Rob and Kathy take firsts on 54321 trail

City of Salisbury athlete Rob Drag produced one of the club’s best performances of the day when he won the 33k race at the Salisbury ‘54321’ series of trail races that take in the area’s five rivers, four hills, three country estates, two castles and the cathedral.

Rob Drag powers his way to victory in the 33k distance at the Salisbury 54321 trail race

The events raise funds for the firefighters’ charity based in Ashley Road.

Drag’s time of 2hours 27min 30sec gave him a comfortable margin of victory and led home good performances by Mike White with 3.04.11, Pete Harris 3.14.48, Jonathan Kershaw 3.20.18, Alison Scott 3.49.12, John Roberts 3.49.38, Rebecca Lockwood 3.52.44 for second in her age group, and Carole Wiltshire 6.55.09.

At the 42k full marathon distance Peter Callanan was the club’s quickest in 3.58.56 and he was followed by Phil Perry 4:15:01, Charlotte Boardman 4.46.02 (second in age group), Richard Davidson 4.46.03, Pete Bott 4.48.16, Grace Cousins 4.56.27 (age group win), Di Cross 6.20.50, and Mel and Craig Murphy winning their age groups too with 7.48.55 apiece.

In the 21k, Benedict Saunby clocked 1.30.46 for second in his age group, then came Jonathan Croom 1.38.08 (age group win), Al Moutray 1.45.10 (age group win), top performer

Kathy Dudman setting a pace on her way to first lady in the 21k distance at the Salisbury 54321 trail race

Kathy Dudman who took first female award with 1.46.16, Craig Weatherburn 1.49.06, Yvette Emerson 2.09.32, Kevin O’Leary 2.12.23, David Osment 2.12.57, Katie Mahoney 2.26.56, Helen Carlton 2.29.57, Fi Thatcher 2.37.33, Natalie Milsted 2.59.22, Anne Norman 2.59.22 and Hannah Reeves 4.23.46.

The 50k saw Matt Bosworth clock 4.33.25, Richard Larcombe 4.50.30, Phil Smith 5.08.23, Ian Lever 5.35.58, James Ballard 5.52.34 and John Sowray 6.00.14.

City of Salisbury's John Sowray eating up the miles on his way to completing the 50k distance in the Salisbury 54321 trail race

Over the same 50k distance but in a demanding trail race based on the Cornwall coastal path James Mills placed eighth in 5hours 36min.

Verity a winner

Salisbury’s Verity Ockenden continued her excellent spell of form at an elite British Milers’ Club 1500m in Manchester, where she notched a notable win in the women’s A race. She set a speedy new personal best of 4min 12.3sec to further enhance her claim on international honours.

Best ever season for Salisbury road runners