Where Hope Runs Long and the Sun Runs Hot

Race Report – 13/07/2025

RSE runners tackled the trails this weekend in another heatwave, featuring the ever-popular Hope Trail Festival in Devon and the more local Cotswold Maverick race. It was also Cirencester Parkrun’s 300th anniversary – coinciding with a few members’ own Parkrun milestones too. Definitely a weekend for lots of celebrations 🙂

Hope Trail Festival

Runners can choose between 12, 24 or 36 hours and either compete as a solo entrant or in a team. The course is a 5-mile undulating lap in Newnham Park, Plympton, run as many times as you can within the chosen timeframe. RSE made the most of the weekend, with lots of runners and a great cheer squad too.

Hope 12:

Linda Edwards and Cathy Steer: 5 laps each – 2nd in category!
Carol and Andy Sworn: 4 laps each
Felicity Crotty: 8 laps
Darren Jenner: 9 laps
Ben, Laura and Tyler: – 2nd place mixed team!
Sarah and George: 6 laps each – 1st in category!
Paul Robertson: 8 laps

Linda Edwards and I entered the 12 hour female duo event at Hope. We chose to run alternating 5 mile loops to allow us some time to enjoy the sunshine and good company! Somehow ended up second in our category! We completed 5 laps each which the last lap run together. Very hot, but great food station on route! Great fun club event with lots of support. Thank you everyone! – Cathy

Having always competed in the 24hr team version Andy and I entered the pairs event at Hope 12 this year for a change. We both had great runs in the blistering temperatures but decided at 4 laps (20 miles) each that we both had had enough of the heat! Such a great event to do as much as you feel capable of on the day but can then still enjoy the fabulous atmosphere and camaraderie of the weekend. Huge well done to all who took part in difficult conditions. – Carol

With forecasts predicting a hot one I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had set myself the target of trying to beat last year’s time/distance but realised early on that was quite a big aim! However, after getting through the first few laps ok and reaching 4 laps before halfway in time, I thought 8 laps was achievable. Was really pleased when I finished my 7th lap and still felt able to continue. Walked lap 8 and reached 40 miles! Which is the furthest I have ever run in a day! The support was amazing and so glad team RSE was there to cheer, make cups of tea, baked homemade cake and help us up when we could hardly walk afterwards! Same again next year? – Felicity

I knew that this was going to be tough given the extremely warm weather and it didn’t disappoint! Probably went out a little too fast on the first two laps but after a snack/drinks break I pulled it back abit. Helped by running some of the laps with fellow RSE members. Managed to beat last years 7 laps and ran a total of 45 miles (9 laps), the most I’ve ever run in one day. As ever a great atmosphere at this event and amazing support from the RSE team, runners and support crew. Very grateful for the assistance at drinks stops and the cheers as we past the gazebo with a mile to go on each lap. – Darren

What a wonderful weekend! I love Hope so much but I was worried about my toe not allowing me to properly take part. Not to mention my dodgy knee. And elbow. And back.
Happily, none of those things hurt. But everything else does! Falling in mile 1 of lap 1 when I’d just got up to running pace was definitely not part of the plan! Literally picked myself up and dusted myself down 😆
Managed 3 laps for Team BLT (Ben, Laura, Tyler) in the 12 hour event, before the reality of having not run for over a month kicked in via screaming legs.
It’s always the people that make an event great and this year was no exception. I am in awe of everyone who ran so many miles in the blistering heat; very well done to you all. The support was incredible – I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. – Ben

My son George and I took part in the 12 hour mixed pair event.
We had a wonderful weekend with Team RSE with lots of support, encouragement and shared moaning about how hot it was!
The course was reversed from last years route which felt better as second half had more downhill I think. Great aid station at mile 3 which was well stocked with lots of goodies.
George and I were very pleased to get first place in our category with each of us managing 30 miles. It was George’s first ever running event so he made it an ultra! – Sarah

Wow, my first experience of a trail ultra marathon. I feel like I could write an essay on this experience but I honestly do not know what to write which wouldn’t ramble with emotion!
There is such a sense of pride running through me at the moment, not for an individual result but just for a collective experience! I knew we were a family club but didn’t quite grasp how much of a family we truly are. Thank you team Hope for welcoming my wife and children into Team RSE.
To see all of our award winners, to experience raw emotion with friends and to meet new people and make new friends is exactly what I needed!
If you haven’t done Hope – it is definitely worth it! – Paul

Hope 24:

Alan Powderhill: 13 laps / 65 miles completed
Jade Beaumont: 50 miles completed
Nadine Brown: 75 miles completed

I tried the 24 hour event this year and set myself a tough target of 100km, I’m so pleased to have achieved it, completing 13 laps in 65 miles. Such a tough day in the heat and the night runs added to the difficulty this year. A great day with all the RSE people all doing amazing this weekend. – Alan

My first ever ultra marathon and in a heatwave! So happy to have completed 50 miles which surpassed any expectation I had for myself! The event is amazingly well organised with a fantastic aid station at the half way point of each loop which was very welcome! Lots of hills which seem to get bigger on every lap too! As always the support from RSE was fantastic and I’m so proud of the whole club’s achievements! – Jade

Hope 24 Solo done! Managed 75 miles over the 24 hours, which was a little unexpected! Feeling a bit sore and very tired now, especially with the 100k only three weeks ago. I think I’ll take a bit of a break over the summer! This really is one of my favourite weekends of the year – such a brilliant, friendly event. I’m so grateful to everyone who came out to support, and well done to everyone who took part. It was inspiring to see so many people out there giving it their best. Special mention to Andy P who had to put up with me the whole time, including my tears on mile 73! – Nadine

Cotswold Maverick

Starting at Sudeley Castle, the Maverick X Cotswold Series is a trail running race with various distances to choose from – starting from 7km all the way up to 51km. The routes boast beautiful views, steep climbs and feature historic Cotswolds attractions.

Rachel Smith: 3:39:45

This was the 10th Cotswold Maverick trail race which starts at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe and follows several route distances around the northern Cotswold countryside. My third time running the course, opting for the longer distance of 23km this time. Seemed like madness in the heat of Saturday, but the race is really well organised with outposts providing very welcome drinks and snacks along the way! Definitely no PB with plenty of walking up the hills but very enjoyable to finish in a time of 3:39:45

Parkruns

Cirencester

James Ball: 19:30
Jon Campbell: 21:13
Phil Hudson: 21:40
Rebecca Southerington: 22:21 – 3rd lady!
Daniel Drayton: 23:21
Paul Billinghurst: 23:49
Steve Sandercock: 24:21
Richard Sharp: 25:04
Robert Baker: 25:35
Alison Booth: 26:03
Claire Sharp: 26:11
Jon Collins: 26:29
Sue Navin: 28:58
Katy Miller: 28:59
Anne-Marie Davies: 30:54
Maria Yates: 31:41 – 100th Parkrun!
Samantha Ward: 32:39 – 50th Parkrun!
Liz Hulcup: 38:08

Hove Promenade

Paul Beaumont: 28:55

Fire Service College

Vicki Mason: 29:21

Horspath:

Ollie Hazel: 22:25