THE 28th running of the Stroud Half Marathon organised by Stroud & District Athletics Club, sponsored by Griffiths Marshall, Chartered Accountants of Gloucester, Dairy Crest and Nampak, Stonehouse will take place on Sunday 25th October 2009 at 10am from Cainscross Road.

This year the Stroud & District Athletics Club is pleased to be associated with St Roses School in Stroud whose aim is to educate and provide care and support for children with multiple physical disabilities, little or no speech and complex health needs. St Roses have launched the Smile Appeal to raise funds to build an on-site Hydrotherapy Pool and new Early Years Department. The Early Years Department will be a purpose built facility giving the children direct access to the school’s grounds.

Many of the children are unable to use a swimming pool due to the water temperature, and donations and fundraising efforts will enable St Roses to build a hydrotherapy unit on site – meaning an end to a weekly 28-mile round trip for regular hydrotherapy for each child.

There will again also be a team from the Williams Syndrome Foundation. Williams Syndrome is a rare disorder caused by an abnormality in chromosomes, and entries have reached about 30 entrants (20 runners and 10 walkers)and it is hoped that a team of 60+ entrants will make it to the start line. Sponsorship from eight years of entering a team in the Stroud Half Marathon currently stands at £92,000, and they aim to pass £100,000 this year.

If you would like to join Team Williams Syndrome, either running or walking please contact Mike Adlam at mike@littleruin.co.uk Information regarding both charities, entry forms or on-line entries can be found at www.stroudac.co.uk.

n AT the Beacon 10K Road Race around the village of Haresfield, Stroud Athletic Club was well represented with 12 runners taking part.

Provisional Results: 3rd Paul Hocking 33m41s, 6th Rob Gornall 35m16s, 7th Matt Atkins 36m12s, 9th Lee Christmas 36m23s, 17th Mario McNamara 38m43s, 45th Andrew Case 42m38s, 52nd Chris J 43m42s, 56th Kathryn Morton 44m45s, 61st Chris Young 46m28s, 69th Joyce Barrus 48m48s, 73rd Steve Mansfield 49m31s, 97th Barry Upward 56m20s Stroud Prizes: Paul Hocking – 3rd Place, Lee Christmas 1st Male Vet 50, Kathryn Morton 1st Female Vet 50, Stroud AC 1st Men Team Prize n AT the Winchcombe 10K Off Road Race, two Stroud runners took part.

Phil Manning finished in 14th place with a time of 42:44 followed by Chrisse Griffiths finishing in 46th place (48:46).