Fairford is getting all set to witness a cracking 10k race (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fairford is getting all set to witness a cracking 10k race

THE idyllic Cotswold streets and lanes in and around the small market town of Fairford are set for some cracking racing with the staging of the town's annual 10k and 3k fun run on Sunday, June 6.

The Fairford 10km road race has UK Athletics/Midland Counties Amateur Athletics permit, certificate of course accuracy and is included as a Glo'shire County Amateur Athletics series event.

There is currently an age restriction of 17 years old for this race, although this age limit may well be reduced next year.

This 10km race attracts top-class specialists from far and wide and there are already entries from as far afield as Guernsey and Cambridge.

There is also considerable support from local clubs such as Bourton Road Runners, Cirencester Athletics Club, Highworth Running Club, Swindon Harriers, and Swindon Striders many of which use the Fairford 10km road race in their club championship series.

Last year, Dan Duke, from Cheltenham and County Harriers, produced a course record winning time of 32min 36sec minutes, beating Dennis Walmsley's (Bourton Road Runners) three-year title by 1.10min.

But Walmsley did win the male veteran Vet 40 on that particular occasion.

This year, though, it looks unlikely that Dennis will be making his usual challenge as he competing in the European 100k in Italy a week earlier.

Another course record that was set last year saw Amy Stiles (Chippenham Harriers) winning the ladies' category in 36.04.

In fact, she beat her own record set at the first Fairford 10km road race back in 1999 by two seconds!

Martin Ford (Cheltenham and County Harriers) is so far an all-time champion in his own right with five straight wins in the Male Veteran 50-plus.

The new category of first Fairford male/female was won last year by tri-athlete Rob Pattison with a time of 40:08 minutes.

Can he do the same this year or will he be beaten another local runner?

In the ladies' category, can Faye Stevenson (45.58) again be the first Fairfordienne or will Mandy Frank's desert training pay off?

The single-lap course starts on Park Street, Fairford over Mill Bridge, through Quening-ton towards Hatherop, returning to Fairford via Hatherop Road, the Croft and Park Street before finishing at the Walnut Tree Field. All finishers will receive a medal.

There are 16 prizes to be won, the categories being: 1st, 2nd, 3rd male and female; 1st Fairford male/female.