CLC Striders Running Club

**CLC Striders Shine at the Bugatti 10K**

CLC Striders delivered another outstanding team performance at Wednesday evening's Bugatti 10K, with an impressive 15 members taking on the challenging course with temperatures around 27°C and a strong breeze to boot.

Leading the way for the club was Pete Duffy, who produced an excellent run to finish 3rd overall in a superb time of 35:12, almost exactly a minute faster than his effort last year despite the trickier conditions. Close behind was Rich Elsworthy, crossing the line in 5th place with 35:52, while Tom Fletcher secured another top-ten finish, placing 9th overall in 36:56. Together, the trio secured the men's team prize for the Striders for the second year running.

The Striders' strength in depth was evident throughout the results, with Gavin Woods (11th, 37:51), Arnie Delstanche (13th, 38:58), Isabel Brinsden (14th, 39:09) and Timothy Bridge (15th, 39:13) all finishing inside the top 15. Isabel, the club's only female runner in action on the night, backed up her form in style - the reigning female winner and course record holder retained her title with another excellent victory.

Further strong runs came from Richard Gill (23rd, 41:19) and Josh Davies (25th, 41:30), while Tim Elliott (34th, 44:25) and Tim Brock (35th, 44:31) continued the club's impressive showing.

The club's finishers were completed by Tom Jerrett (39th, 45:15), Jon Howes (43rd, 45:59), Paul Northup (45th, 46:15) and Phil Adcock, who was on course for around 47 minutes before a fall on the final hill, eventually finishing in 56:53 to round off another eventful evening for the Striders.

With three runners in the top ten and seven in the top fifteen, CLC Striders once again demonstrated their strength across the field. Just as importantly, the club was well represented by runners of all ages, supporting one another throughout another enjoyable evening of racing.

Congratulations to everyone who took part and proudly represented the club. Thank you to our hosts and their wonderful race director Mitch

Cheers for the great photos Rob Hume 🙌

Our Strider of the Month for June goes to Gavin Woods, who took on one of the most iconic ultramarathons on the planet - the Comrades Marathon - for the second year running!

Tackling the brutal 85.7 km “up run" which climbs from sea level in Durban to around 630m in Pietermaritzburg via many a rolling hill! Gavin clocked 8 hrs 15 to smash his previous time on the down run, shaving over 2 hours off of his 2025 debut.

And the timing couldn't have been better: just two days before the race, Gavin picked up the club's Most Improved award for the second year running! Talk about backing it up on the big stage.

Huge congratulations Gavin!

Frampton 10k

After being postponed from its original June date due to the heatwave, the Frampton 10K finally went ahead on the evening of 20 July - and conditions were still far from easy, with temperatures sitting at 26°C for the flat(ish) fast course through Frampton-on-Severn.

Pete Duffy led the Striders home in a superb 33:52 for 6th overall, a personal best and first time under 34 minutes in the heat that set the tone for a strong team showing. He was followed closely by Max Harrison-Tosatto (34:36, 9th) and Joe Willgoss (34:41, 10th), putting three Striders inside the top ten on a genuinely competitive night. That trio's combined effort was enough to secure the men's team 2nd place overall - an excellent result given the sweltering conditions.

Further down the field, two days after racing a 100k ultra, Tom Fletcher continued the good running in 36:59 (17th), with Gavin Woods just behind in 37:34 (22nd). Richard Gill picked up 5th in the MV40 category with 38:26, while Luke Hunter also came away with a PB, clocking 39:30 despite the heat. Lee Ormerod (40:01) and Alex Doherty (40:25) rounded out a solid showing as 7th and 8th MV40s respectively, and Will Pearce made his MV45 debut in 41:18.

Nick Ledwold used the race as part of a long run ahead of a triathlon this coming weekend and came home in a confidence boosting 42:49. Paul Northup produced an excellently paced run, negative splitting a 43:32 for 7th in a stacked MV60 field. Tim Brock (44:06, 4th MV55) and Rob Burrows (44:38) kept the times coming, with Joel Freeland not far behind in 45:11

Morwenna Suleiman was the club's standout woman on the night, taking 4th in the LV45 category with 46:34, and Arnie Delstanche in full T-Rex attire closed out the club showing in 48:22.

