MICHAEL Towler was Wiltshire’s leading runner in the prestigious Bristol 10k on Sunday, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 25-year-old member of Avon Valley Runners also shaved seven seconds off his two-year-old personal best with a time of 32 minutes 46 seconds for 42nd place in a field of almost 10,000 runners.

In just his second-ever race, Chippenham Harriers’ newcomer Ben Smart also broke his personal best.

Smart, who lives in Chippenham, clocked a time of 41:09 to carve almost a minute off the time he recorded when making his debut at the Corsham race last month.

“I am delighted with that,” said Smart.

He was also the first Harrier man to cross the line. Leading local woman was Ruth Barnes of Avon Valley Runners, who finished 11th in a 36:03, which shaved five seconds off her two-year-old best set in the Bromham Pudding Run.

IN-FORM Eleanor Webster followed up her Wiltshire record with another excellent performance in the second Youth Development Meeting at the University of Bath.

Webster, who lives in the village of Alderton near Malmesbury, won the U13 girls’ 800m in a time of winning time of 2:26.7 to clip 0.17 seconds off the time she set just the previous week.

On that occasion victory earned Webster not only the county title but also eclipsed a 21-year-old record and reinforces her place at the top of the South West rankings.

Another county winner for Team Bath was Hilperton’s Rory Howorth as he dominated the U15 boys 1,500m with a time of 4:23.7.

John of Gaunt School student Hayden Bailey took a break from middle distance races to win the U15 boys 300m in 39.7.

CHIPPENHAM sprinter Elaine O’Neill clocked 12.25 in the 100m at the Bedford International Games while former Hardenhuish School student Loren Bleaken clocked a season’s best of 55.89 in the 400m.