Sonia Samuels breaks Priscilla Welchs long-standing UK W45 record, too, as we bring you our latest UK-wide endurance round-up

HELENA TIPPING WREXHAM 10km, North Wales, July 21

Marc Scott brought Omar Ahmeds long unbeaten road winning streak to an end with victory by 12 seconds in 28:27 in a race held over four of the short laps used in the Village Bakery Half-Marathon in February.

It was the 30-year-olds best outing since running 2:11:19 for 11th in Aprils London Marathon and brought a winning cash prize of 500 to the Richmond & Zetland runner.

Ahmed pocketed 300 for his 28:39 while Kadar Omar was third for the second year in a row but was nearly a minute faster this time, at 28:58, after being headed by Jonny Mellor and Abdul Sharif in 2023.

Just four seconds down in fourth was Dewi Griffiths but well clear of Swansea clubmate and namesake Josh.

In sixth, veteran John Gilbert ran 30:12 in hist first race since winning the half-marathon here in February in 66:46.

It was also close in the womens race as Anna Bracegirdle got home 13 seconds clear of top W45 Sonia Samuels in 33:34 to claim the womens 500 purse after being second here in 2022 and it was her seventh win of the year.

Samuels 33:48 (33:47 chip) not only just bettered her earlier 2024 best, set when she was still only 44, but also took her to the top of the all-time British W45 rankings, heading Priscilla Welchs long-standing 33-year-old previous best of 34:02.

Overall: 1 M Scott (R&Z) 28:27; 2 O Ahmed (Bir) 28:39; 3 K Omar (Bir) 28:58; 4 D Griffiths (Swan) 29:02; 5 J Griffiths (Swan) 29:47; 6 J Gilbert (Ken, M40) 30:12; 7 R Thompson (Cambus) 30:29; 8 C Davidson (Salf) 30:39; 9 J Firth (Tad) 30:47; 10 T Charles (Chorl, M40) 31:07; 11 N Barry (Sale) 31:11; 12 J Nixon (C&C) 31:16; 13 T Roberts (Meidd) 31:19; 14 C Rogers (Wrex) 31:43; 15 D Ifan (Meydd) 31:49; 16 B McIntosh (Vale R) 31:51; 17 R Challinor (Buckley) 32:04; 18 J Thomas (Stoke) 32:12; 19 M Gilbert (C&C) 32:17; 20 J Lally (Stoke) 32:20

M40: 3 R Bentley (Meydd) 32:42; 4 P Tatler (Stoke) 33:31; 6 L Siemaszko (Liv) 33;40

M45: 1 M Green (Meydd) 33:46

M50: 1 R Grantham (Wirr) 34:10; 2 G Wells (W Chesh) 35:29

M55: 1 D Rowlands (Wrex) 36:32; 2 O Williams (Aberys) 36:46

M60: 1 N Hershaw (W Chesh) 38:16

M65: 1 A Whitby (Tewk) 40:22

M70: 1 P Howe (Shrop) 41:42; 2 S Owen (Chep) 45:01

M75: 1 S Johnson (NWRR) 46:25

M80: 1 E Davies (Rhedwyr) 48:41

Women: 1 A Bracegirdle (Salf) 33:35; 2 S Samuels (Sale, W45) 33:48; 3 C Davies (Preston) 36:02

W40: 1 G Carnwath 36:34; 2 D Morris (Builth) 36:59

W45: 2 D Sharwin (Stoke) 37:23; 3 C Jacobs-Conradie (Meydd) 38:33; 4 C Hawkins (Lawley) 38:46

W50: 1 J Cook (Shrews) 38:57; 2 A Chinoy (Sale) 40:38; 3 C Green (NWRR) 41:00

W55: 1 N Morgan (Chep) 41:13

W65: 1 S OBrien (Widnes) 49:22

ELMBRIDGE 10km, Surrey, July 21

Irish Tokyo Olympic marathon runner Stephen Scullion won by more than two minutes in 29:56.

Overall: 1 S Scullion (AFD) 29:56; 2 T Chandler (AFD) 32:05; 3 J Hutchins (Wok, M40) 33:03

M50: 1 S Winder (E&E) 35:05; 2 D Williams (S Lon) 35:35; 3 T Skentos (Wok) 35:39

M60: 1 S Corfield (SoC) 38:18

M65: 1 D Ogden (S Lon) 39:28

M70: 1 B Bradbury (Wok) 38:58

Women: 1 T Barlow (TVH, W35) 35:06; 2 L Bailey (Strag, W40) 36:02; 3 M Collings (Wok) 36:26

W45: 1 N Hornzee (Strag) 40:40

W55: 1 A Smith (S Lon) 42:46; 2 R Hutton (S Lon) 44:40

W60: 1 J Balfour (Strag) 44:44

W65: 1 M Davis (Strag) 48:22

LIGHTNING BOLT FAST 10km, Chippenham, Wiltshire, July 21

Overall: 1 W Bryan (Soton) 31:26; 2 M England (W Tempo, M40) 31:46

M50: 1 G OBrien (Swin) 35:55

U17: 1 T Coughlan (T Bath) 32:53

Women: 1 C Taylor (B&W) 34:09

W40: 1 R Orchard (Corn) 37:39

QE OLYMPIC PARK 10km, Stratford, London, July 20

Overall: 1 R Banias (Vets) 33:06

M50: 1 E Rios (Trent P) 35:41

Women: 1 H McGowan-Jones (Thurr) 35:06; 2 M Porter (Exe) 36:20

SALE SIZZLERS 5km SERIES, Greater Manchester, July 19

Tour of Tameside winner David Barratt, who was fifth in the 2023 North of England Cross-Country Championships, won in 15:04.

