RUTH Barnes smashed her own course record and came close to pulling off an astonishing victory in the 24th Stickler event in Dorset last weekend.

The Avon Valley Runners’ international road runner carved 43 seconds from the record she set two years ago as she finished second of the 544 runners and just 22 seconds behind winner Edward Rees of Clapham Chasers.

Coach Steve Williams said: "It was a terrific run by Ruth and with the 10.1 miles course including 1500 feet of climbing it shows she is strong.

“Unfortunately, she had to pull out of the Great South 10 the week before as she was ill, but she has clearly recovered and will now run the Bideford 10 in Devon next week to see what sort of time she can get for the distance.”

To finish so high up in a mixed race was an impressive achievement for Barnes and her dominance was emphasised by the fact that she was over 10 minutes clear of her nearest female rival.

Back in Wiltshire, Westbury-based runner Thomas Davies, from Team Bath AC, won the Calne Clock Challenge 10k in 35 minutes flat, his fastest time of the year.

Beijing Olympic modern pentathlon silver medallist Heather Fell claimed the women’s prize, clocking a PB of 37mins 27secs.