A RUNNER has completed the 'Bourton double' after winning both the Bourton Mile and the Bourton 10k.
Harry Wells, 24, first took first place in the Bourton 10km in February and finished first again in the Bourton Mile on Bank Holiday Monday (May 5).
Wells, a long-time Gloucester AC athlete who now competes for Victoria Park Harriers and Tower Hamlets club in London, beat his friend and former team-mate Richard De Camps in the thrilling sprint finish.
He said: "The aim was to try and feel comfortable, wind it up through each quarter and any sprint finish was me reacting to Richard coming alongside me in that final stretch.
"I know Richard well and he always used to beat me.
"I thought he might catch me this time so it’s nice to get the win."
Wells finished with a time of four minutes and 21.5 seconds, only half a second ahead of De Camps.
The pair finished well clear of Western Tempo's Luke Carroll in third, but there was no course record bonus.
The women's race saw a first Bourton Mile win for Abbie Milnes as Weston Tempo secured a one-two.
Milnes, an art teacher from Cheltenham College, crossed the line in only her second road mile in four minutes and 57 seconds.
Her team-mate, Amber Watson took second place in 5.09 minutes, holding off the challenge of the fast-finishing Steph Lane from Bourton Roadrunners.
"That was my best time for the mile," said Milnes.
"I felt good until halfway but I enjoyed it."
A total of 179 runners completed the mile along the course, which runs alongside Rissington Road and ends in the village centre.
Race director, Gill Carrick said: "It was a fabulous evening for running fast and that was reflected in the times in a top-quality race.
"We’d like to thank everyone who turned out to support the runners."
Jack Taylor of Witney Roadrunners won the boys' junior race, and the girls' junior race was won by Lily Sienna Hodgeson from Chepstow Harriers.
Also this weekend was Sherborne School's five-mile multi-terrain, in which Alex Pye finished second in 31 minutes and 13 seconds, and Steph Lane was first woman in 31 minutes and 44 seconds.
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