The Dursley Dozen

Sunday 19 th Feb. 2006

Perhaps it was the prospect of the long journey home after a tough twelve miles or just race fatigue following all the recent cross country fixtures and local multi-terrain races, but only three B&R runners took part in this year’s Dursley Dozen. Ian Keyte (86 min. 16 sec.) was first B&R in 13th place – he was third male vet 45 and remarkably the first four in this age category filled consecutive positions and were separated by only 33 seconds. Gavin Moorhead (94.22) was 67th and has obviously taken to running these longer multi-terrain races following his recent performance at the Stourbridge Stagger. David Stokes (103.22) was also well up in the large field, coming home  145th out of 412 finishers.

An unattached runner Vito Graffagnino (77.13) won the race by a handsome margin from Tom Gibbs of MDC (81.00) and Bath A.C.’s Alex Copping (81.10). Helen Fines (Bristol & West A.C.) finished in 91.55 to win the women’s race.

I’ve included a description of the course that has been lifted from the race entry form in the hope of whetting your appetites for next year’s event and race details  appear on Dursley & District A.C.’s  website (click here). Ian says that it’s a pretty fair description and that it is a very muddy and hard course – especially the roped bit. The quarry would even be a good setting for a sci-fi film!

The race starts and finishes at Dursley in the south of Gloucestershire, and goes up and down the Cotswold escarpment several times.  The start is close to the centre of Dursley, by the Old Spot pub. The race sets of very steeply up a road for 200 metres, and then ascends a woodland track to the top of Stinchcombe Hill. After a short run around the golf course, the route re-enters the woods (steep descent) before climbing (steeply) back out onto the hilltop. The next two miles are on flat and fast road. The course then follows an undulating woodland path leading to a steep and rough descent to the New Inn (which all but the slowest runners will find closed). A steep ascent then leads to the lunar landscape of Breakheart Quarry (drinks station), followed by three miles of track through beechwoods. The final climb, the 'Precipice', (almost overhanging: ropes are provided) brings the runners back onto the top of Stinchcombe Hill. From here, good views can be had of those still struggling up the hill. Two miles of grassland, track and finally road descend to the finish in Parsonage Street where a warm glow of satisfaction at completing the course will be experienced.

(PA/IK 26-2-06)