Runners were Back in a Flash (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Runners were Back in a Flash

1:02pm Wednesday 10th September 2008 in Swindon By Raeanne Nightingale

Over 200 runners turned up for the 1st staging of the Back in a Flash 5km run at Coate Water Country Park.

Race organisers Steve and Julie Goulding were pleased with the turn out for the event last Wednesday on what proved to be a cool and blustery evening.

The race attracted local club runners along with a host of first timers tackling their first ever race.

Competition was fierce between Swindon Harriers, Swindon Striders and Highworth, with the Striders coming out on top by clinching both the men's and the ladies team prizes.

The course started inside Coate Water Country Park, with the runners following a footpath out of the park onto the cycle track (route 45) towards Chiseldon.

After a mile they then had to tackle the locally known 'whirly bridge' over the M4.

This was then followed by a slight upward gradient to the halfway point where they then turned a 360 degree turn to retrace their steps back to the finish.

Local runner Gary O'Brien made his intentions known right from the start by taking the early lead and was never seriously challenged, coming home in a winning time of 17 minutes.

The race for second and third was more hotly contested with only 14 seconds separating Gavin Fisher and Andrew Ind.

First Lady, Fiona King finished in the top 20 overall in a superb time of 19.38, 50 secs ahead of second place, Natalie Burke.

Swindon Strider Carole Phillips finished 3rd and also claimed first lady over 45 in a time of 20.51.

After the event the prize giving was held in the Sun Inn.

Run Swindon donated a Garmin Sports watch which was raffled at the prize giving.

Roll of honour

• 1st Male - Gary O'Brien- Swindon Harriers 17.00
  
• 2nd Male - Gavin Fisher- FRA 17.34
  
• 3rd Male - Andrew Ind- Marlborough RC 17.48
  
  
• 1st Female - Fiona King- Australian Defence AC 19.38
  
• 2nd Female - Natalie Burke- Team Bath AC 20.30
  
• 3rd Female - Carole Phillips - Swindon Striders - 20.51
  
  
• Male Vet 40 - Gavin Fisher- FRA 17.34
  
• Male Vet 50 - Steve Cook- Unattached 19.33
  
• Male Vet 60 - John Townsend - Swindon Harriers- 26.28
  
  
• Female Vet 35 - Fiona King- Australian Defence AC 19.38
  
• Female Vet 45 - Carole Philips - Swindon Striders - 20.51
  
• Female Vet 55 - Miriam Mitchell - Team Bath - 24.20
  
  Swindon Striders took the 1st male team prize and Swindon Striders also won the Ladies Team