ON THURSDAY, 33 Chepstow Harriers and friends donned head-torches and studded shoes for a six-mile off-road run in the Forest of Dean at night.

This was the penultimate race in Chepstow Harriers’ club championship.

The club champs co-ordinators organised the race to give the membership a unique racing experience that they would remember. The challenging, undulating, muddy course comprised a mixture of forest trails, vehicle tracks, and virgin forest. The course was extremely well marked with reflective arrows and tape, making it very difficult to go off-route.

The venue was The Rising Sun, Moseley Green, and the event was rounded off with a hearty buffet.

Club champs organiser Paul Dodd said: “We wanted to put on a race that would take people out of their comfort zone. Running off-road at night with head-torches creates a flat-light effect which makes it difficult to judge your foot placements on uneven terrain. Apart from fellow competitors, the only company the runners had was owls, deer and wild boar. Everyone who took part survived the experience and even reported enjoying it! Following the success of this event, we hope to repeat it next year.”

The prize winners were: Paul Murrin first, Mark Matthews second, Laurie Carter third, Daren Smith first Male Vet 40, Andy Stott first MV50, Neil Grant 1st MV60, Niki Morgan first Female, Judith Austerberry second, Sammi Toops third, Vanessa Lawson first FV40, Rosina Rowland first FV50 and Anne Masters first FV60.