Wendy Nicholls spearheads a strong Gloucestershire women's squad for the England Athletics South West Inter Counties 10k Championships on Sunday.

Stanley Park, Chippenham, is the venue for the event at which teams from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire will be in attendance and British international Nicholls will start hot favourite to win the women's encounter.

"I feel I am running into good form and I'm looking forward to this event," said Nicholls, who runs for Cirencester. "Hopefully Amy Chalk (Wiltshire) will be there as that will make it a good race."

Chalk, who actually lives on the course, said she will have a fitness test after suffering a calf niggle.

Torbay runner Kairn Stone will start favourite for the men's race although in-form Exmouth-based athlete Tom Merson will be a threat.

One of the biggest multi terrain races in the West will see over 1,000 runners descend on south Gloucestershire tomorrow for the award-winning Easy Runner Sodbury Slog.

For the past two years the event has been voted the second best in the country by readers of Runners' World magazine and its popularity is reflected in the fact that organiser Gordon Robbins could have taken 2,000 entries for this years' event.

"We have a limit of 1300 and that was reached in September," said Robbins.

"Since then I have literally turned down hundreds of entries. I am determined not to go beyond 1300 as this event is all about giving value for money and ensuring everyone has a good time."

This year's race looks wide open with ex-Bristol University student Richard Williams, winner in 2006 and 2004, not entered.

Bath University hosts the second Gwent Cross Country League race tomorrow starting at 11.30am with the novice boys and ending with the senior men at 2.30pm. For the complete timetable and course details see the website at: www.gwent-league.org.uk

Entries for today's Cheddar half marathon from the Kings of Wessex School (1.30pm) are closed.