ANGELA Sonn was a woman in a hurry as she raced to a gold and two silvers at the British Masters Athletics Championships in Birmingham. 

The Ross-on-Wye housewife, who runs for the Forest of Dean Athletic Club (FoDAC), took gold in the woman’s over-55 200m in 31.59secs.

She also raced to silvers in the 100m in 14.94secs and the 400m in 74.99secs and will now go on to represent Great Britain in the European Masters Athletics Championships in Denmark later this month in all three events.

If successful, she then hopes to compete in the World Masters Athletics Championships in Malaga in Spain next year.

Meanwhile, 43 FoDAC runners joined a 304-strong field in the 20th Tintern Trot last Thursday, July 6 - a 5.7- mile trail race which climbs a challenging 985 feet.

FoDAC secured a clean sweep in the team prizes, with Marcus Bennetto, fourth overall in a time of 39mins 38secs, Dan Sandford in 42.16, Jack Fleet in 43.11 and Leyton Fleet in 43.16 taking the men’s prize by a full 40 points from Mynyddwyr de Cymru (MDC) fell runners, followed by hosts Chepstow Harriers in third.

In the women’s section, Chloe Wheeler was fourth female overall in 48.00, Cherry Fowler in 48.54 and Debbie Stenner in 51.47 just pipping Harriers’ Sarah Bell, third fastest female overall and quickest FV40 in 47.25, Lisa Jeffrey in 48.58 and Vanessa Lawson in 52.32 by three points.

Chepstow Harriers’ Paul Murrin took the MV40 class in 40.03, while FoDAC’s Leyton Fleet was quickest MV45, and clubmates Cherry Fowler (FV45, 48.54) and Sherryl Hall (FV50, 58.22) also landed category wins.

Daphne Austerberry was another winner for Harriers, taking the FV70 class in one hour 46.48.

Also last week, 29 FoDAC runners headed across the Severn for the Frampton 10k, with Jack Fleet first home in 38.31.

Many FODAC runners achieved personal bests, most notably Andrew Knott who took 14 minutes time from last year in 50.13.

Victoria Baker was third lady overall in 40.33, while Michael Strange took 41.18 to lift the MV60 title.

Another 15 FODAC runners also joined a 72-strong field last month to run the very last Darren’s Dash fell race. The race descended from Longtown in Herefordshire to the Olchan Valley before climbing nearly 500m onto Hatteral Ridge. 

The route is then completed by a fast descent from the ridge before a final climb back to the start.

In baking heat, FoDAC runners Dan Sandford (47.28) and Leyton Fleet (48.31) took second and third respectively behind Wye Valley’s Sam Mayglothling (46.10), which also placed them one and two in the MV40 class. 

Next FODAC runner back was Daren Smith who took second in the MV50 class with 55.52, while first woman FODAC runner and second woman overall was Debbie Stenner in 62.31. 

A strong set of results from these four runners means they also took the first team prize for the race.