A RECORD field of more than 400 runners lined up for the fifth running of the Wiltshire 10 road race in Melksham, sponsored by The Wiltshire Times.

This year the event was also the host of the National Road Running Championships of the Association of Running Clubs, so there was plenty of incentive for the hardy entrants.

Team Bath’s George Frost 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 12 seconds, while Sheffield overhauled the AVR pair to take third place.

Alongside club-mates Roland Teare and Stuart Henderson, Sheffield also took the men’s team prize.

Finishing in fourth place, Rich Ayling was the first ARC runner to finish and took the championship gold medal, with club-mate Rose the silver and sixth-placed 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 to finish 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 securing 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, Chippenham Harriers’ Clive Allen become the 1,000th finisher in the Wiltshire 10 and received a trophy for his efforts.

Other prize winners:

1st MV40: Stephen O'Holloran (Great Western Runners). 1st MV50: Niall Urquhart (Team Bath).

1st MV60: Keith Robinson (Frome Running Club).

1st FV40: Claire Blewitt (Somer AC).

1st FV50: Karen Butler (Team Bath AC).

1st FV60: Jenny Mills (Launceston Road Runners).

ARC medallists:

Men: 1 Rich Ayling (Avon Valley Runners), 2 Mike Rose (Avon Valley Runners), 3 Stephen O'Halloran (Great Western Runners).

Ladies: 1 Fiona Price of Avon Valley Runners (V40), 2 Louise Cronin of Great Western Runners (V40), 3 Diane Hier of Avon Valley Runners (V50).

MV40: 1 Nick Awbry (Marlborough Running Club), 2 Justin Peters (Avon Valley Runners), 3 Andrew May (Hogweed Trotters).

MV50: 1 Christopher Palmer (Bitton Road Runners), 2 Simon Boast (Marlborough Running Club), 3 Chris Gaunt (Severn AC).

FV40: 1 Helen Hinsley (Bitton Road Runners), 2 Karina Hourd (Marlborough Running Club), 3 Michelle Guest (Great Western Runners).

FV50: 1 Deborah Lemoir (Great Western Runners), 2 Julie Trudgeon (Chippenham Harriers), 3 Jane Watkins (Marlborough Running Club).

Full results: stampedesports.co.uk