NORMAL service was resumed as Kiya Dee returned to winning ways in the penultimate fixture of the Gloucestershire Cross Country League.

The previous week, Dee – who competes for Highworth Running Club – suffered a rare, if not unexpected, defeat in the intermediate girls’ age group race at the South West Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

Being a year older, Wiltshire ace Bea Wood beat her on that occasion and there was certainly no shame at all in finishing runner-up.

But back amongst her peers in Sunday’s race around a sodden course at Pitville Park, Dee notched up win number 13 this season as she finished over a minute clear of her sister Taya.

Swindon Harriers’ Midland Counties silver medallist James Bagot was also in action, and the 12-year-old finished third in the under-13 boys’ race.

ELSEWHERE, a small squad of Swindon Harriers’ senior men were in action at the Chilly 10k road race held around the motor racing circuit at Castle Combe.

The tail-end of the winds from Storm Dennis meant fast times were out of the question, so Ethan Pierce’s victory in 32mins 59secs was a particularly creditable effort, especially as it was his debut at the distance.

In the past, Pierce – who is coached by Bryan Clinton – has focused more on the track, so this performance shows his winter strength and endurance training is going well. The time also lifts him into the top-30 of the South West Rankings.

Pierce was one of three Harriers’ runners to make the top five with Edward fourth (36:15) and Simon Jell fifth (36:30).

The leading member of Highworth Running Club was Andrew Sears in 63rd (42:39).