On Saturday, October 28th two members from Monross-Trailblazers took part in the famous Brooks Marathon Eryri (Snowdon Marathon). This was a 26.2 mile race taking in Pen-y-Pas and the surrounding villages of the highest mountain in Wales. It finished with an epic climb over Waunfawr and a fast downhill sprint into Llanberis. With little marathon training Andrew Stephens flew the flag for Monross-Trailblazers and finished in three hours and six minutes. Gavin Jones managed to knock 40 minutes off his previous time and finished the 3000ft elevation event in three hours 32 minutes.

Back down to south east Wales, Bobby Prichard represented Monross-Trailblazers in the Severn Bridge night race. This is a five mile race across the old Severn Bridge from Chepstow, out and back. Bobby managed to come 7th overall out of 400 participants and completed the race in 31 minutes, 55 seconds.

On Sunday, October 12th it was the 34th running of the Croft Castle race, this is the 2nd event in the Herefordshire Cross Country League. This event takes runners around a three lap course (2 ½ laps for female runners), which overall contains 1300ft elevation and is 7.3 miles long.

Andrew Stephens led the group home in 7th place overall, in a time of 52 minutes eight seconds. Gavin Jones was next in 14th place with a time of 54 minutes eight seconds. Luke Gray put in a terrific effort and managed 15th place, five seconds behind!

Bobby Prichard came in 28th place with a time of 57 minutes 23. Junior Male Toby Dickens was in 32nd place in 58 minutes five seconds. Mark Scrivens was 56th in 65 minutes 25 seconds, Tony Davies finished in 84th place with a time of 70 minutes 55 seconds on his debut cross country. Ian Gray finished in 74 minutes, 94th place out of a competitive field of 127 male runners.

Unfortunately Monross were unable to field a female team, however Laura Lelievre ran a marvellous race in 37 minutes, 24 seconds and came 8th out of 104 females.

Currently Monross-trailblazers are in 3rd place overall in the winter league.

Monross-Trailblazers alternate training between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye on Wednesday evenings. Their next training session will be from Monmouth Cattle Market car park on Wednesday, November 15th at 6.30pm. For more information, visit www.monross-trailblazers.co.uk, or take a look at their Facebook and Twitter page.