Runners-up spot for Gould at the Sphinx Summer 5

In muggy conditions, Stephen Page was fourth in 27min 34sec, with Connor Carson (28:01) fifth, Kev Hope (28:14) seventh and Stanley Doxey (29:05) eighth to claim the first men’s team prize.

Hope won the M35 prize while Dave Pettifer was first V65 in 33:52, climbing to second in the UK rankings for the distance in 2016.

However, it was Phil Gould who was the highest placed local athlete, with the Leamington C&AC runner coming second in 27:22 behind Coventry Godiva’s Ali Smith (26:59).

Fellow C&AC athlete Paul Okey clocked a PB of 32:04 to come in 40th, with Andrew Higgins 63rd in 33:50.

Paul Edwards (29:54) and Steve Taylor (30:09) ran a close race for first Spa Strider bragging rights, with Chris McKeown (30:21) chasing them down.

Adam Notley (30:43), Dan Stannard (30:44) and Dan Fleming (31:33) all had excellent races to complete the six counters for the team competition.

For the ladies, Leamington C&AC’s Natalie Bhangal maintained her good form to take first place with a time of 31:30 (31st overall).

Kenilworth Runners’ Laura Pettifer ran a new PB of 33:10 to finish third lady, making up the winning ladies’ team alongside Esther Illman (34:04) and Louise Andrews (34:53).

Mel Venables (33:29) led home Striders’ ladies, taking fourth position overall, with Jennie Hawkins (34:13) and Laura Peake (34:14) pushing each other right to the line.

Fiona Ferguson (34:58) completed the team counters.

Prior to the adult race a number of the Kenilworth Runners’ youth section ran in an under-15 race, with Billy Doxey coming away with first place.

Leamington C&AC’s Mel Gould was third overall and first female.