King Dennis loses his Fairford 10k crown (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

King Dennis loses his Fairford 10k crown

THE annual Fairford 10k produced a real upset on Sunday when four-times champion Dennis Warmsley failed to lift the crown for a record fifth time after being beaten into second place.

In an unexpected twist to this popular event, Dan Duke, of Cheltenham and County Harriers, not only won but also posted a new record time of 32 minutes and 36 seconds.

Trailing in almost two minutes behind the victor, Walmsley had to settle for an unaccustomed runners-up spot in 34.29.

However, Dennis, of Bourton Roadrunners, did have the consolation of picking up the first veteran over 40 prize.

Roger Mullins (Cheltenham and County Harriers) took third position in 35.24.

But one man who did claim a fifth consecutive triumph was Martin Ford (Cheltenham and County Harriers) in the MV50 category in 38.15.

His clubmate, Ken Buckle, won the MV60 category for the second year in 40.30.

This year's Fairford 10k road race was the biggest ever, attracting 459 participants.

The field included competitors from 54 clubs, as well as a large number of local people from Fairford and the surrounding towns and villages.

Entrants came from as far afield as London and Kent in the east, Chorley, Windermere and Tyne and Wear in the north, and throughout the south of England as well as a couple of visitors from New Zealand.

This well established premier event, now in its the fifth year, constitutes the GCAAA 2003 Road Race Championships.

Fairford town crier Maurice Jones, along with newly-elected Fairford mayor Dave Nelmes, set the runners off on a single lap route through the picturesque Cotswold countryside on a warm morning.

Fairford's top three male finishers were Robert Pattison 40.08, Richard Newell 40.31 and Andy Dudas (MV40) 42.42.

The ladies' winner was Amy Stiles (Chippenham Harriers) in a new record time of 36.04. Wendy Jones (Cirencester AC) took second in 37.09 and Melanie Ellis (V35), of Shaftesbury Barnet, was third in 37.24.

Winners of the ladies' veterans category were Shaftesbury Barnet's Melanie Ellis (V35) in 37.24, V45 Zina Marchan (City of Bath AC) 42.43, and V55 Rose Webb (Radley AC) 54.54.

Fairford's top three lady finishers were Faye Stevenson 45.58, Fiona D'Elia 51.17, and Mandy Frank (V35) 54.08.

Sponsored by Bourton-on-the-Water Goldsmiths, a gold sovereign was awarded to Dan Duke and Amy Stiles as the first man and first woman finishers.

Claiming the men's team prize were Cheltenham and County Harriers (Dan Duke, Roger Mullins, Jeremy Tranter) with Bourton Road Runners second and Swindon Harriers third.

Ladies' team winners were Bourton Road Runners (Brioney Lloyd, Alison Lane, Sarah Clemo) with Cirencester AC second and Bourton RR third. And if all that excitement was not enough, there was also a 3k fun run around the streets of Fairford and through the beautiful Fairford Park by kind permission of the Ernest Cook Trust.

The town crier and mayor set off the 340 entrants with the winners of each age groups as follows: Infant girl, Loren Bleaken of Chippenham, infant boy, Robert O'Kelly (Lechlade), junior girl, Brittany Teague (Bourton-on-the-Water), junior boy, Josh Newbould (Moreton-in-Marsh), girl, Stephanie Lane (Bourton-on-the-Water), boy, Christopher Reade (Swindon), female, Tanya Eyre (Fairford), male, Swindon's Stephen Scarrett.

In addition, the first Fairford girl (Rosie Williams) and first Fairford boy (Edward Williams) in the 8-11 years category received a silver crown kindly donated by a Fairford resident.

At the end, runners and spectators were relaxing when the heavens opened. There was also a barbecue organised by the Fairford Festival Committee in the Walnut Tree field.

Grateful thanks go to the following sponsors: The Old Police Station, High Street Fairford (main sponsor); Bourton-on-the-Water Goldsmiths; Fairford Sports Centre; Fairford Physio-therapy and Sports Injury Clinic; Osteopathic Clinic, Lechlade and Park Close Stores, Fairford.

The organisers express their thanks to the Police, the British Red Cross, the Fairford Scouts, all the helpers, marshals, first aiders, runners and spectators for making both events such great successes.