The big West Country road race kicks off our UK-wide endurance running round-up

AJ BELL GREAT BRISTOL RUN, May 11

Max Davis won the men's half-marathon title by half-a-minute from Joe O’Connell in 66:24 as Jack Millar took third more than a minute down.

With the city bathed in sunshine and warm temperatures, personal bests were few and far between among the leading men in the 13.1-mile race although for O’Connell it was his first outing over the distance.

For Davis, it was his first race of the year, meaning that Bristol & West’s English National and 12-stage road relay victories were not on his CV.

Rosie Hamilton-James was nearly a minute outside her best of 75:07 set at Wokingham earlier this year, with her two-and-a-half-minute women’s victory in 75:58.

Dage Minors and Gemma Steel won the men's and women's 10km races in 30:24 and 34:59 respectively.

Overall (half): 1 M Davies (B&W) 66:24; 2 J O’Connell (AFD) 66:54; 3 J Millar (B&W) 68:08; 4 L James (T Bath) 69:34; 5 S Gomez (M45) 70:18; 6 G Grassley (DMV) 70:49

M50: 1 M Aldridge (Woott RR) 72:32; 2 S Winder (E&E) 77:17

M65: 1 R Walsh (Evesh) 89:19

M70: 1 G Ruffle (Hart) 95:52

Overall (10km): 1 D Minors (B&W/BMU) 30:24; 2 M Roberts (HHH) 30:52; 3 G Hayward (W'bury) 31:14

Women: 1 R Hamilton-James (W’bury) 75:58; 2 H Alderson (T Bath) 78:38

W50: 1 T Pritchard (Les C) 87:44; 2 S Clare (T Bath) 91:47

W55: 1 S Watson (Les C) 98:00; 2 J McFadzean 98:32

W60: 1 L Clements (Bide) 99:51

W65: 1 M Grace (Yate & Sodbury) 1:50:47

W70: 1 J Tombs (Gosp) 1:56:48

W75: 1 A Dockery (W’bury) 2:01:23

10km: 1 G Steel (Charn) 34:59; 2 Rhiannon Kirk (Army) 36:32; 3 Sarah Trahair-Williams (Best Aths) 37:33

ALTON 10, Hampshire, May 11

Overall: 1 A Elmi B’mth) 50:10; 2 C Newnham (Ryde) 54:47

Women: 1 E Willmers (Win RC, W40) 61:14

W60: 1 L Tyler (Farn R) 75:45

BIDEFORD 10km, Devon, May 11

Overall: 1 P Norman (WG&EL) 30:08; 2 R Richmond (Bide, M40) 31:01

M50: 1 J Hartop (Serp) 34:24; 2 J McConnell (Taunt) 34:30

M55: 1 T Wright (Corn) 36:03; 2 J Matthews (N Dev) 36:14

M60: 1 C Harry (Corn) 38:17

Women: 1 Z Oldfield (Lought, W45) 37:33

W55: 1 H Stout (L Eaton) 41:00; 2 S May (Bide) 41:38

W60: 1 R Baker (Camb H) 45:24; 2 D Hier (Avon VR) 45:52

W65: 1 C Benstead (Oke) 41:06; 2 M Blair (Torr) 45:57

CAERPHILLY 10km, South Wales, May 11

Overall: 1 J Butler (Swan) 30:40; 2 M Ward (P’pridd) 30:50; 3 A Bull (P’pridd) 31;20

Women: 1 O Tsim (P’pridd) 34:59; 2 A Benyon-Evans (Les C, W35) 35:51

COPENHAGEN MARATHON, May 11

Karima Harris claimed a British W55 record after crossing the line with a chip time of 2:45:45 in a race where Berhane Tesfaye took the men’s event with 2:08:25 and Sharon Kiptugen the women’s in 2:23:19.

Harris, who was through the half-distance in 82:01, said: “I crossed the line within a few seconds of the gun time. I think it is a European record and just need to find another 20 seconds for the World Record.

 "It was cold which helped, a completely flat course, lovely crowds, not too busy at all and I clearly got my fuelling right and am absolutely delighted with the result."

COLCHESTER 10km, Essex, May 11

Overall: 1 D Williamson (Col H) 31:52; 2 P Coates (M40) 32:17; 3 A Mussett (Col H, M50) 32:39

M60: 1 C Ridley (Col H) 38:29

Women: 1 R Rising (W35) 38:39

DEREHAM 10, Norfolk, May 11

Overall: 1 J Skipper 53:50

M55: 1 T Mardell (R Next Sea) 61:50

Women: 1 K Vargeson (L Goat, W40) 63:18

W50: 1 C Wakefield 71:32

W60: 1 C Brown (Wym) 79:47

LEXICON BRACKNELL HALF-MARATHON, Berkshire, May 11

Sarah Gee, 61, won the women’s race overall in 86:45 and said: “It no longer appears on the Power of 10, so I knew it wasn't licensed and it's 200m elevation, plus very twisty and with lots of turns, with underpasses, so it’s not a fast course.

