A HEREFORD runner came away with a silver medal from the European Masters Mountain Running Championships.

Steve Herington, from Hereford Couriers, was competing and took the silver medal in the Masters' V75 category, behind an Austrian, and ahead of runners from the Czech Republic, Italy and Spain.

The event was held in Madeira over a highly technical course in which Pico do Facho was climbed twice, with steep rocky descents in between, and to the finish in Machico.

The course was five miles long and with over 1,800 feet of climbs and some of the upward paths wound around the cliffs high above the Atlantic Ocean. 

"It was a challenging course," said Herington. "Most of the climb was up stone steps and iron stairway, while the descents were in places near vertical on loose grit.

“It was a great experience racing in such beautiful surroundings in warm sunshine and meeting old friends and new from across Europe. "

Other sports results from across Herefordshire:

GOLF

Grove GC

Senior Stableford (May 7): 1. Bill Nicholls 19 points; 2. Stuart Mayers 16 (count back); 3. Steve Hadley 16.
Nearest the pin: Gary Husbands. Birdie 2s: Dave Botwood, Mike Hughes.

BRIDGE

Lyonshall BC
In the 49th year of the charity fundraising Round the Houses competition, the winners were Helen Powers and Daniel Pearce Higgins.

The runners-up were Ian and Nicola Goodwin. The winners of the Consolation Plate were Liz Thorneycroft and Sue Thompson, the runners-up were Noorissa Davies and Caroline Weymouth.
Duplicate Pairs (May 7): 1. Peter Smith & Vivienne Richards 59.13; 2. Sue Powell & Sue Davies 57.90; 3. Kay & Tony Taylor 57.81.

Herefordshire County Bridge Association

Herefordshire Clubs Online Pairs (May 9): 1= Derek Wolfendale & Terry Meadows/Mike Foister & Ben Britton  59.72%;  3. Linda Blunt & Owen Evans  54.86; 4. Sue Shore & Heather Brace 52.08.