IN his first race since the Loch Ness Marathon, Damian Hall showed an entirely different set of skills to finish runner-up in the Over The Hills 12k multi terrain race in Bradford on Avon, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The Corsham Running Club athlete, who lives in Box, seemed to make light work of the transition from solid tarmac to mud, trails and river crossings – even if he wasn’t sure where he was going.

“I forgot to bring my contact lenses and it was very misty but fortunately the race marshals were excellent so it was no issue,” said Hall.

“It is a great little race (organised by Avon Valley Runners) which I was doing for the first time. I had already heard a lot of good things about it but was never fit enough to run it until this year.

“There was a lovely atmosphere and it was very well organised and I ended up coming home with some wine and cake that I had won. I will definitely be back next year.”

Hall took three weeks rest after the Loch Ness marathon, in which he ran a personal best of two hours 40 minutes 28 seconds and has only recently returned to light training.

Clearly he hasn’t lost too much fitness, though he was no match for Bath University triathlete Rory Atkins, who disappeared into the fog early on and won by more than a minute with Hall having quite a battle with Team Bath’s Alec Woods before pulling clear in the closing stages.

“I have to be pleased with that run,” added Hall.

In the women’s race Chippenham Harriers’ Cordula Hurcum finished runner-up behind Clare Prosser, of Wells, with Anita Mellowdew, of Avon Valley Runners, third.

WILTSHIRE competitors Rory Howorth and Hayden Bailey were among the fastest times of the day in the U15 boys’ race English Cross Country Relays on Saturday, although it wasn’t enough to put them on the medal rostrum.

Howorth, from Hilperton, gave the Team Bath squad a great start placing seventh of 74 teams on the opening stage around the fast Berry Hill Park course in Mansfield.

But despite a determined effort by rookie Charlie Stockey the club slipped to 26th on stage two.

Bailey showed on the track in the summer that he is a class act, but that left even too much for him to do in such fierce company.

While he tore around the course in a time of six minutes 27 seconds, just a fraction slower than Howorth, he could only claw back 14 places to eventually finish in 12th .

That was the best performance of the day by Team Bath with the U17 men’s squad of Semington’s Will Stockley, Hilperton’s Robert Howorth and Themis Bower, of Marshfield, finishing 16th while the U17 women’s squad of Anna Burt, Caitlin Wosika and Natalie Pidgeon came 26th.