All in all, a hard-fought run in tough heat for the postponed race, thanks to those at Stroud & District Athletic Club for getting the race on again, it was a great night for the club with two PBs, a top-ten trio, and 2nd place in the men's team competition.

The 2026 Cotswold Way Relay saw an outstanding showcase of grit, teamwork, and stellar individual performances from the CLC Striders across all ten demanding legs of the historic trail. Fielding three competitive squads - the all male Trail Titans, the mixed Limestone Legends, and the all female Summit Striders - the club battled the heat, steep climbs, rolling terrains, and intense competition to deliver a memorable day of racing.

Leg 1: Chipping Campden to Stanway House (12 Miles)
The relay kicked off with a grueling 12-mile opening leg. Leading the charge for the club was Pete Duffy of the Trail Titans, who produced a masterclass performance to finish a superb 3rd overall out of 103 runners in a blistering time of 1:22:47. Tom Fletcher spearheaded the Limestone Legends’ campaign with a very strong run, crossing the line in 1:31:15 to claim 19th position. Completing the Leg 1 trio, Kate Telford fought hard for the Summit Striders, securing 46th place with a solid time of 1:47:31.

Leg 2: Stanway House to Cleeve Common (11.8 Miles)
Leg 2 presented 11.8 miles of punishing ascents. The Trail Titans’ Oli Wright-Jones proved to be the ultimate 'super sub', stepping in at short notice to clock an impressive 1:45:45 and finish 27th. For the Summit Striders, Alice Johnston put together a highly determined performance to take 63rd place in 1:58:42. Meanwhile, Emma Abbey showed great resolve over the tough terrain for the Limestone Legends, placing 92nd in 2:20:19.

Leg 3: Cleeve Common to Crickley Hill (13.5 Miles)
The longest stage of the relay at 13.5 miles and with the greatest ascent (1,988 ft) to boot, the revised leg 3 was described by race organisers as ‘a monster’’. Peter Mitchener of the Trail Titans handled the distance with aplomb, finishing 64th in 2:11:12. His incredible dedication was duly recognised as he was awarded the prestigious title of 'King of the Cotswolds' for the extraordinary feat of having now run all 10 individual legs of the Cotswold Way over his racing career. Laura Leaver executed a fine, disciplined race for the Summit Striders to capture 86th place in 2:28:19. Unfortunately, the Limestone Legends’ Ed Collier fell victim to the unforgiving stage and missed the strict time cutoff.

Leg 4: Crickley Hill to Painswick (10.3 Miles)
Nigel Bailey dug in deep for the Trail Titans, bringing the baton home in 1:46:08 to secure 67th place. Nicola Weager ran a close and well-paced race right behind him for the Summit Striders, finishing just over a minute later in 1:47:13 for 70th position. The Limestone Legends faced further misfortune on this leg as Ed Thompson missed the time cutoff.

Leg 5: Painswick to Ebley Mill (9.3 Miles)
The 9.3-mile fifth leg sparked a thrilling set of performances, particularly in the women's category. Scarlett Bell stole the headlines for the Summit Striders, flying through the course in 1:13:24 to finish a sensational 16th overall and cross the line as the 3rd placed female runner. Alex Doherty ran brilliantly to lead the Trail Titans' effort, taking 32nd place in a swift 1:22:31. Not far behind, James Babbage delivered a superb performance for the Limestone Legends, finishing 45th in 1:27:00.

Leg 6: Dudbridge to Dursley (8.7 Miles)
Over the 8.7 miles of Leg 6, the female athletes continued to dominate the spotlight. Helen Knight produced an exceptional run for the Summit Striders, navigating the course in 1:19:49 to finish 18th overall and claim a magnificent 2nd place in the female standings. Luke Hunter kept the momentum high for the Trail Titans, executing a very strong race to finish 37th in 1:28:51. Philip Abbey also put in a stellar shift for the Limestone Legends, finishing a highly respectable 51st with a time of 1:35:24.

Leg 7: Dursley to Wotton Under Edge (7.5 Miles)
Leg 7 offered the shortest distance of the day at 7.5 miles, but it lacked nothing in intensity. Lee Ormerod showed excellent speed for the Trail Titans, leading the club's contingent home in 1:08:48 to take 34th place. Just one minute later, Sophie Longmore crossed the line for the Summit Striders in 1:09:48, earning a brilliant 38th overall and securing a spot as the 5th placed female runner. Liam Richardson rounded off a highly competitive leg for the club, clocking 1:11:41 to finish 44th for the Limestone Legends.

