HOLLY Rush wondered if she may surprise herself in the Pisa Marathon and that is exactly what she did in Italy on Sunday, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Despite an intensive period of training and the fact that it was the Bradford on Avon- based international’s third marathon of the year, Rush ran her fastest time of 2013.

Her 2hrs 41mins 51secs was not only quicker than London (2:44.21) and Yorkshire (2:46.26) but it was also good enough to earn her first place in the race ahead of a large contingent of home runners.

The time lifts Rush to 11th in the UK rankings for 2013 and second in the South West.

  • REPRESENTING England, Grace Davies-Redmond finished third in the British & Irish Schools’ Combined Events Indoor International at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow.

The format of the event didn’t favour the 15-year-old from Bradford on Avon, with the omission of the 200m and javelin, both strong disciplines for her outdoors, but she acquitted herself well.

She clocked a personal best in the 60m hurdles and was only one centimetre off her best in the high jump but was off her best in the long jump, shot and 800m.

“I was not pleased with that,” said Davies-Redmond. “Unfortunately I suffered a hamstring injury towards the end of the summer and after the shot, which was the first discipline, it was very painful.

“I was going to pull out of the 60m hurdles, but I didn’t want to let down my teammates so carried on. It was OK, but I need to see the physio now and get the problem sorted out.”

  • THE Wiltshire boys swept the board in the U15 boys’ race at the third Gloucestershire Cross Country League race in Malvern.

Melksham Oak School student Will Stockley continued his fine form by winning the race with a commanding lead of more than 20 seconds.

It was his fourth league win of the season and Stockley now boasts an unbeaten record in both the Gloucestershire and Gwent.

Team Bath clubmate Themis Bower was runner-up and county boys came in thick and fast with the Howorth twins Robert and John, from Hilperton, fourth and fifth respectively and newcomer Jonathan Wilson sixth.

The U13 boys’ race also looked like delivering a Wiltshire winner with rookie Rory Howorth enjoying a big lead until he suffered a heavy fall in one of the hidden ditches and was forced to drop out.

The same fate befell John ‘O Gaunt School student Caitlin Wosika in the U15 girls’ race, while she was lying in second position.

Earlier in the day Nicky Bower contested the boys U11s race finishing in 31st position and India Ibbotson finished 28th in the U11 girls race.

Jade Littlechild ran superbly to finish third in the U13 girls’ race, with Katie Strange and Sarah Wilson ninth and 19th respectively.

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