Top west marathon runner Dan Robinson was delighted with his return to action as he finished top Brit in the BUPA Great North Run.

In his first competition since finishing 24th in the marathon in the Olympics the Stroud & District AC runner came 13th in the half marathon from Newcastle to South Shields, covering the 13.1 miles in 64mins 10secs.

"That is my third-fastest time and I have to be satisfied with that coming just 5-6 weeks after the Olympics since when I took a rest and Jasper was born," said Robinson. "It is a good step back for me and something to build upon."

Robinson will now run the National 6-Stage Road relays in two weeks time followed by the Great South Run.

"I will then look towards doing another marathon in the spring," added Robinson.

Also making a return to racing after injury was Swindon's former British international Matt O'Dowd, who finished just behind Robinson in 16th.

In the mile road race Cheltenham & District AC junior James Brewer finished 10th in a time of 4mins 19.0secs. Brewer, who got a late entry into the event to launch his winter campaign, finished fourth British athlete and was only one second adrift of top British 1,500m runner Nick McCormick.

In the women's two miles road Cheltenham junior international Emily Pidgeon came 10th in a time of 10mins 46secs.

Wells City Harriers' Alice Hector won the women's race in the Burnham-on-Sea half marathon, finishing over a minute clear of Bournemouth's Dawn Broom.

Sherborne-based Royal Marine Mark Goodridge proved too strong for training partner Allan Jones as he marked his debut in the event with victory.

"It was my first half marathon in a while so I was pleased with that," said Goodridge.

Winner of the Plymouth Autumn Trial the week before, Torbay's Kairn Stone made it two victories in seven days as he proved too strong for Tom Merson in the Brixham 10k.

Bath-based veteran Mick O'Doherty showed he still knows how to win a race with an impressive victory over in-form Tom Fisher in the Marshfield Mudlark muti-terrain race.