TROWBRIDGE runner Mike Towler smashed his personal best with a superb run in the Telford 10k on Sunday.

Towler’s decision to make the trip for the rearranged event – bad weather meant it was postponed before Christmas – was fully rewarded as he slashed 34 seconds off his previous best set in 2016 with a sparkling 31mins 35secs.

“It was quite a surprise to be honest,” said Towler.

“I went there looking for sub 32 minutes but never expected to run that quick.”

Regular speed sessions under the guidance of Avon Valley Runners’ coach Steve Williams who oversees Ruth Barnes’ training, have clearly benefitted 28-year-old Towler and this year could see him make significant progress.

“I had a couple of disappointing runs towards the end of 2017 although had a good one at the Cevedon 4 on Boxing Day s was hoping to carry that on into Telford,” added Towler.

“You never know until the day though but it went really well and I am delighted.”

On the indoor scene Hilperton multi-eventer Rory Howorth continued his good campaign with a personal best of 9.06sec in the 60m hurdles at the South West Championships staged in Cardiff.

That gave Howorth second place in the U17 men’s event and there was another silver in the pole vault.

There was also a silver for Eleanor Webster, who lives in Alderton near Malmesbury, in the U17 women’s 800m.

Wiltshire siblings Byron and Caitlin Mander, making her debut indoors, both clocked PBs as did Chippenham’s Sophie Martin and Charlotte Longden in the U17s competition.

Cardiff Met Open Indoor Grand Prix inc South West Championships – U17 men 60: 5 Jonny Evans 7.74; 9 Joel Mattacks 8.20secs (PB); 60H: 2 Rory Howorth 9.06 (PB); LJ: 4 Evans 5.00; PV: 2 Howorth 2.62;

U15 boys –LJ: 2 Kiran Carter 5.38 .

U13 boys 60: 6 Byron Mander 10.41secs (PB); 800: 2 Dylan Stoneman 2:32.8 (PB); LJ: 8 Mander 2.80.

U17 women – 60: 8 Charlotte Longden 8.41 (PB); 13 Sophie Martin 8.88 (PB); 800: 2 Eleanor Webster 2:27.2; 60H: 5 Martin 10.14 (PB); LJ: 5 Longden 4.88; 9 Martin 4.25.

U15 girls – 60: 13 Eleni Francis 8.88 (PB); 18 Caitlin Mander 9.14secs (PB); 21 Tsvetti Melton 9.26 (PB); SP: 9 Francis 6.11m.