FIONA Price returned home to Wiltshire this week the proud owner of a World Masters Championships gold medal, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The Westbury-based member of Avon Valley Runners helped the Great Britain squad win the gold team medals in Malaga in the over 50s age group in the half marathon on Sunday.

Price finished ninth in a time of 1hr 36mins 38secs and was the third and final scorer for the team which was led home by Susan McDonald in third (1:28.18) and Samantha Woodward seventh (1:35.47).

The British trio clocked a cumulative time of 4hrs 40mins 43secs to beat the strong Spain squad by just under six minutes with Italy third.

Meanwhile closer to home Price’s AVR clubmate Ruth Barnes returned to top form on the national stage with a hard-earned victory in the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k on Sunday.

The Avon Valley Runners international had hoped to challenge her persona best of 34mins 15secs, which she set two years ago, after a good spell of training but ultimately the Welsh weather derailed her hopes.

“I know the Swansea course (she ran 34:34 in 2016) and it is very fast and as I didn’t have a great time this year thought I would give it a go,” said Barnes.

“Before the race I felt in good form and thought I had a chance of a PB but the wind was unbelievable.

“We ran into a massive headwind to the turning point at 5k so I thought that at least then the wind would be behind us on the return. But I felt so tired in that second 5k that the plan just didn’t happen.

“It was very frustrating as I felt I could go faster than my time of 34:45 but it was still nice to win it and I have to be happy with that especially as I will be turning 40 in a few weeks’ time.”

Barnes proved too strong for her long-term rival Rachel Felton as she finished 17 seconds clear as she placed 20th overall from a huge field of 3,401 finishers.

“It was a good boost to the confidence having not raced a big event since the Bristol and London 10k races in the Spring,” added Barnes.

“Now the big target for me is the Great South 10 miles road race in Southsea next month and I’ll be looking to improve there a bit more.”

Calne Running Club’s Simon Nott cruised to victory in the Foxtrot 5 miles road race in Broughton Gifford clocking a time of 25mins 29secs, putting him over two minutes clear of Swindon Harriers’ David Sirrelle.

Top veteran over 40 was William Trew of Chippenham Harriers in fourth overall (29;11), just ahead of Avon Valley Runners’ Rich Harding (29:14).

Jackie Rockliffe delivered further success for AVR as she placed ninth overall (31:03) to lift the women’s prize from Frome Running Club’s Katherine Uphill (31:42)and Denise Nott of Calne RC.