AVON Valley Runners and Chippenham Harriers dominated the inaugural Wiltshire Road Relays held at Castle Combe race circuit.

However, Team Bath took the senior men’s prize, Dauntsey School teacher Alistair Sheffield, Chris Hine and Dan Jones clinching the title, despite a blistering last leg from Avon Valley’s Tom Fisher, whose 18 minutes and 41 seconds over the 3.7-mile course was the fastest leg of the day.

Fisher and teammates Dave Spencer and Mike Towler were second.

Avon Valley grabbed the male vet 40 prize, despite a fastest age group leg of the day from Chippenham Harriers’ Andy Bennetts.

Frank Checcia, Stuart Dinwoodie and Peter Cusick diced with their Avon Valley counterparts, for whom Jim Wade and Warren Wade ran superb final two legs, to grab the honours by 14 seconds.

Harriers did take the male vet 50 prize, Tom Smith crossing the line first for a 12-second triumph as Avon Valley’s Sean Butler recorded the fastest leg.

In the ladies events, the Avon Valley Runners V40 team of Jo Mumford, Jackie Rockliffe and Rachel Bown took victory ahead of Chippenham Harriers, who did win the senior category with Michelle Maxwell recording the fastest leg of the day.

In the FV50 race, Avon Valley Runners triumphed with Karen Butler recording the fastest leg.

Chippenham Youth took the junior race victory with Josh Howells, Will Collins, Sam Malling and Matt Malling beating Avon Valley Runners, Howells and clubmate Kate Strange recording the fastest boys and girls legs respectively.

Thirty teams lined up on the circuit for the event organised by Wiltshire Athletic Association, whose chairman Chris Sloane presented the prize.

Harriers entered 12 adult and three junior teams of all abilities, giving the opportunity for a number of graduates of the club’s regular beginners group and new club members to don club vests for the first time in a team event.

Harriers secretary Michael Bright said: “This was a fantastic event as it provided an opportunity for members of all levels to get involved in a race.’’

The event was backed by DB Max and Stampede Sports.

WILTSHIRE international marathon runner Amy Chalk made it two wins out of two in the Gloucestershire Cross Country League in Gloucester.

Chalk, who lives in the village of Stanley near Chippenham, again dominated the senior women’s race finishing more than a minute clear of the field.

Hardenhuish School student Loren Bleaken choose the event as her first cross country race of the winter and finished second in the U17 women’s event.

“It was nice to be back on the country,” said Bleaken.

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