THE spring is back in Eilidh Bell’s step after a terrific seven days on the roads.

Chippenham-based runner Bell shook off the disappointment in the Bath half marathon last month as she has clocked back-to-back personal bests.

On Sunday, Bell raced to a superb victory in the Paddock Wood half marathon, in Kent, clipping 31 seconds off her personal best with a time of 79mins 00secs.

That earned her victory by more than three minutes and followed her PB of 36:41 set in the Cardiff 10k the previous weekend.

“Paddock Wood was a much better run than in Bath, so I was pleased with that, although slightly annoyed I didn’t get a time of 78 minutes,” said Bell.

“I saw the clock at the finish and tried sprinting, but it just wasn’t enough. But coming on top of the run in Cardiff it shows I am getting faster.”

Bell’s latest PB lifts her to fourth on the South West rankings for 2019 on top of fifth in the 10k lists. She is number one in Wiltshire for both distances.

RORY Howorth swapped his spikes for a clipboard last weekend as he took on the duties of meeting director for the Team Bath Minors Open meeting.

The 16-year-old from Hilperton volunteered to help resurrect the meeting for U13 and U11 athletes as part of his academic studies at St Augustine’s.

“It has been several years since the club has run such an event and we were not sure just what interest there would be, but our concerns were unwarranted,” said Howorth.

“The event was a huge success attracting just shy of 100 athletes, many of whom had never taken part in formal competition before.”

Among the highlights was victory for Chester Barrage in the U11 boys’ 75m race in 11.5 seconds, and the quickest in the U11 girls’ 75m was Gertie Blewitt in 11.4secs, both from Team Bath.

In the U13 boys’ 800m, the quickest time came from Team Bath’s Alex Hearn in 2:31.6.

Twins Sophie and Emily Jones had a good battle in the U13 girls’ 800m, with Sophie just taking victory in 2:42.3.

Alannah Heneghan, from Team Bath, had an outstanding performance in the high jump, clearing 1.35m.

Jorja Tucker, from Team Bath, threw 19.20m in the U13 girls’ javelin, and club-mate Daragh Keane won the U13 boys’ javelin with a throw of 22.57m.