Overall: 1 D Barratt (Salf) 15:04; 2 A Doyle (Vale R) 15:13; 3 C Williams (Vale R) 15:15; 4 I Whitehead (Vale R) 15:19

M40: 1 C Charles (Chorl) 15:24

M60: 1 R Evans (Alt) 17:37

M70: 1 D Gee (Manch) 20:41

M75: 1 B Lucas (N Masters) 22:48

Women: 1 R Burns (Liv, W40) 17:13

W45: 1 B Brennan (Bhall) 18:57

W55: 1 J Cook (Salf) 21:09

W60: 1 T Dover (Chesh Dr) 22:47

W65: 1 J Cordingley (Sale) 22:18

W75: 1 A Dinsmore (Stock) 29:07

DURHAM CITY RUNS, July 18

In the races, which started in Palace Green, the ancient Market Square, Corrin Leeming, the 2023 Island Games half-marathon winner, improved his personal best by one second when winning by nearly a minute from Adrian Bailes, in 30:47.

Based in the Isle-of-Man, Leemings first race was only as the pandemic broke out in January 2020 and his second in December of that year and this was only his sixth race outside of the island.

Also in new territory was womens race winner Charlotte Dillon, who was eighth in the under-17 Inter-Counties Championships this year. Her 35:48 took the Houghton Harrier to fourth on the under-17 rankings for the year and a winning margin of more than two minutes.

Overall (10km): 1 C Leeming (Western, IoM) 30:47; 2 A Bailes (Birt) 31:42; 3 S Jackson (Sund, M40) 32:31

M40: 2 M Hornsby (Durh) 34:31

M50: 1 S Hamil (Durh) 35:50

Women: 1 C Dillon (Hough, U17) 35:48; 2 V Simpson (NSP) 39:07

W50: 1 D Richardson (Quakers) 41:44

Overall (5km): 1 C Perkins (Birt) 15:44

Women: 1 J Eaton (Tyne Br) 19:03

FVS RELAYS, Stevenage. Inc Hertfordshire Championships, July 18

Men (4x3km) 1 Luton 36:18. Fastest: J Noblett (Lut) 8:31

M40 (4x3km) 1 Watford J 41:37. Fastest: A Pattrson (FVS) 9:39. M50: J Scott (St Alb) 10:06

Women (4x3km) 1 Garden City R 46:58. Fastest: K Harbon (NHRR) 10:41.

W35 (4x3km) 1 St Albans 49:30

Fastest W45: C Lathwell (Stops) 11:18; S Judd (Herts P) 11:26. W55: A Wood (FVS) 12:11

108 teams finished

TAVISTOCK TOWN RELAYS, Devon, July 18

Men (41.1M): 1 Hopton H 20:25. Fastest: K Clarke (ECH 4:47

M40 (41.1M): 1 Tavistock 22:54. Fastest:  K Stone (Plym) 5:22

U15(41.1M): 1 Plymouth 22:10. Fastest: I Lamerton (Plym) 5:16

Women (41.1M): 1 Tavistock 24:16. Fastest:  N Kelly (Tav) 5:37

W35 (41.1M): 1 Composite 30:25.  Fastest: C Littlewood (Plym) 6:54. W60: R Crowle (E Corn) 7:16

U15 (41.1M): 1 Plymouth 25:26. Fastest: M Shorey (Plym) 5:51

147 teams finished

BRIGHTON PHOENIX 10km, East Sussex, July 17

Finn McNally, the Northern Ireland cross-country champion for the past two years, regained the title he last won here in 2021 and 2022 and did so in a time of 30:07.

Womens winner Verity Hopkins, who ran 2:37:17 in her debut marathon in London this year, was just one second outside her chip and gun time best when taking the womens race in 33:39.

Second placed Tonbridge team mate Helen Gaunt went to the top of the British W45 rankings for the year and sixth on the all-time list, with her 34:39, just a month after turning 45.

She was later moved down a notch when Sonia Samuels went faster four days later.

