STEVE YATES, after his serious bike accident last year, is beginning to regain his form and led home the strong Cirencester Athletics Club contingent in the first major local tri, the Cats Solution Supersprint.

Cirencester AC and Triathlon Club

The Cats Solution Supersprint Tri

The 400m swim was in a very cold lake but the 20km bike, starting out along the Spine Road, had a strong tail wind; the return through Cirencester’s Love Lane to Somerford Keynes was into the gale, before the finishing 5km run around the lake.

Yates finished fourth overall and first in his category.

Fifth was the hard-training Adrian Williams, on course for great things later in the season. Tri regulars Laurence Giffin and Gethin Musk came in ahead of Jon Wickett.

Sarah Gunn, who found the choppy swim a real challenge, battled through to a brave category win and a well placed ninth female spot.

Kevin Snowball finished well in the top half of the field.

Results: 1, Garry Hughes (Tri Team Glos) 52.25; 4, Steve Yates 54.10; 5, Adrian Williams 55.19; 14, Laurence Giffin 58.15; 25, Gethin Musk 59.58; 31, Jon Wickett 1:00.45; 68, Sarah Gunn 1:05.17; 124, Kevin Snowball 1:10.31. 321 athletes finished.

Marlborough Downs Challenge, 33miles multi-terrain

ROB FORBES ran an excellent race to finish second, a frustrating two minutes behind the winner, in conditions that were described as 'diabolical'.

Ed Morris, another of the Club’s strong team of ultra-runners, also ran an outstanding race and the experienced Rupert Chesmore was the club’s final 33-mile finisher.

Martin Croucher kept Liza Darroch company on the alternative 20-mile route in 4:11.00.

Results: 1, Hugh Aggleton (Cardiff Harlequins) 4:04.12; 2, Rob Forbes 4:06.05; 18, Ed Morris 5:08.55; 88 Rupert Chesmore 7:01.59. 107 finished.

Town and Gown, Oxford, 10km road race

TERRY RANGER, another triathlete, completed this major Oxford race (3,265 finishers) in 490th spot in 46.10.

Swindon Parkrun, 5km trails

A SECOND Parkrun for Howard Ewan who finished fifth overall and second in his age-group, while Gordon Jones ran to an age-group win on a gale-torn course. Mark Edwards was next home and David Moss ran his 50th Parkrun.

Results: 1, Ben Cole (Tonbridge AC) 16.20; 5, Howard Ewan 19.42; 34, Gordon Jones 22.10; 58, Mark Edwards 23.04; David Moss 24.26. 342 finished.