On Sunday, four members of Newport & District Running Club took on the Flying Fox 10 miler, a local race which takes place just up the A519 in Staffordshire. Starting and finishing at Standon Mill, the race takes in two anticlockwise laps utilising the country lanes around the area. 

Alex Millington (left) early in the race

The first, smaller, lap takes runners through Standon via Weston Lane and Maer Lane, before the second, larger, lap takes competitors up to Maer, via Chapel Chorlton, before returning to the start/finish area. Conditions were cool but occasionally sunny, with some deep puddles to run through after Storm Ciaran left its mark earlier in the week.

Rodney Jones (centre) at the 2-mile point
Louise Patterson at the 8-mile point

Alex Millington was the first Novaportan finisher, doing so in 1 hour, 4 minutes 28 seconds to take 30th place overall. Phil Dolding was next, finishing 62nd in 1:12:54, followed by Rodney Jones, who was 2nd in his age category whilst finishing 162nd overall in 1:37:31. Louise Patterson was 177th with a time of 1:51:05, setting herself a race and distance PB, which wasn’t hindered by stopping to stroke a cat!

Phil Dolding (left) seemed to be enjoying himself!
(L-R): Alex Millington, Louise Patterson, Rodney Jones, Phil Dolding