Leg 8: Wotton Under Edge to Old Sodbury (12.1 Miles)
The second longest leg stretched over 12.1 miles and produced arguably the Striders’ standout performance of the entire relay. Ellie Pudifoot of the Summit Striders delivered a masterclass, conquering the course in 1:41:15 to finish 14th overall. Her incredible run earned her the title of 1st female on the leg. Queen of the Cotswolds Liza Bradshaw ran a superb race to anchor the Limestone Legends' revival, placing 30th in 1:49:46. For the Trail Titans, Jamie Hartnoll kept his composure, finishing close behind in 33rd place with a time of 1:53:12.

Leg 9: Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton (9.3 Miles)
With the finish line nearing, the 9.3 miles of Leg 9 saw the Striders turn the screw. John Comer ran a solid race for the Trail Titans, storming through to finish 15th overall in a rapid 1:12:41. He was pushed all the way by Karlien Heyrman of the Summit Striders, who finished a mere 24 seconds later in 1:13:05, securing 17th overall and a brilliant 4th place female finish. Gavin Jerman put in a highly commendable shift for the Limestone Legends, finishing 54th in 1:28:01.

Leg 10: Cold Ashton to Bath Abbey (9.8 Miles)
The final 9.8-mile leg brought the runners down into the historic surroundings of Bath Abbey. Arnie Delstanche provided a spectacular grand finale for the Trail Titans, flying down the trail to finish 11th overall in a superb 1:12:33. Fiona Brady-Miller closed out an incredibly successful day for the Summit Striders, placing 48th in 1:32:35. Bringing the Limestone Legends home to cheers from the traveling support, Colin Upton showed great endurance to finish 94th in 1:54:03.

In the team standings the all male Trail Titans team finished 13th in the open team category in 15 hours 24 with the Limestone Legends 32nd out 43 open teams in total, in 18 hours 22 . The Striders ladies team the Summit Striders finished in an excellent 4th place in the Women’s team competition with a combined time of 16:11:41, the third fastest Striders women’s team performance in the club’s relay history.

Away from the three Striders teams, a couple of other members were racing for another mixed team "Mudlife Crisis' Sam Templeton clocked 2:23:54 on Leg 1 and Tim Elliott had a strong run on leg 5 finishing in 17th place in 1:13:38

All in all, an incredible collective effort from CLC Striders. From Pete Duffy's podium finish start on leg 1 to Ellie Pudifoot's dominant leg 8 victory and Peter Mitchener's coronation as 'King of the Cotswolds', the 2026 relay will live long in the memory. Every single runner played their part on an unforgettable day for the Striders on the trails.

In one of the club's annual highlight events of the year, 3 teams of Striders are ready and raring for the Cotswold Way Relay on Saturday. Here are our teams for the 2026 race which looks like it could be a warm one!

103 Miles, 10 Stages, 30 Striders...

Let's GO Striders!
🖤🤍💚

A massive congratulations to Isabel Brinsden, our well-deserved Strider of the Month for May 2026!

​Isabel gave us a literal demonstration of "running in any weather" this month. She secured the 1st Female spot at a very soggy Bourton Mile in 5:01, backed it up with another 1st Female win at a very hot Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo trail race, and in between those wins she headed over to Cardiff to drop a classy 17:19 at the SSAFA 5k (her second-fastest 5k ever!)

From road to trail, downpours to heatwaves, Isabel has been in flying form. We are proud to have you representing the club. 🖤💚

Here's a round up of Striders racing action from the past month, apologies if anything has been missed, as always there is lots going on!

Well done all!

On Friday we hosted our annual awards celebration where we looked back on the achievements and contributions to the club from April '25 to March '26. Another fantastic year for our thriving club, massive congratulations to all of the award winners! 🍾

STRIDERS SHINE AT FAIRFORD 10K

CLC Striders turned out in force on Sunday to deliver a series of commanding performances at the annual Fairford 10k road race hosted by Running Somewhere Else. This year held as a key fixture in the Gloucestershire AAA County Race Series, on a blustery morning the scenic but challenging course through Quenington offered a good test of road-running form, and the Striders rose to the occasion with some excellent performances

At the absolute sharp end of the race, Max Harrison-Tosatto led the club's charge, battling a stitch from the middle stages of the race and crossing the line in a time of 34 minutes and 29 seconds to secure a superb fourth place overall and claim victory in the MV35 category. Hot on his heels was teammate Peter Duffy, who clocked 34:52 to take fifth place overall and finish right behind as the second MV35 runner. Louis Jones crossed the line in a brilliant 37:20 to secure 14th place overall and complete the MV35 category podium with his club mates. The trio won the men’s team prize by just one point, ahead of Cirencester who provided great competition on the day.

