THE Bourton One Mile Challenge attracted a record number of entrants with 161 runners taking part.

A large number of club runners tackled the main event, which was the County Championship Mile contest as well as being in the Gloucestershire County Road Race Series.

There was also a fun run over the same distance, which was equally hard fought.

Dave Roper, of Cheltenham and County Harriers, won the main race in four minutes 30 seconds with second and third places taken by his club-mates Anthony Bailey (4.37) and John Parker (4.38).

The three leading women were Rachel Felton from Stroud and District AC, who managed 5.11 despite falling at the start, Bourton Roadrunners' Shona Crombie-Hicks (5.28) and the hosts' under 13s prospect Niamh Powell (5.33).

With 54 Roadrunners taking part, the club featured heavily in the prize list with age category wins and gold county medals.

They went to Ewen Smith (men's veterans over 45s in 5.02), Crombie-Hicks (women's veterans over 40s), Powell (girls' under 13s), Tony Goodwill (men's veterans over 55s in 6.01), Dylan Williams (boys' under 11s in 5.31), Niamh Shoemark (women's veterans over 45s in 6.05), Rosie Davidson (girls' under 15s in 6.26), Steph Holton (women's veterans over 50s in 6.53), Liz Hulcup (women's veterans over 60s in 6.47) and Norm Lane (men's veterans over 70s in 9.23).

Silver medals were awarded to Tom Pinkham (boys' under 15s in 5.29), Helena West (girls' under 11s in 6.35), Susan Hunt (women's veterans over 45s in 6.40) and Isobel Hartley (girls' under 13s in 7.51).

Bronzes went to Jake Astor (boys' under 11s in 5.59), Brian Hulcup (men's veterans over 60s in 6.19), Isobel Barnett (girl's under 11s in 6.38) and Lynn Hudson (women's veterans over 55s in 7.56).

The annual event was again organised by Norm and Ali Lane with proceeds going to the Arthritis Trust.

Meanwhile, Bourton's Steve Edwards opted for a longer distance and completed his 641st marathon, The Wild One.

Edwards had to dig deep to finish the cross-country course around Perdiswell Golf Course, Worcester, in hot and humid conditions, finishing third overall and first men's veteran over 50 in three hours 28 minutes 22 seconds.