VALE runners dominated the women’s races at the Broadway marathon and half marathon.

Sheila Barbour won the marathon and Alison Carr topped the podium in the shorter distance as they both broke course records.

The duo joined 200 other runners in the fast, muddy race across the northern Cotswolds from Broadway to Stanway and to Winchcombe.

With nearly 3,000 feet of ascent in the marathon, the course offered plenty to challenge runners of all abilities.

In the men’s marathon, Matt Giles, of Stourbridge, and Stratford’s Neil Wicks joined 2013 winner Justin Young at the front early on.

Young aggravated a knee problem and dropped to the half marathon, leaving Giles and Wicks to battle through the final miles.

And the Stourbridge runner broke away to win by five minutes in three hours 23 minutes 40 seconds.

Evesham Vale Running Club’s Barbour led from the front to improve on her 2013 second place.

She knocked 15 minutes off the course record to win in 4.07.48.

Daisy Brown, of Witney Road Runners, enjoyed her marathon debut and finished second in 4.21.14.

In the half marathon, Kenilworth’s Connor Carson flew across the wet ground to take four minutes off the 2013 record for a convincing men’s win in 1.37.09.

Leamington’s Richard Merrell took second place in 1.40.18.

Carr, of Pershore Plum Plodders, improved on her 2013 second-place performance to shave a few seconds off the previous record, winning the women’s race in 1.56.48.

Sally Howard added to Witney’s success, taking second in 2.00.57.