Carol wins category prize at Bourton (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Carol wins category prize at Bourton

PRE-RACE demand for Sunday's Bourton Goldsmith's 10K was the most fierce it has ever been with well over 200 disappointed entries being turned away, the limit having been reached before Christmas.

The race has a reputation for being one of the fastest over the distance in the country and attracts a high class of athlete for that reason alone.

The ladies field this year was of an especially high calibre, with the first across the line, Emily Pidgeon, winning the race for the third successive year, and breaking her own course record in a new personal best time of 33 minutes and 37 seconds.

The top five ladies all finished under 35 minutes with Catherine Dugdale of Swansea (34.32) taking second place.

Barbara Yff of Serpentine was in close contention in 34.37 with Jo Kelsey of Winchester fourth in 34.46.

Cheltenham's Jo Brewer didn't make the prizes due to the exceptionally high standard, but finished in a fantastic and personal best time of 34.51.

Nicki Nealon from Huncote Harriers won the Lady V35 category in 35.00 with unattached Zara Hyde Peters second (36.33) and third-placed Jane Wassell of Cirencester recording a pb of 37.18.

Mel Ellis of Shaftesbury Barnet finished first LV40 in 36.13 and a superb time of 36.43 was recorded for the first lady V45, Fiona Kennedy from Ealing, Southall and Middlesex, which should place her at the top of the British rankings.

Rosalind Townsend-Hope of Worcester was first V50 in 45.35 and Carol Cowley of Tewkesbury first V55. The ladies team prize was won by Headington RR.

Welsh International Martin Rees of Neath Harriers firmly placed all his younger rivals in the shade, winning at the age of 53 in a time of 31.45.

He took the lead at the seven-kilometre mark and finished conclusively six seconds ahead of Dave Roper of Tri Team Glos (31.51). Gary Harris of Headington finished third in 32.05 and Gary Hughes of Dursley was fourth (32.29).

Last year's winner, Andy Prophet, had to settle for sixth overall this time around in a time of 32.48 that saw him take the fifth senior man prize Bourton's Dennis Walmsley had a storming run to finish fifth overall and first V40 in 32.37. Unattached Andrew Hussey finished second V40 in 33.18 and 12th overall, only just knocking Bourton's Alistair Lockey into third (33.19) and 13th overall.

Fellow home runner Ian McDougall finished first V45 in a time of 33.46, with Gary Payne (George Elliott Striders) tenth overall and first V50.

Dave Parsons of Oxford City took first V55, although he is actually 60, with his excellent time of 38.13, leaving Bob Statham of Coventry to collect first V60 in 39.06.

Ken Buckle of Cheltenham was back on form this year to win the V65 category in 41.58.

The men's team prize was won by Bourton Roadrunners.

Other Bourton times: 9 Mike Smith 33.04; Nick Worboys 38.17, Ali Lane 41.37, Rob Humphries 43.49, Chris Bence, Kate Hall 49.21.

Thanks are due to Bourton Goldsmiths for their sponsorship and for all the generous donations by runners to Air Ambulance, which will be matched by the Rissington Road club Future races in the village will be the Hilly Half Marathon in June and the One-Mile Challenge on July 21.