SIMON Nott is the 2018 Wiltshire five-miles champion after his victory in the Highworth race on Sunday.

The Calne Running Club athlete admitted he had to dig deep to finally win the race – he was runner-up on his only other appearance in 2013 – as he held off the Avon Valley Runners’ pair of in-form Mike Towler and improving junior Max Davis.

“Mike pushed me hard and Max is a very talented young runner so it was a tough race to win this year and I had to work,” said Nott.

“It was good to be back racing and winning again as I have not had an amazing time over the winter.

“After winning the Tri-Counties Cross Country title in December I came down with a leg injury which didn’t go away.

“In the end I stopped running in January and February and just kept fit in the gym and by March I was running again and I seemed to get fit pretty quickly so decided to run the Highworth 5 as it was hosting the county championships.

“It is great to be back in action again and hopefully I am on an upward curve now.”

Nott clocked 26mins 03secs – 10 seconds quicker than 2013 – with Towler 23 seconds adrift in second and Davis a further 14 seconds behind. AVR’s Damian Spreckley was fourth and top veteran.

AVR’s Bethan Francis was third in the women’s race behind Molly Browne of Birmingham Running, Athletics & Triathlon Club and Swindon’s Lizzie Rayner. Denise Nott was fourth and first veteran and also made the podium in the county championships.

Making a rare excursion in the 300m hurdles, Team Bath’s Eleanor Webster opened her outdoor season with a personal best in the annual Yate & District AC Sprint & Hurdles Festival.

Webster, who lives near Malmesbury, shaved over a second off the time she ran on her debut last year with a mark of 49.85secs in blustery conditions at Yate, which certainly didn’t help the sprinters.

Indeed, most of the times were recorded into a head-wind so PBs were at a premium for the large contingent of Team Bath athletes who made the trip.

Nonetheless, Imogen Leakey was only a fraction off her PB with 13.0secs in the 100m and as that was into a minus 1.1 wind it augurs well for the rest of the season.

The Howorth brothers were out in force opting for some short, sharp work with Rory clocking a personal best of 24.1secs in the 200m with Robert and John just behind in 24.2secs and 24.3secs respectively.

Rory also added a swift 14.9secs in the 100m hurdles, finishing just behind Sheldon School’s Femi Akinbobola, while John and Robert clocked 51.1secs and 52.5secs respectively in the 400m.