runbritain grand prix takes Rees to World Masters' 10k record

While some athletes found the mild  and occasionally breezy conditions challenging, there will be many more who celebrate lower handicap scores and good form after more than 9000 runners completed the second race in the runbritain Grand Prix at the Bristol  10k on Sunday 5th May.

Frank Tickner (Wells City) set the early pace, but was reeled in later in the race by three athletes as he faded. It was one of the other pre-race favourites, Dave Webb (Leeds)  who used his experience to sail ahead and take top honours in a modest 30:05. Vale of Aylesbury athlete, Anuradhapura Cooray and Martin Williams (Tipton) followed with young Carl Smith from Leeds in 5th position.

It may be that those behind drafted more effectively as time were far more impressive for other category
winners.

Martin Rees (Les Croupiers) today showed that retirement is suiting his running form as he showed blistering form for a 60 year old finishing in a world best time of 32:54 !

The Grand Prix standings for men can be found here.

The women's race saw a trio of top drawer athletes contesting the win, but it was Charnwood's Gemma Steel who had the form of the day to slice a massive margin from the course record (and .6 from her handicap score) with a finishing time of 32:15, ahead by 6 seconds from Selem Abere with the Coventry athlete Katrina Wootton third in 32:23.
Emma Clayton (Bingley) also achieved a personal best (and knocked .6 from her handicap score) with 33:49 just ahead of the massively experienced Andrea Whitcombe (Swansea) in 33:56.  Wales had other celebrations with Sarah Livett (Menai) taking the Junior prize in 37:17.

The women's Grand Prix results are here with Samantha Amend leading the charge after running both the Mizuno Reading Half Marathon (first event in the Grand Prix) and the Bristol 10k.

The best four scores from the six available races count at the end of the series so anything could happen from here!

Did you make it onto the scoreboard?