“It was a good training run and lovely to be first lady, but that won't be the case very often but it supports my local town, so happy about that, but I won’t do it again. It is good to have won it three times and good for the over 60s.”

Overall: 1 D Leahy (Brack F) 75:17

M50: 1 N Jeffs (RRC) 81:48

Women: 1 S Gee (Read RR, W60) 86:45

MARLOW 5, Buckinghamshire, May 11

Overall: 1 B Moore (WSEH) 24:37; 2 F Dyer 25:05; 3 J Lyne (Read RR) 25:34

M50: 1 A Lee 26:47

M70: 1 A Jones (Hazle) 33:32

Women: 1 L Wilkinson 27:25

W50: 1 H Pool (Read RR) 32:59

W55: 1 K Streams (Read RR) 31:13

RANELAGH HALF-MARATHON, Richmond, Surrey, May 11

Overall: 1 O Mills (Herne H) 71:25

M50: 1 S Shaw (ESM) 75:21; 2 N Tearle (G&G) 77:29

M55: 1 M Morris (Rane) 79:30; 2 T Webb (Kent) 79:36

Women: 1 L Bailey (Strag, W40) 80:12

W45: 1 M James (S Lon) 85:00

W60: 1 R Hutton (S Lon) 97:21

W70: 1 M Statham-Berry (Ling) 1:50:17

W75: 1 J Davies (E&E) 1:59:51

ROB BURROW LEEDS MARATHON & HALF, West Yorkshire, May 11

Overall (26.2M): 1 T Charles (Chorl, M40) 2:28;14; 2 M Abshir (Leeds) 2:29;29

Women: 1 M Gibson (Ealing E, W40) 2:42:17

Overall (13.1M): 1 J Cummins 68:36; 2 R Gardiner (Leeds U) 69:04; 3 A Rolland (Hyde P) 71:16

M60: 1 J Convery (Bing) 81:36

Women: 1 K Brown 79:33

RUN PLYMOUTH HALF-MARATHON, Devon, May 11

Overall: 1 J Landers (Tamar) 69:43; 2 J Hasson 70:02; 3 S McNerney 72:15

M50: 1 D Robinson (Plym) 79:27

M60: 1 G Bale (P’stock) 79:30

Women: 1 A Arnold (Plym) 81:27

W65: 1 A Engledew (Erme V) 1:50:26

SUNDERLAND HALF-MARATHON & 10km, Tyne & Wear, May 11

Over-55 Jackie Murdy won the women’s section of the half in 88:57.

Overall (13.1M): 1 M Watson (High) 69:04; 2 L Walshaw 71;18

M50: 1 W Pearson 80:00

Women: 1 J Murdy (S Shields, W55) 88:57

W60: 1 S Snook 1:41:45

Overall (10km): 1 L Gamble-Thompson (N Marske) 30:45; 2 L Aldridge 30:53; 3 D Richardson 32:03

M60: 1 I Norman 38:36

Women: 1 S Smith 36:26

W50: 1 W Chapman 39:23

W60: 1 P Ogilvie 44:12

READ MORE: Sunderland City Runs

LIBERATION DAY 7, Rousse, Guernsey, Channel Islands, May 9

Overall: 1 J Priest (Guern) 38:07; 2 E Woodhead Guern) 39:01; 3 M Jamieson (Guern, M45) 39:08

M55: 1 S Ingrouille (Guern) 42:00

Women: 1 L Sward 45:08

YORK 5km SERIES, North Yorkshire, May 9

Overall: 1 W Walker (York) 15:30

M65: 1 D L’Anson (St Ther) 19:23

Women: 1 B Penty (Knaves, W40) 17:20

W50: 1 V Braham (Nidd) 20;17

W60: 1 J Scott (Darl) 22:44

BEST SERIES 5km, Battersea Park, May 8

Following wins in the Serpentine 5km and Ted Pepper 10km, W60 Clare Elms gained her third successive overall women's victory in under a fortnight in 18:25, Steve Smythe reports.

Unfortunately, in a totally solo run, two dogs cut right across her in the final kilometre and brought her to a standstill almost certainly costing Elms a chance to challenge Fiona Matheson's UK age group best of 18:22 which she missed by three seconds.

Behind in second spot, reigning British Masters W55 champion at Indoor 800m, 1500m and cross-country champion Kate Ramsey ran 19:35.

