MONROSS Trailblazers got in the Christmas Spirit by taking part in the annual Spirit of Monmouth RC Santa Fun Run, bedecked as the great man's little helpers.

This year's festive run for charity took place over 2km of the Chippenham 5k parkrun course, starting and finishing at the Sportsground clubhouse, owing to the closure of the Vauxhall Inglis Bridge preventing use of the Monnow Bridge loop course.

That didn't prevent the jingle joy of nearly 400 runners, who raised hundreds of pounds for the Bridges Well-being Services.

Trailblazers weren't finished there with their festive celebrations, holding their Christmas party last weekend at Ross-on-Wye's Corn Exchange.

Both events followed some hard racing, with nine members joining a 275-strong field at the ninth Newent 9, organised by Newent Runners.

Lewis Munro set the benchmark in the 9.5k race, winning by just four seconds from Forest of Dean AC's Andy Raynor.

Western Tempo's Sam Crowther took third in 34.11, 35 seconds ahead of Salford Harriers' Gary Priestly.

Fastest woman in 10th was Patricia Dendy of Almost Athletes in 38.39, followed by Chepstow Harriers veteran Nikki Morgan in 20th in 40.30, who just pipped Western Tempo's Jade Ocean by three seconds.

Martin Turner was first Trailblazer home in 32nd in 42.37, followed by Gary Griffiths in 43.25, Emma Davies who placed 14th woman and fifth over-50 in 46.47, Rosie Davies 48.49 who was first U21 woman, Emma Humphries also 48.49, Rob Vidler 49.35 and Pip Cottrell who was third over-60 woman in 51.28.

Fastest Newent Runners member and third over-60 man was Paul Dowling in 44.43 in 50th.

Meg Long was quickest Newent woman in 49.16, followed by club mate Karen Long in 53.35, Emma Machette 59.31, Bernadette Davies 68.56 and Rachel Bradbury 72.09.