Simkiss is back to his best at Godiva Autumnal 5

Recent improvements to the park have allowed the race to utilise a two-and-a-half lap course entirely within the confines of the park.

It remains undulating, but with favourable late summer conditions, it offered an excellent opportunity for some fast times and personal bests.

Rich Simkiss was the first Kenilworth Runner home, finishing an excellent fifth with a new personal best of 26min 30sec - two seconds quicker than his previous mark.

Jim Sawle finished eighth and was the first V35 finisher, taking 51 seconds off his previous PB in 27:41.

Matthew Kingston-Lee was the third Kenilworth Runner home in 12th place, with his watch time of 28:19 putting him a second inside his previous PB set back in 2000, but the official gun time frustratingly placing him one second outside.

He came home ahead of Paddy Roddy who was the first under-20 finisher in 28:49.

Pete Matthews was the next to finish with a fine new PB of 30:38.

There were also new PBs for Steve Ramus (32:42), Gary Dilnot (37:33), Richard Miller and Stephen Payne (42:14).

Nardia Poole was the first Kenilworth lady and ninth female overall in 32:21.

She was followed by Imogen Peace, who was the 11th lady in a new PB of 33:08, and Ros Matthews, (35:47, PB).

Sara Habib (36:59) won the award for comedy finish of the evening, misjudging the actual line and coming to a halt on at least two occasions before finally being urged past the correct finish marker.

Trevor Wilkinson headed the strong Striders contingent in 30:00 for 26th place and 1st M45.

Wife Carolyn was second F35 in 31:41, while Paul Edwards (31:57), Justin Mallard (32:46) and Ben Parkinson (32:54) all recorded PBs.

Spa Striders finishers: Jo Kirby (33:14),; Melissa Venables (33:20); Hartwig Busch (33:22); Caroline Whitehouse (36:20); Sue Cox (37:00); Alex Zoro (37:18); Fiona Ferguson (37:19); Gary Perkins (42:53); Sandra Stokes (43:05).

Kenilworth Runners finishers: 5, Rich Simkiss (26:30); 8, Jim Sawle (27:41); 12, Matthew Kingston-Lee (28:21); 15, Paddy Roddy (28:49); 34, Pete Matthews (30:38); 42, Roger Homes (31:06); 44, Richard Steel (31:32); 51, Mick Williams (31:59); 58, Nardia Poole (32:21); 61, Steve Ramus (32:42); 69, Imogen Peace (33:08); 78, Jimmy Atkins (33:53); 82, David Pettifer (34:07); 105, Ros Matthews (35:47); 112, Neil Smith (36:21); 118, Sara Habib (36:59); 128, Sally Hicks (37:32); 129, Gary Dilnot (37:33); 173, Richard Miller (42:14); 174, Stephen Payne (42:14).

Simkiss had previously finished seventh in a high quality field at the Rowheath 5k race, which incorporated the Warwickshire County AA 5k Championships and the seventh round of the Warwickshire Road Race League.

Simkiss ran superbly to record a new non-parkrun PB of 16:06.

Will Johnson led the Spa Striders contingent home in 19:04, with team-mate Carolyn Wilkinson first F35 in 19:17.

Jo Kirby (20:01), Ben Parkinson (20:09), Melissa Venables (20:30, 2nd F35), Hartwig Busch (20:40), Nadine Lee (21:07), Caroline Whitehouse (22:09) and Sue Cox 22:13 completed the Striders contingent.

Kenilworth Runners finishers: 7, Rich Simkiss (16:06); 14, Phil McCorquodale (16:39); 27, Matthew Kingston-Lee (17:46); 44, Richard Steel (18:48); 50, Pete Matthews (18:57); 53, Roger Homes (19:01); 63, Stephen Page (19:32); 64, Mick Williams (19:33); 115, Gary Morgan (21:41); 126, Ros Matthews (21:56); 136, Neil Smith (22:28); 141, Gary Dilnot (22:50).

Kenilworth Runners’ Laurence Copeland headed to the small village of Moulton on the outskirts of Northampton to take part in the Northampton Road Runners Moulton 10k.

In a race won in 34:49 by Danson Njoka of Northampton Road Runners, Copeland ran well to finish 188th in 57:38.

Kenilworth Runners’ Pete Bryan produced his second fastest 5k at Coventry parkrun to finish second in 17:52.

There was aslo a new PB for team-mate David Pettifer, who clocked an excellent 21:06.

2, Pete Bryan (17:52); 10, Phil Fusi (18:28); 15, Mick Williams (18:54); 18, Clive Pearce (19:15); 31, David Pettifer (21:06); 53, Colin Underhill (22:11).

At Leamington parkrun event 71, Spa Striders’ Mark Urbanowski was first in 18:22 with Leamington C&AC’s Monica Williamson leading the women back in 20:19.

Stephen Page was the only Kenilworth Runner taking part, finishing sixth in 19:36.

Selected other: Gary Perkins (Spa Striders) 25:57.