Eight hundred runners lined up for the Longleat 10K organised by 2:09 Events. The Race marked the start of the 2013 Wiltshire Road Race League and so the local club entry was high. Ewen Malloch of Team Bath and Michael Towler of Avon Valley Runners made the early running and by halfway had a significant lead over the rest of the field. However on the final climb at 8K out of Horningsham village the Team Bath athlete took the lead and despite a spirited charge by Towler down the Lodge Drive to the finish outside of Longleat House he held on to win by a two second margin with 34:47. In the Ladies race it was Ruth Barnes of Avon Valley Runners who dominated, clocking 37:21 on the hilly course and taking victory by over a minute from Lucy Richens of Westbury Harriers.
With five runners in the top-20 and good results by their Ladies it was Avon Valley Runners who claimed the maximum League Points just ahead of Team Bath ‘A’. Frome Running Club find themselves heading the Second Division table ahead of Slinn Allstars ‘B’.
The next event in the Wiltshire Race League is the Devizes 10K on 3rd March.
The Wiltshire Race League tables can be found here