IT COULD not have been more appropriate that Simon Nott and Denise Grech were crowned Wiltshire champions after their success in the Corsham St Georges Day 10k on Sunday.

The fact that they are both heavily involved in Calne Running Club – Denise is women’s captain and Simon is chairman - is reason enough, but what is even more worthy of celebration is that their pair are engaged to marry later this year.

“It is great for the club that both Denise and I won the Wiltshire titles,” said Nott.

“She is my partner and we will be getting married later in the year but don’t have a date yet. We also both love the club and put a lot of time into it.”

Nott’s victory was never in any doubt as he dominated the race from virtually gun to tape, clocking a time of 32mins 52secs to finish 28 seconds clear of Avon Valley Runners’ Michael Tower with another AVR member, Rich Ayling, third.

“I got clear after about one mile and was not aware of anyone behind me after that,” added Nott.

“I was not close to my personal best (of 31:10 set two years ago in Calne) but it was a solid time and the most important thing for me at the moment is to run injury free so I can kick on and run 31 minutes something in the Bristol 10k next month.”

Grech was fourth woman in the race that boasted a phenomenal 948 finishers but the three ahead of her – the Team Bath AC trio of Lizzie Wraith, Jenny Carter and Elidh Prise – are all Avon athletes so didn’t count towards the Wiltshire prizes.

“Denise was so pleased to win the county title while I took a lot of positives out of it as well,” said Nott.

As for the race itself Nott, who successfully retained his title, said it is one of the success stories of Wiltshire athletics.

“It was a very strong race and a massive field,” he explained. “I am not entirely sure why it is so popular because the course is not particularly fast but I would say it is very well organised and the atmosphere there is brilliant.

“I guess it is a culmination of those factors and an increased interest in the race over the year. It is a terrific event and great to have a race of that size in Wiltshire.”

Corsham Running Club’s Damian Hall was fourth and first veteran while Chippenham’s 17-year-old Cameron Perkins marked his first 10k with seventh and the first junior prize.

Corsham 10k – Men: 1 Simon Nott (CRC) 32:52; 2 Michael Towler (AVR) 33:20; 3 Rich Ayling (AVR) 33:32; 4 Damian Hall (Corsham RC, M40) 34:29; 5 James Donald (TBAC) 34:33; 6 Will Peppercorn (TBAC) 34:58; 7 Cameron Perkins (TBAC, U20 1st 35:08. 

Women: 1 Lizzie Wraith (TBAC) 38:17; 2 Jenny Carter (TBAC, W40) 39:36; 3 Elidh Prise (TBAC) 39:51; 4 Denise Grech (Calne RC, W45) 40:33; 5 Jo Clayton (TBAC, W40) 41:01; 5 Samantha Kelly (RWBH, W40) 41:53; 6 Anita Mellowdew (AVR, W45) 42:53.