TEAM Bath’s Ewen Malloch claimed the Longleat 10k race as the 2013 Wiltshire Road Race League got under way on Sunday.

More than 800 runners lined up for the event, which marked the first event in the 12-round league series, which is being sponsored by Newsquest, publisher of the Gazette & Herald and Wiltshire Times.

Malloch and Michael Towler, of Avon Valley Runners, made the early running and by halfway had a significant lead over the rest of the field.

On the final climb out of Horningsham village, Malloch took the lead and despite a spirited charge by Towler down to the finish outside Longleat House, held on to win by two seconds in 34 minutes 47 seconds.

In the ladies’ race, Ruth Barnes, of Avon Valley Runners, dominated, clocking 37:21 on the hilly course and taking victory by more than a minute from Lucy Richens, of Westbury Harriers.

With five runners in the top 20 and good results by their ladies, Avon Valley Runners claimed maximum league Points, just ahead of Swindon’s Slinn Allstars A.

League newcomers Frome Running Club declared their statement of intent on gaining early promotion by heading the second division ahead of Slinn Allstars B.

The next event in the Wiltshire Race League is the Devizes 10K on March 3.

Full league tables are available at wiltshire-athletics.org.uk.

SPORTS NEWS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport