JAMIE McBrien announced his arrival on the county scene with his best win of the year in the AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 28-year-old member of Corsham Running Cub not only claimed his best win locally – excluding his success in the Chippenham Parkruns – but also smashed his personal best in the process as he carved 31 seconds off his previous best with a time of 1hr 16mins.

“I was very happy to win and set a personal best,” said McBrien.

“The conditions were good on Sunday and there was very little wind. At the start a group of four of us got away and by eight miles myself and Paul Ryman (Frome) had got clear.

“Shortly after that I put in a bit of an effort coming off the top of a hill and opened a gap which I managed to hold until the finish. It is the first time I have done the Wiltshire half and it was a really good race and very well organised.”

The time beat the mark of 1:16.31 that McBrien, who also lives in Corsham, set just over two months ago when finishing fourth in the New Forest Half Marathon. It continues his good form of 2017 in which he has also ran PBs over 5k (17:00 in the Chippenham parkrun) and marathon (2:41.59 in Edinburgh).

“I was really pleased with the Edinburgh marathon and have benefited since in other races from the training I did for that,” added McBrien.

“I have just entered London for 2018 so that will be my next big target.”

To put McBrien’s performances into context his marathon time is the third fastest in Wiltshire this year while his time of 76minutes on Sunday puts him ninth quickest in the county lists.

Simon Gilbert finished fourth overall and first veteran over 40 to lead Devizes Running Club to success in the men’s team competition.

Leading woman was Josie Rawes with Chippenham Harriers’ Emma Hines fourth and top veteran.

RESULTS

Men: 1 Jamie McBrien (CRC) 1:16.00; 2 Paul Ryman (Frome RC) 1:16.28; 3 Robert Farley (Bitton RR) 1:16.58; 4 Simon Gilbert (Devizes RC, M40) 1:17.20.

M50: 1 Michael Hobbs (Warminster RC) 1:24.38.M60: 1 David Vaudin (TB) 1:26.28.

Teams: 1 Devizes Running Club 49; 2 Frome Running Club 109; 3 Team Bath AC 176

Women: 1 Josie Rawes (unatt) 1:29.14; 2 Lynette Porter (Bitton RR) 1:29.30; 3 Lucy Bird (B&W) 1:30.21; 4 Emma Hines (Chipp, W40) 1:30.45.

Teams: 1 Bitton Road Runners 250.