CALNE’S Simon Nott was pleased to warm-up for national cross country competition by triumphing at last weekend’s Devizes 10K. The 20-year-old will be donning his Wiltshire kit at the UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships at Cofton Park, Birmingham, on Saturday, but on flatter ground, he tasted victory in only his second local race of the year.

Nott, who also won last month’s Wiltshire 10, finished almost four minutes ahead of nearest competitor Richard Grieve as he crossed the line in 33 minutes and 14 seconds.

The Calne Running Club member is pleased with his form after taking a break from competition at the turn of the year.

“I haven’t competed too much this year because I’ve had a bit of a break to recover physiologically,” said Nott.

“Sometimes you spend all your time getting ready for a race and the week after it, you’re really tired mentally.

“It becomes a bit of a cycle and you’re just concentrating on races, rather than improving.

“I was surprised to win the Wiltshire 10 race a few weeks ago and even though my time wasn’t the best last weekend, I couldn’t be unhappy about winning.

“It was an important training race for the Inter- Counties this weekend.”

Devizes’ Billy Dyer, who represented Great Britain at last year’s World Age Group Long Distance Triathlon Championships in France, excelled at his local race as he won the men’s V40 category (39:45).

“The course was a lot tougher this year because they’d added a few more climbs – I was happy with how I did,” said Dyer, who is also the chairman of Devizes Town Cycling Club.

“I’m hoping to try and compete in the Ironman Wales, which is in Tenby, in September, but I like to support local events too.”

Chippenham Harriers’ Steve Bollen and Derek Whiting also competed, finishing in 47:47 and 52:07 respectively.

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