Chedworth Roman Trail is hailed a great success (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Chedworth Roman Trail is hailed a great success

CIRENCESTER Athletics Club's eighth Chedworth Roman Trail was hailed a great success by all involved in last Sunday's race.

A field of 315 runners completed the demanding course from Chedworth through the Coln Valley and Chedworth Woods, but despite good running conditions the course record was not threatened.

Leader throughout the ten miles was Vito Graffagnino, from Bristol, who had pulled out a winning margin of one and a half minutes by the finish to record 62 minutes 47 seconds.

He was initially closely challenged by Lee Rankin, from Stroud, who had to settle for second, well clear of third-placed and first over 40, Steve Goulding, from Pewsey Vale AC.

It was a much closer battle among the ladies, however, with Helen Fines, representing Bristol & West, just edging out Cheltenham's Tara Park by nine seconds and third-placed Helen Taylor, from Worcester, less than a minute further back.

The other male age-category winners were Graham Grew (Great Western Runners) and Norman Lane (Bourton Road Runners).

Honours in the ladies' age categories went to Camilla Meheren (Gloucester AC), Linda Ferris and Rosemarie Osborn (New Forest Runners).

Cheltenham Harriers took both male and female team awards with Gloucester and Bourton the runner-up spots.

First finisher for Cirencester AC was club chairman Bob Ferris in 67th place, followed by Pete Langsam (97th), Chris Sherrington (109th) and Neil Dunnage (114th).

Chedworth had three runners and first home was Martin Jewell in a creditable 64th.

Race organiser David Edelsten was very grateful to all the marshals from Cirencester AC and Chedworth who turned out to help and the Stowell Park Estate and CC Farms for their help and co-operation in making the event possible.