Andy Richardson produced another top performance to comfortably break the 40-minute barrier, finishing 30th overall in 39:26. He was followed across the line by a succession of strong Striders performances, including Lee Ormerod (40:35), Jasper Hill making his road debut for the club (41:42), Adam Greenwood (41:57), and a under the weather but determined Ashley Wilson (45:02) , while Peter Mitchener crossed the line in 56:52 as part of a pacemaking side quest.

The CLC Striders women put together an impressive collective display, navigating the undulating lanes with excellent pacing. Ellie Pudifoot led the club’s ladies home with a gritty run. Crossing the line in a swift 41:11, she secured a fantastic 4th position thanks to a female competitor ahead illegally running under a man’s number. Up next was Hollie Freeland, who executed a well-paced race over the terrain to finish in a personal best of 46:06 taking a significant chunk off of her previous best, while Deb Cartlidge battled well comfortably breaking the hour-mark, stopping the clock in a solid 58:48.

The efforts on the day saw almost all of the Striders picking up points for the county road race series, with both the mens and women’s team placings getting a boost and the men reaching the dizzy heights of a podium spot with six races remaining.

Thanks Running Somewhere Else for hosting a great race

Striders dominate at the Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo

CLC Striders turned out in force and delivered a midweek masterclass at the annual Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo race on Wednesday evening. On a very warm night with temperatures in the high twenties as the race kicked off, there was thankfully a strong breeze atop Cleeve Hill to take the edge off but conditions remained challenging, much like the 5.5 mile course!

Leading the charge for the club was Joe Willgoss, who put on another phenomenal display to conquer the elements and cross the finish line as the overall race winner in a superb time of 35 minutes and 42 seconds to complete a hat trick of victories having also won the race in 2025 and 2023. A rather sleep deprived new father Rich Elsworthy yet again showed his class on the trails, securing a podium spot in 3rd place overall (37:32).

The club's strength in depth was immediately evident as a wave of Striders packed out the top ten. Isabel Brinsden claimed 5th place overall and took the honours as the first female across the line in an impressive 38:06 to secure back to back wins. Hot on her heels were Iain Porter, who took 6th overall and claimed 1st place in the MV40 category (38:14), Tom Fletcher in 7th (39:19), and Gavin Woods in 8th (39:24).

Oliver Wright-Jones kept the momentum going, securing 12th place in 40:20, closely followed by Arnie Delstanche (16th in 41:07) and Nick Ledwold (18th in 41:25). Josh Davies rounded out a stacked top twenty, crossing the line in 20th place with a time of 41:44.

As the conditions continued to test the field, the Striders' ladies packed out the mid-field brilliantly. Karlien Heyrman led a strong contingent of master runners, finishing 30th overall in 43:51 (4th lady and 2nd LV35), followed in soon after by Scarlett Bell in 33rd (44:25, 3rd LV35). Liza Bradshaw earned 39th place in 45:56, while Andy Richardson (42nd in 46:40), Alexander Doherty (43rd in 46:43) and debutant Jasper Hill (44th in 46:53) ensured the Striders maintained a relentless presence at the front half of the field.

Keeping things rolling for the Striders, Jon Pearce crossed the line in 45th place with a solid 47:34, while Gavin Jerman registered a 52:37 finish for 59th. Nicola Weager secured 65th place overall in 53:21, Hannah Weager fought hard to finish 80th in 58:03, and Jill Harsent wrapped up an excellent club-wide performance, finishing 87th overall and sealing 2nd place in the LV65 category with a time of 1:00:59.

With two individual race victories, both the men’s and women’s team titles claimed, age category wins and a fantastic turnout, it proved to be a highly successful and memorable evening on the hill for CLC Striders.

Thanks Cheltenham & County Harriers for hosting