NICK Langridge took his Thornbury Running Club vest back to his Mancunian roots to compete in the four-day Tour of Tameside, an event started by Ron Hill – or more correctly Dr Ron Hill MBE – in 1983.

It was hugely popular event for entrants, but became a mammoth task for the organisers and so fell by the wayside around the turn of the century.

After a 14-year absence, a successful event was held in 2015 and this year Langridge was unable to resist the challenge – four very different races over four days.

First was a 10 kilometre cross trail race, through two country parks.

On day two, it was much the same distance but more challenging – a six-mile fell race.

Upping the distance on day three saw competitors taking on a 13.1 mile half marathon, with a seven-mile road race to complete the event.

With between three and four hundred entrants each day, Langridge was consistent with his overall position, taking first place in the V60 age group on three days, only dropping to second place for the fell race, the V60 category winner not taking part in any of the other runs.

The times are added together for overall placings, which Langridge won by twenty minutes.

His full results were Race one hour 45.25 minutes (59th); Race two 49.05 minutes (66th); Race three one hour 38.49 minutes (61st); and Race four 51.04 minutes (68th) giving him an overall place of 48th.

Other Thornbury runners stayed a bit closer to home for their events.

The Clevedon Midsummer 10k on June 14 is held on a fast, flat course between Clevedon and Kingston Seymour.

Competing against the best of the local club runners, Kevin Arnold finished 130th in 43.00 minutes, and Ros Rowland 184th in 45.22 minutes.

David Flemington took on the Ridgeway Revenge Half Marathon over the Wiltshire Downs on Saturday June 18, finishing the challenging course in two hours 43.45 minutes.

The Chew Valley 10k is also far from flat, with a stiff climb onto the Mendips Hills as part of the challenge.

Jon Welsh was first Thornbury runner to finish the course and came home in 50.51 minutes.

He was followed by Ian Peacock (56.46 minutes) and Dan Campbell (57.53 minutes).

Meanwhile, Anne Palmer had her first experience of the Barnstaple parkrun on Saturday and came home to finish in 31.45 minutes.

The other Thornbury Running Club athletes went to the Chipping Sodbury parkrun where Angela Bushell achieved a great new personal best time of 24.17 minutes, to follow on from her recent 10k personal best times.

Garry Slater was eighth finisher in 19.29 minutes, and Becky Griffin had a good first outing over the course, in a time of 29.58 minutes.