Overall: 1 F McNally (Phoe) 30:07; 2 J Turner (B&H) 30:55; 3 C Thomas (TVH) 31:10; 4 K Barnes (B&H) 31:14; 5 B Savill (B&H) 31:29; 6 J Burgess (Lewes) 31:47

M40: 1 J Corbett (Phoe) 33:24

M50: 1 C Greenwood (Kent) 32:01

TEAM: 1 Brighton & Hove

Women: 1 V Hopkins (Ton) 33:39; 2 H Gaunt (Ton, W45) 34:39; 3 S Holt (Strag) 35:52

W50: 1 S Rushforth (Phoe) 38:33; 2 A Farreall (Tun W) 41:50

W60: 1 G Moffatt (Pslade) 39:24; 2 N Smyth (Arun) 43:49

TEAM: 1 Lewes

DOUG ANDERSON MEMORIAL 5km, inc Bedfordshire Championship, Bedford, July 17

Overall: 1 D Dibaba (Kent) 15:15; 2 M Elbayan (Luton) 15:17

M60: 1 A Leach (NHRR) 16:59

M70: 1 C Lamont (Stops) 21:54

U17: 1 J Prior (Bed C) 16:23

TEAM: 1 Bedford & County 14

Women: 1 C Thurgood (C&C, W40) 18:53

W45: 1 C Lathwell (Stops) 19:06

W55: 1 J Martin (Redway) 21:57; 2 J Smith (Bed H) 22:11

W70: 1 M Dewinter (Dunst) 27:27

W75: 1 N Haggart (Bed H) 22:52

U17: 1 J Price-Lyall (Bed C) 19:17

TEAM: 1 Bedford & County 15

EMGP RUGBY 6, Northamptonshire, July 17

The final event of the eight-race programme saw Haydn Arnall take his third victory and with it the overall title after a comfortable victory over Rugby & Northampton team-mates led by Adam Wright.

It was a similar individual story in the womens section where Alice Bourne completed her fourth victory and also wrapped up a series win as their club also completed a team whitewash.

Overall: 1 H Arnall (R&N) 31:05

M45: 1 P Melling (R&N) 32:07

M60: 1 A Green (North Tri) 37:24

TEAM: 1 R&N 2:07:59

M40 TEAM: 1 R&N 2:13:10

Women: 1 A Bourne (R&N) 36:33

W50: 1 R Cooke (Bucks & Stowe) 37:57; 2 H Heley (Silson) 39:40

W60: 1 K Bond (Dav) 44:36

W65: 1 J Hill (Squirrels) 48:35

W75: 1 A Copson (R&N) 51:19

TEAM (3 to score): 1 R&N 1:54:00

W35 TEAM: 1 R&N 2:00:47

Full series final standings here.

EXETER 10km, Devon, July 17

Overall: 1 L Passmore 34:11

Women: 1 R Ezra-Hamm (Tamar) 35:54

W40: 1 R Orchard (Corn) 37:57

W60: 1 C Benstead (Oke) 43:58

W65: 1 J Reay (Exmth) 42:26

GREENWAY 5km, Padiham, Lancashire, July 17

Overall: 1 T Corrigan (Barlick, M40) 15:44

M55: 1 P Freary (Belg) 16:32

M60: 1 K Davies (CleM) 18:43

Women: 1 E Sagar-Hesketh (Bburn) 19:27

W50: 1 M Ralphson (Trawden) 19:42

W60: 1 J Rushton (CleM) 23:43; 2 B Savage (CleM) 23:54

W65: 1 S Burns (CleM) 22:07; 2 I Roche (CleM) 24:38

SOUTH WEST PB SERIES 5km, Bath, Somerset, July 17

Kurt Taylor, the 2023 Midland cross-country bronze medallist, took the race in 14:38

Overall: 1 K Taylor (B&W) 14:38; 2 L Burgess (B &W) 14:56; 3 J Reader (T Bath) 14:58; 4 L Davis (W Tempo, U20) 14:58; 5 B Price (W Tempo, M40) 15:02; 6 G Hayward (Wbury) 15:15

M50: 1 G OBrien (Swin) 16:47

M70: 1 D Bedwell (B&W) 20:50

Women: 1 R Hamilton-James (Wbury) 16:43; 2 K Palfreyman (Hallam) 16:51

W40: 1 A Gascoigne (T Bath) 17:20

W45: 1 R McKean (T Bath) 18:50

STAFFS KNOT MT 4, Cannock, Staffordshire, July 17

Overall: 1 L Gratton (Ruge) 25:29

M40: C Moulton (Boalloy) 28:25

Women: 1 G Stanfield (Trenth) 30:44

W45: 1 L Callaghan (Trenth) 32;48

W50: 1 J Stanfield (Trenth) 32:58

W60: 1 C Higgs (Trenth) 36:47; 2 C Skelton (Staff) 37:26

WORCESTER PITCHCROFT 10km, July 17

Overall: 1 C Jones (W Tempo) 31:12; 2 B Jones (C&C) 31:59

M50: 1 M Thomas (B Pear) 34:52

M70: 1 T Lewington 46:23

U20: 1 L Jones (Worc) 33:14

Women: 1 K Telford (CLC, W35) 39:27

W55: 1 F Maycock (W Tempo) 41:25