DEVIZES Running Club chairman Simon Gilbert was confirmed as the male open champion in the 2016 Wiltshire Road Race League, sponsored by Newsquest, on Sunday following the final fixture of the season – the 10k Calne Clock Change Challenge.

Fellow member Alistair Bisatt won the V50 trophy for the most points in his age category of 50 to 59 year-olds.

Bisatt said: “I’m obviously really happy to win the trophy. It’s good the way running gives you a way to compete and have goals whatever your age. Every year you just try not to get slower.

“Having the support of the club in training is a big help. When you know there’ll always be someone there to run with on a Tuesday or Thursday.

“Because you can run with such a range of abilities there’s always someone to encourage you or push you to try harder.”

Gilbert said: “The club has really improved the training and coaching over the last 12 months, which has contributed to my results and the club’s as a whole.

“Members are benefitting from a series of free coaching sessions with an England Athletics coach, one of only 30 clubs in the country to be awarded the privilege. We also have a weekly structured training session organised by our volunteer club coach Damion Godwin.

“This increased amount of dedicated coaching has been highlighted by our two individual awards and Devizes Running Club finishing fourth in the First Division behind strong Chippenham Harriers and Avon Valley Runners teams, both with much larger club memberships.

“My goal was to win the Wiltshire Road Race League, so to achieve it is an amazing achievement for myself and the club.”

Club membership has grown substantially in the last two years and one of the major contributing factors is the popular annual Sofa to 5k course, which in 2016 attracted more than 70 entrants.

Many of the participants have since completed half-marathons and even more have participated in 10k races, all helping the club’s success in the Wiltshire Road Race League.

The next Sofa to 5k course, which is coached by Devizes Running Club’s qualified Run England Leaders in Running Fitness, starts in January 2017.

Visit www.devizesrunningclub.co.uk for more information.