Wiltshire Race League #12
Two hundred and fifty runners lined up on the edge of the New Forest for the Downton Half Marathon which was hosting the final race in the inaugural Wiltshire Road Race League, that started back in February with the Longleat 10K.
Stamping his mark on the race from the start and making short work of the hilly and somewhat wet course was Stuart Leaney of Chippenham Harriers whose winning time of 1:13:41 was over three minutes clear of second place Nigel Rackham of London based Metros Running Club. In fourth place, Ben Brewster of Salisbury A&RC was the second Wiltshire affiliated athlete home but it was Avon Valley Runners who took maximum points with the League’s top-scorer Joby Hobbs leading the way for the Trowbridge based club.
In the Ladies race Mel Varvel of VO Two took victory in 1:28:08 but again it was Avon Valley Runners who grouped well to secure League victory by taking points ahead of Chippenham Harriers and Salisbury A&RC.
As well as deciding the final Wiltshire Road Race League standings, the leading individual points scorers were determined:
| Joby Hobbs | Avon Valley Runners | SEN | 1050 |
| Tom Smith | Chippenham Harriers | V50 | 896 |
| Richard Morgetroyd | Avon Valley Runners | V40 | 882 |
| Bernie Hobbs | Avon Valley Runners | V60 | 502 |
| Sue Stewart-Tanner | Chippenham Harriers | V50 | 1025 |
| Fiona Price | Avon Valley Runners | V40 | 885 |
| Michelle Maxwell | Chippenham Harriers | SEN | 593 |
| Rosemary Barber | Avon Valley Runners | V60 | 258 |
The Wiltshire Road Race League sponsored by Newsquest International will return in 2013 with the Longleat 10K on February 3rd. Wiltshire Race League tables can be found here.
