SLEAFORD Town Runner Mike Folland competing in his second Duathlon of the year was at Emberton Country Park, near Milton Keynes on April 5 for the British Duathlon Championships.

Emberton Park was an ideal venue for this National Championship with all the running within the park on flat good trails and traffic free service roads.

The bike course was demanding and worthy of the event with hills, long drags, undulations and five miles of rough chipped road on each of the two laps.

Folland, competing in his first Championship in the 70-74 age group, started with a brisk 47.31 for the first 10k run, probably too fast as was his first lap of the 40k bike ride, fading later which cost dearly in the final result.

Making up over a minute a mile on his final 5.3k run was not quite enough and he finished in second place, 12 seconds behind the Gold Medal winner.

Folland first clocked 47.31 for the 10k run, 1.24.38 for the 40k bike ride and 26.00 for the 5.3k run, total time including the transitions of 2.39.53.

The following Sunday, Town Runners Rachel Howard, Julie Porter and Pat Riches travelled to Boston for the Friskney Half Marathon.

This flat half marathon was held under grey skies and damp conditions that replaced the usual warm breezy conditions that prevail for this annual event.

Pat Riches, in her final event before the London Marathon, would be accompanied by Julie and Rachel for the duration of the race.

Rachel competing in her second Half Marathon set a new Personal Best time of 2.15.27 taking over 17 minutes off her previous time at Nottingham last year. Julie and Pat finished seconds behind Rachel in 2.15.34.

On the same Sunday the Belvoir half marathon was starting at the village of Hose in Leicestershire.

Similar weather conditions at the start of this race mirroring the grey damp conditions for runners competing at Friskney.

A strong competitive field of 674 runners would race this deceptively undulating course.

Mark Sands in superlative form this year produced one of his finest results in recent years finishing second overall and winning the senior men category, just over a minute behind the eventual winner finishing in 1.13.07. Dave Tilley also in good form and producing another consistent run finished 19th in 1.21.50.

Chris Smith also showing consistent form in 1.32.47 as was Club debutant Andy Taylor looking strong as he crossed the line in 1.35.32.

Another solid race by Aune Turkson-Jones 1.55.01, with Club supporter James Chambers also crossing in 1.55.01.

Cathy Davies also debuting in Club colours comfortably home in 1.56.41 with Catherine Simpson continuing her excellent 2009 form across the line in 2.13.40.

In the 4.5 mile Fun Run, Fiona Robertson ran with her son Ewan competing the course in a creditable time of 44.14.

Chris Smith's son Matthew running for Grantham AC was 3rd overall and the 1st under 16 to finish.