CHEPSTOW Harriers got into the Christmas spirit at the weekend as 32 of them dressed up in an assortment of festive fancy dress costumes to run their final club championship race of the year – the Christmas Cracker 10k at Weston-super-Mare.

With more then 2,000 entrants this was an incredibly competitive event, and Chepstow Harriers’ members were eager to race their hearts out to secure good final positions in their last club championship of the year. It was compulsory for all competitors to wear some form of fancy dress, even if just a piece of tinsel pinned to a race number.

Especially exciting was the race between the two leading Chepstow Harriers’ men – Paul Murrin and Steve Harris.

It was a winner takes it all scenario with the first man home crowned the ultimate winner in the championship.

And it was a good day for Murrin who managed to secure a clear win, more than two minutes quicker than his rival Harris.

The conditions were very windy with wet sand also to contend with. Ill-fitting Santa hats were also in danger of being swept to sea.

Given the size of the field, Chepstow had some impressive podium positions as follows: Paul Murrin, 1st MV40 in a fantastic time of 36 minutes, 52 seconds – securing his place as overall club championship winner; Laurie Carter, 1st MV50 in 40 minutes, 45 seconds – securing his place as overall male Best in Club (age-related) runner in the club championship; Niki Morgan, 1st LV45 in 42 minutes, 02 seconds - securing her place as overall female Best in Club (age-related) runner in the club championship; Brenda Avery, 1st LV60 in 50 minutes, 16 seconds; Sam Harris, sadly absent from the Christmas Tree race, won the female club championship overall, with hubby Steve coming second.