DAVID Bell of Cirencester AC won the 9BAR Chilly 10k and Duathlon at the Castle Combe season-ending event.

From the off, the pace was furious with 17-year-old Jake Smith of Exeter Harriers heading David Bell of Cirencester AC. At the end of the second lap Bell pushed into a lead he would not relinquish and he came home to take the win in a time of 32:51 minutes with Smith back in second finishing in 33:20. Third home was Chris Lucas of Reading Roadrunners in 35:14.

The ladies race was taken by Elizabeth Smith of Westbury Harriers in a time of 40:34, winning by almost two minutes from Hannah Welham 42:14 and Leah Baker 43:27.

The even doubled as a duathlon which saw competitors take part in a two mile run, a 10 mile bike and a final two mile run.

The race saw Brett Halliwell of Kingswood Tri take an early lead after a scintillating first run of 9:31, with Alan Murchinson (Winchester and District AC) and Luke Pollard next in to transition. Last year’s winner and local athlete James Coleman (Enve/One Poll) came through fourth up.

The bike section saw Murchinson and Pollard catch Halliwell, with Murchinson opening up a 13 second lead as they headed out on to the final run, Pollard was in hot pursuit.

As the race entered its closing stages Pollard was closing rapidly, but the finish line came just too soon for him with Murchinson taking the win by just two seconds from Pollard with Halliwell a further 22 seconds back.

The ladies race wasn’t quite as close with Grace France of BAD Tri dominating proceedings thanks to a phenomenal bike split of 24 minutes. She took the win ahead of Wendy Nichols (Kinetic-One) and Frances Bromley (University of Bath).

As well as incorporating a 10k and Duathlon it was also the British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) Duathlon championships, which saw 700 students from all over the British Isles racing for the honour of their university.

The BUCS Duathlon saw some of the country’s finest talent on display, with Sam Dickinson (Leeds University) taking the men’s title.

Molly Patch (University of Birmingham) won the women’s race