CHRIS Chorley and Bobbie Sauerzapf seem unstoppable representatives of the Black Dog Running Club, currently participating in at least two events a week of varying distances.

CHRIS Chorley and Bobbie Sauerzapf seem unstoppable representatives of the Black Dog Running Club, currently participating in at least two events a week of varying distances.

On Sunday they competed in the Fairland Valley Challenge 26.4 mile Trail Run near Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Unlike other races, runners are not directed by marshals but have to make their own way by following a route description which they carry, rather like orienteering.

En route there are various checkpoints that they have to pass through. Chris Chorley, Bobbie Sauerzapf and Ian Taylor all finished in a time of four hours and 39 minutes.

The previous Wednesday, July 14, saw a lovely evening for runners entering the Mike Groves Run organised by the Coltshall Jaguars Running Club.

It is an odd distance of 3.63 miles because it was one of Mike Groves' training runs.

Mike was knocked down and killed while running some years ago.

Subsequently his family set up the memorial run with all proceeds this year, going to the Children's Hospice.

Chris Chorley was 10th (23:54), Richard Dye was 24th (25:10) and Bobbie Sauerzapf was 41st (28:18). There were 88 finishers.

On Sunday, July 11, they competed in the small RAF Marham 10-miler, the only race in the area with armed guards. Chris was 22nd (1-10), Adam Craske 25th, (1-12) and Bobbie Sauzerauf 60th (1-22).

Two nights before, they took part in the Great Bentley Friday Five Miler along with 374 other runners. Chris and Bobbie were 71st (33:34) and 211th (39:48) respectively.

The up and coming Junior Black Dog runner Kieran McMorran competed in the Lord Mayor's 5k around Norwich City Centre on July 10 in front of thousands of spectators.

In an elite field of 81 runners, Kieran ran extremely well to finish in 35th place, beating his personal best by over 30 seconds to come home in 17:49.

On a sadder note, Jim Jervis, a founder of the Black Dog Marathon and subsequently the Black Dog Running Club and who continued to help organise club events, collapsed and died on Saturday, July 17.

Everyone who knew or worked with Jim over the years feels privileged to have known him.