This year’s edition of the Tarrant Valley 10k marked the 40th anniversary of the race, with the one being ran in 1985. It’s a multi-terrain route held within the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The race starts in front of the Langton Arms pub in the heart of the village and begins on tarmac roads leading up to a challenging ascent after the first kilometre into Hogstock Coppice. After that there are countryside sections along bridleways and farm tracks with the half way point being Six Cross Ways at Chetterwood.

Then there’s a climb up to Launceston Wood with the course featuring some spectacular views of the North Dorset countryside. An 800m descent down makes for a fast finish, with the final stretch being back on the road for a smooth home straight.

Bournemouth AC super-vet Geoff Newton was in action at the Tarrant Valley 10k and he was doing it for the second year running. He got round in 53:39 last year.

There should have been some Bournemouth AC ladies at the race with Emma Caplan and Louise Price both being signed up. Emma has been struggling with an ongoing hamstring injury though and decided to give it a miss. Lou didn’t start either due to a hip injury. Estelle Slatford and Joy Wright were there though.

Registering a time of 55:12, Geoff finished in 165th place in the overall standings and 3rd in the MV70+ category. He is actually over 80 now so would qualify for a higher category, if there was one, but in most races, there isn’t.

The fastest MV70+ in the race was Hamish Murray of Purbeck Runners who finished 45th in 43:54. He’s much younger than Geoff though. Glyn Davies got to the line less than a minute before Geoff, taking 2nd place in the MV70+ category and 155th overall.

Joy Wright got round in 51:48 which put her 7th in the FV45 category and she was 130th overall. Estelle Slatford completed the course in 55:45 which put her in 12th place in the FV45 category and 130th overall.

Former Bournemouth AC member Helen Ambrosen came 5th in the FV65+ category in exactly 59 minutes which put her 215th overall. There were 328 participants in total.

It was a Wimborne AC one-two at the front of the race, with Mark Savage winning it in 35:42 and Louis Verdi taking second in 36:25. Daryl Smith was third in 36:45 with Poole AC man Rob Doubleday taking fourth in 37:30.

Poole AC star Rachael Haddow was first female in 41:46 which put her 24th overall. Gemma Russhard was the next lady in, clocking a time of 43:52 which put her 43rd overall. Teresa Green of Egdon Heath Harriers was third female in 44:33 and she was first in the FV45 category.

The race would have served as a good warm up for the Coombe Keynes 10k for Geoff Newton. That was the first race of the Pubeck Trail Series and Geoff will be trying to finish as high as he can in his age category in all five fixtures probably.