THERE is little doubt that Wiltshire athlete Ruth Barnes’ victory in the South West Cross Country Championship was the best of her career, writes Kevin Fahey.

Ever since linking up with coach Steve Williams in 2015, he has been encouraging her to broaden her horizons and test herself at a higher level – because Williams knew how good she could be.

“That was a terrific run and I am very proud of her,” said Williams, whose encouraging shouts could be heard across Exeter Race Course, where the event was being held for the first time.

Barnes, who lives in Bradford on Avon and is a member of Avon Valley Runners, certainly did that in 2016 as she set personal bests at 5k, 10k, 10 miles and half-marathon.

But on Sunday, she showed that not only can she clock fast times but also race as she came out on top after a terrific duel with rising Cornwall star Eleanor Davis, who has already won international honours on the road and is 10 years Barnes’ junior.

The pair traded blows over the two laps, swapping the lead frequently before Barnes made the winning move in the final mile to secure the biggest win of her career.

“I am delighted with that,” said Barnes.

“When I saw Eleanor on the start line, I thought I would have to let her go. She moved in front of me on the downhill section but I got ahead of her on the hills.

"On the second lap, that is where I made my move and opened a gap, which I just managed to hold until the end.

“To be honest, I was thinking that, any second, she would come by me in that final half-mile but I held on and it is great to win this title.

“It is the best race I have won and I really enjoyed it.”

It wasn’t the only medal that Barnes won on Sunday as she also led the AVR squad of Jo Mumford, Jill Westwood and Diane Hier to third place in the club team event and there were also a set of bronze medals for the Wiltshire women’s squad of Chippenham Harriers’ Eilidh Bell, who finished an excellent sixth, Michelle Maxwell (Chippenham) and Denise Nott (Calne Running Club).

“It has been a good day,” added Barnes.

Hopefully, it also marks the start of another big year for Barnes as she pushes herself harder than she has ever done before.

Unusually for Wiltshire, her gold was their only individual medal of a competitive day’s racing from the biggest entry in recent years at the regional event.

But in the county team competition, there was a terrific victory for Wiltshire’s U13 girls’ team of Freya Buglass, (AVR), Imogen Tanner (IIF Sals), Orli Cranston (AVR) and Lavinia Rai (Swindon Harriers), all of whom finished in the top 20.

There was also a set of bronze medals for the U17 women’s squad of Caroline Brenchley, Jade Littlechild, Caitlin Wosika and Lucy Fitzpatrick, all of whom are members of Team Bath AC.

Top Wiltshire runner in the senior men’s race was Calne Runnning Club’s Simon Nott, who worked hard to secure 13th place, while AVR’s Rich Ayling also made the top 20. In the veterans’ age group categories, there was a bronze medal for Phil Harding of AVR.