Overall (5km): 1 B Chaplin (Stubb G) 16:26

Women: 1 C Elms (Kent, W60) 18:25; 2 K Ramsey (Charn, W55) 19:35

HEREFORD COURIERS 5km, May 7

Overall: 1 H White (Here, U20) 15:41

Women: 1 D Morris (Builth, W40) 17:22

W50: 1 T Brenton (L Goat) 20:42

NORTH EAST MASTERS OPEN ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, May 7

Sunderland Harriers led throughout the race that included the youngest men’s age groups after Steve Rankin had an 8:52 split, for the two-lapper, a time that then stood up as the fastest M40 time of the evening.

There was a quicker time behind as Gateshead’s James Nettleton’s 8:37 was the best among the M35s as his club were second overall.

Third placed Elswick finished off with Andrew Bell, whose 8:55 was quickest M45 time.

The first race of the evening had been for all of the women’s age groups and the over-65 men and Jenny Berry led them all home on the opening stage with an 8:59 time that was to stand up as the best among the women and her Wallsend club held on to be first women’s team home overall.

The second quickest women’s time was from Elswick’s Justina Heslop, with 10:11, just a few days after helping her club to the British masters W45 title at Mallory Park.

Men M35-M55

Men M35 (3x3km approx): 1 Sunderland 26:51 (S Rankin 8:52, M Barker 8:57, J Taylor 9:02); 2 Gateshead 26:53 (D Alexander 8:47, J Nettleton 8:37, P Grimoldby 9:29); 3 Elswick 27:14 (David Bell 9:04, Adam Bell 9:15, Andrew Bell 8:55)

Men M45 (3x3km approx): 1 Morpeth 29:04 (A Ball 9:33, J Butters 9:44, I Armstrong 9:47); 2 S Shields 30:00; 3 Houghton 30:44

Men M55 (3x3km approx): 1 Sunderland 31:47 (T Field 10:21, M Cherrington 10:47, P Collins 10:39); 2 Morpeth 31:48; 3 Jesmond 33:23

Fastest

M35: J Nettleton (Gate) 8:37. M40: Rankin 8:52. M45: David Bell 9:04. M50: M Anderson (Claremont) 9:38. M55: L Bennett (Morp) 10:06

M65 + & Women

M65 (3x3km approx): 1 Houghton 34:50 (S Barry 11:43, D Wallace 11:43, D Gribben 11:24); 2 Morpeth 36:57; 3 Ponteland 37:08

Fastest

M65: G Bayne (Morp) 11:13. M70: R Sill (Morp) 12:59. M75: J Mowatt (Crook) 15:40

Women W35 (3x3km approx): 1 Wallsend 31:42 (J Berry 8:59, L Wallace 1024, E James 11;19); 2 J&H 33:19; 3 Sunderland Strollers 33:44

Women W45 (3x3km approx): 1 South Shields 34:00 (J Murdy 10:57, K Snaith 11:53, K Beard-Foden 11;10); 2 Elswick 34:06; 3 Elswick B 37:19

Women W55 (3x3km approx): 1 Birtley 37:56 (J Turner 12:46, K Bentley 13:00, K Farquhar 12:10); 2 Gateshead 39:02; 3 Heaton 40:49

Fastest

W35: Berry 9:59. W40: Wallace 10:24. W45: J Heslop (Elsw) 10:11. W50: K Snaith (S Shields) 11:53. W55: W Chapman (Sund Str) 10:43. W60: A Kirtley (Gate) 12:27

EMGP SILVERSTONE 10km, Northamptonshire, May 6

Overall: 1 L Morgan (Kenil) 31:23; 2 W Beeston (Ton) 32:01

M50: 1 S Fenwick (Harb) 35:03

M55: 1 P West (Kett) 36:28

M60: 1 A Green (North Tri) 37:55

M75: 1 C Gibson 47:48

TEAM: 1 R&N) 2:13:13

M40 TEAM: 1 R&N 2:06:35

Women: 1 R Doherty (Higham, W35) 36:29

W45: 1 H Gibbs (Shenly) 38:27

W55: 1 T Derry 41:11

W65: 1 N Haggart (Bed H) 46:02

W75: 1 A Copson (R&N) 54:02

TEAM: 1 R&N 1:59:00

W35 TEAM: 1 R&N 2:24:01

LOWCA 10km, Whitehaven, Cumbria, May 6

Overall: 1 M Brown (Salf) 32:05

Women: 1 K Maltby (Border, W35) 35:50

RUN EXE SUMMER SERIES 5km, Exeter, Devon, May 6

Ollie Thorogood won overall it 15:18 but, deeper in the field Claudine Benstead improved the Chip only W65 all-time best to 20:01 but her gun time of 21:04 was well outside Lynn Higgins 2019 mark of 20:05.

Overall: 1 O Thorogood (SWRR) 15:18

M60: 1 P Monaghan 18:12

M65: 1 R Drage (Tav) 18:26

M70: 1 J Shapland (Bide) 22:04

Women: 1 C Walker (Tav, U20) 17:51

W50: 1 E Mossop (Corn) 21:11

W65: 1 C Benstead (Oke) 21:04