LAST weekend a group of Bungay Black Dog Running Club members and friends travelled to Cardiff to compete in the half marathon.With an entry of over 6,000 runners the race was run through the streets and park land in the city centre with crowds lining the route, cheering.

LAST weekend a group of Bungay Black Dog Running Club members and friends travelled to Cardiff to compete in the half marathon.

With an entry of over 6,000 runners the race was run through the streets and park land in the city centre with crowds lining the route, cheering.

John Wharton, who also organised the trip, was first Black Dog to cross the line in an excellent time of 1hr 33min 04sec in 522nd place (18th M50-54) with Richard Dye just behind in 536th place in 1-33:13 (39th M45-49).

Nigel Gilham was next to finish in 1-50:08 (2,157th, 33rd M55-59) with the star of the day Bungay Middle School teacher Sally Nicholls shattering her pb by over six minutes to finish in 1-50:29 (2,193rd, 36th F45-49).

Next Black Dog to finish was Bob Paul in 1-51:23hr (2,280th, 35th M55-59) with Robin Farrar just behind in 1-53:53 (2,579th, 26th M60+).

Karen Gedge met her target of a sub two hour run finishing in 1-57:38 (3,048th) with guest runner Mark Farrar next in 1-58:03 (3110th).

Colin Knights celebrated his 60th birthday by running at Cardiff and although injured managed to finish in a respectable 2-02:13 (3,584th, 34th M60+).

Judy Potter - running her first half marathon for over a year due to illness - finished in a very good 2-09:47 (4,280th, 22nd F55-59).

Sue Potter was next in 2-12:52 (4,518th) with Bob Jack just finishing 30 sec under 2½ hours in 5315th place.

On the same day the only Welshman in the club, Neil Thomas, declined a “home run” to compete in the Holt 7.

In excellent running conditions Neil had a good run to finish in 56:28.

Robbie and Katy James decided to go south to run in the Saxmundham 5.

The first race organised by the Saxons attracted a field of 50 runners and Robbie (aided by his dog, Morgan) sped round the course in 34:12 with Katy having a good run to finish in 54:12.

Bungay Black Dog runner Ian Taylor competed in the Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday, October 19 finishing in 377th place out 5,972 finishers in a time of 3-04:55.

This was a good result for a city marathon, the course was very flat but rather windy in parts.

The course contained a number of sharp turns at the beginning and Taylor was delayed by the density of runners, some of whom had promoted themselves to starting positions faster than their anticipated time.

He performed well and was very pleased by this fine result.