Goodhead sets personal best in Stroud half marathon

Bristol & West AC's Kate Goodhead smashed her personal best to finish an excellent second in Sunday's Stroud half marathon.

The 24-year-old Great Britain international split the highly-fancied African runners on a damp, windy day that was hardly conducive to fast times, and afterwards said she was delighted with the result.

"While I was hoping to get close to 75 minutes, the conditions weren't helpful, so I am really pleased with that result," said Goodhead.

"I ran very hard and didn't have much left at the finish, so I clearly need to work on those last few miles – but I can't complain."

Goodhead's time of 77mins 49secs carved 1 minute 47seconds off the time she ran over the same course last year when she finished fourth.

Just behind Goodhead there was another excellent performance from Westbury Harriers' Emma D'Alton, who for the second time in seven days bettered her PB by carving a huge 2mins 40secs off the time she recorded when winning the Salisbury event.

"I'm really thrilled with that run," said D'Alton.

The men's race saw a repeat of last year's result, with Medway & Mainstone's Neil Renault holding off a strong African challenge to retain his title in a time of 66mins 06secs; 41 seconds slower than twelve months ago.

The top local runner was Bristol & West AC's Tom Russell, who ran a PB of 68mins 25secs to claim fifth, although he was slowed down by a stitch.

There were also personal bests for the Portishead Running Club pair of Matt and Laura Croker, with 89:15 and 90:17 respectively.

● Claire Hallissey finished top British runner in the BUPA Great South Run 10-mile race, which again delivered some top-class performances despite the blustery conditions.

"At the halfway point I was on for around 54 minutes, which was my target in ideal conditions, but the last two miles were into a strong headwind so the final 5k split was very slow," said the Bristol & West AC runner, who finished as seventh woman in 55mins 46secs.

That time is her best in a 10-mile race but Great Britain international Hallissey has run a quicker split time in a half marathon.

● A low-key turn-out for the South West Cross Country Relays meant the Bristol & West AC quartet of Dan Woolford, Tom Merson, Rich Peters and Nathan Young cruised to victory from their own B team.

● Luke Jacobs continued his recent good form to finish third in the Birmingham Cross Challenge with Bristol & West club-mate Zac Tobias sixth. In the Under-13 girls' race Westbury Harriers' Poppy Thompson finished seventh.

●Clevedon AC's Julian Emery won the inaugural Easy Runner Bristol off-road duathlon staged in Ashton Court.

Emery took out the men's race with two storming runs, leaving the field in his wake to stride home well clear of the rest inside two hours. Westbury Harriers' Robyn Golding romped to victory in the women's event finishing fifth overall.

Team Bath AC's Great Britain international Holly Rush clocked 2hrs 37mins 46secs – just 11 seconds outside her personal best – to finish 15th in the Frankfurt marathon.

● Portishead Running Club's Steve James set a new personal best and club record of 2:58.47 in the recent Abingdon Marathon.

● The next Bridge Inn 5k road race will be held tonight (7.30pm) from the pub of the same name in Shortwood, with entries taken on the night.