Thompson is first veteran

TeamBath’s Jo Thompson finished as runner-up and top veteran in the Gloucester Half Marathon.

Thompson clocked 83mins 09secs, which, amazingly, was exactly the same time as she recorded in Bath in March.

The race was won by Westbury Harriers’ Emma D’Alton in a personal best 79:57. TeamBath’s Jenny Carter was fourth with Keynsham’s Aileen Brown fifth.

The top TeamBath runner in the men’s race was Alan Every in 26th (88:18), well outside his PB of 84:19.

Results: Men – 1 Mike Smith (BRR, M40) 74:03; 2 Matt Ellis (WH) 74:11; 3 Mark Hobbs (B’ville) 76:13; Women – 1 Emma D’Alton (WH) 79:57 (7th overall); 2 Jo Thompson (TBAC, W50) 83:09; 3 Sally Haselhurst (San Dom) 86:07; 4 Jenny Carter (TBAC, W35) 87:54; 5 Aileen Brown (GWR, W40) 89:57; 6 Helen Hinsley (Bitt RR, W45) 93:36. TBAC – 26 Alan Every (M40) 88:18; 58 Philippa Spruit (W40) 1:35.16.

Michael Towler of host club Avon Valley Runners led all the way to win the Conkwell Killer 8.5-mile multi-terrain race from Bradford on Avon Rugby Club.

Towler clocked 51:25 to finish almost three minutes clear of TeamBath’s Niall Urquhart , who led the club to the team prize with good support from Alex Copping, Barry Awan and Andrew Boyce.

Avon Valley newcomer Ruth Barnes had a superb run to finish third overall and easily top woman in a course record time of 54:26, nearly seven minutes ahead of Nardia Gray of Running Bath.

Avon Valley won the women’s team prize thanks to Barnes, Linda Ladner and Rosemary Barber.

Bradley and Kyle Webb clocked big personal bests of 2:31.6 and 2:33.7 respectively – eight and two seconds off their previous fastest times – for 800m at the Cheltenham open meeting last week.

Dave Coales was re-elected as chairman of TeamBath at the club’s annual meeting on Monday night, with Tim Woodman secretary and Val Bullough treasurer.

The penultimate race in the Towpath 10k series along the banks of the River Avon, in Bristol, is held tomorrow but there will be no entries taken on the night.

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