultra marathon, covering the 32-mile course in 4hrs 50mins 49secs. The following day, he dragged his tired legs around the Tenby marathon in 3hrs 58mins.

â The Avon Track & Field League starts at Yate tomorrow, with further fixtures on July 17, July 31 and September 11.

â Bristol & West AC's Tom Merson has entered the British Mountain Uphill trials in Keswick tomorrow.

â More than 400 entries have already been received for the Sole Sisters 10k road race in Bradley Stoke tomorrow. Entries will be taken on the day unless the 500 limit has been reached.

For further details, see the race website at: www.solesistersrc.co.uk.

â Top Hogweed Trotter in the Tenby Marathon was Richard King, in 3:27, followed by Dave Wintle, who completed his eighth marathon of the year in 3:27.

First-time marathon runners Stephen Moir and John Wheeler finished in 4:36 and 5:18 respectively.

â It has been confirmed that the Bristol & West AC trio of Imogen Ainsworth, Lucy Macalister and Amy Chalk finished second team in the UK Athletics 10k Club Championships, which were incorporated into the recent BUPA London race.

â The second race in the Bitton summer 5k series takes place this Wednesday (7.30pm) from Bitton Station, with entries taken on the night at Oldland Abbotonians Football Club.