A GROUP of athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club travelled to Stoke-on-Trent to compete in the city's half marathon last Sunday.

The Potters ‘Arf started and finished in Hanley Town Centre and travelled the 13.1 miles around Stoke.

A combination of a blisteringly hot day and some brutal hills throughout the course made for a testing event.

With the winner, Anuradha Cooray, going on to represent Sri Lanka in this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the blue hoops were certainly in good company. Although some way behind the winner they still placed well in a field topping nearly 2,000 competitors.

First back for DK was Matt Biggs taking 25th place in 1.25.09. Dave Norman came home in a frustrating 1.30.03 for 72nd place, Mark Judge was 235th in 1.41.36, Mark Homer despite feeling an injury within the shadow of the line finished in 1.42.59, Russell Fox stopped the clock in 2.01.51 for 794th place and Andy Weaver nursed his shredded hamstring around the course in 2.09.45 for 1,018th.

Elsewhere there was a top three finish in the Aldridge 10k for Ben Foster, who placed third in a lightning quick 35.37 behind Birchfield Harriers' Yousef Al Lathaa in 34.01 and Oliver Harradence of Royal Sutton Coldfield in 34.29. Paul Richards was 34th in 40.09, Andy Bannister finished in 51.45 for 184th place, Alison Whitehouse was 210th in 53.58 and Debbie Richards was 336th in 1.05.10.