A RECORD number of runners took part in the fifth annual Devauden races today.

More than 350 people took part in the event, with organisers calling the number of entries ‘beyond all expectations’.

Rain just held off with the cross country event included the regular 3k, and 10k races, along with the popular 60 metre dash between goal posts, for children aged six and under.

For the first time this year, there was also a 5k race, and a 2k run, with chip and pin timing also available.

TV presenter Lisa Rogers, from Llanishen, started the races, which involved a record 136 entrants under the age of 14. The total race entries stood at 352.

Ms Rogers also officially opened a new rustic playground near to the start line, partially funded through by last year’s event, and a £2,000 grant by New Grove Farm Trust.

Vice-chair of the village’s Hood Memorial Hall committee Jeremy Horton ran the race for the first time as part of a ‘couch to cross-country10k’ initiative by the organising group. He also supported his daughter, Ellie, aged 14, who finished second in the 5k race whilst winning her age category.

Mr Horton said: “This is my first run in 18 years, we have been training as a group over the last 10 weeks, building up from 3k to 5k and then 10k.

“It’s a great way to lose weight, the oldest runner we have with us is 71 and I’ll be happy with a time under 1 hour 15 mins.”

It was also the first event in the race’s history to be Welsh Athletics affiliated through the Spirit of Monmouth Running Club.

Race organiser John Brooks said: “We have added a few races this year and there is a great atmosphere. The number of people taking part is beyond all expectations, it’s exceptional to have so many children running.

“We had 25 people taking part in our ‘couch to cross country 10k’, people that usually wouldn’t take part and that is very rewarding to see. Being chip timed and affiliated by Welsh Athletics made a difference.”

Peter Hewitt ran the 10k with Donna Sheen, whilst her children, Drew and Morgan, competed in the junior races.

Mr Hewitt, said: “It’s a nice event. Last year there was so many people that organisers ran out of complimentary t-shirts. But they went out of their way to get some more printed and knocked on all those that hadn’t received one.

“Little touches like that is why we and so many others come back.”

No records were broken this year, but Paul Murrin from the Chepstow Harriers won the men’s 10k with a time of 39 minutes and 11 seconds.

Peter Ward, who won the race in its inaugural year, finished second.

Victoria Baker, of the Forest of Dean Athletics Club, won the woman’s race with the 11th quickest time of 43 minutes and 44 seconds.

Gareth Howell, of Caerleon, ran the race after seeing an advert online the night before and said: “I ran the London Marathon last weekend and have felt a bit stiff all week, its needed just to stretch my legs again.”

Julie Layzell was helping out on the cake stall whilst her husband Michael, aged 71, was running his first ever 10k.

She said: “He’ll be glad to get it over with, he has been training with the committee since February.”

In the under-14 5k event, Cwmbran’s Josh Jones finished first with a time of 22 minutes and 55 seconds, and, in a grandstand finish, Ceri Summers, 11, of Pontypool & District Runners won the girls race in 24 minutes four seconds.

Chloe Morgan and Chepstow’s Thomas Weeks won the girls and boys 3k races respectively, with Harvey Willcox coming home first in the 2k.