A record field of over 400 runners lined up for the fifth running of the Wiltshire 10 road race in Melksham on Sunday 15th February.
The race was sponsored by The Wiltshire Times and this year hosted the National Road Running Championships of the Association of Running Clubs.
George Frost of Team Bath and George Gurney from Broughton Gifford led the field out of Melksham, with the Avon Valley Runners pair of Rich Ayling and Mike Rose in pursuit, who in turn were tracked by the in-form Allister Sheffield of Team Bath.
As the field approached Bewley Common on the outskirts of Lacock, Frost made his move and managed to open up a winning lead over Gurney and went on to take victory in 54-minutes and 12-seconds, whilst Sheffield overhauled the AVR pair at Reybridge to take third place, and with club mates Roland Teare and Stuart Henderson helped Team Bath to take the Men’s team prize.
Finishing in fourth place Rich Ayling from Melksham was the first ARC runner to finish and took the championship gold medal, with club mate Mike Rose the silver and sixth place Stephen O’Halloran of Bristol’s Great Western Runners, the bronze. Avon Valley Runners took the ARC team gold with Pete Slade and Justin Peters joining Ayling and Rose on the podium.
In the Ladies race, Fiona Price had another great run to take outright victory and the ARC gold medal recording 64:10 ahead of Anna Seymour of Calne SMaRTT and Jenny MacMaster of Great Cheverell. Team Bath packed well to take the team prize in the main race with Karen Butler, Beccy Tarling and Debbie Heywood taking the honours ahead of Avon Valley Runners who along with Price, Diane Hier and Sarah Jewers claimed the gold medal in the ARC team championships.
In 48th place overall Clive Allen of Chippenham Harriers become the 1,000th finisher in the Wiltshire 10 and received a trophy for his efforts.
Other prize winners:
1st MV40 – Stephen O’Holloran of Great Western Runners; 1st MV50 – Niall Urquhart of Team Bath; 1st MV60 – Keith Robinson of Frome Running Club.
1st FV40 – Claire Blewitt of Somer AC; 1st FV50 – Karen Butler of Team Bath AC; 1st FV60 – Jenny Mills of Launceston Road Runners.
Full Results can be found at www.stampedesports.co.uk
