THE inaugural Westonbirt National Arboretum 10k trail race was the first-ever such event organised by the Tetbury Royals Running Club which this year is marking its 25th anniversary.

And the event provided a stunning venue for this new addition to the racing calendar held on Monday evening last week.

Of the 261-strong entry, there was of a splendid turnout of local runners from Cirencester AC, Stroud & District AC and Swindon Harriers.

Early on, Nick Armitage, from Wotton-Under-Edge, and Tetbury's Peter Holmes vied with each other for the lead. But it was Armitage was first to cross the finishing line in a time of 37min 10sec.

He was closely followed by Holmes (37.29) while third spot went Joe Barraclough (Cirencester AC) in 38-5. Justin Montague (Swindon Harriers) in just four seconds later for fourth position.

Cirencester AC's Wendy Jones was first lady home in an excellent time of 39.3 with team-mate Jane Wassel second lady, finishing in 39m 54s. Nicola Denning, from Malmesbury was third lady back in 42m 51s.

The men's team prize was won by Stroud & District AC with Cirencester in second place. The tables were turned in the ladies' team prize with Cirencester finishing first and Stroud second.

Holmes says: "It was a brilliant effort by the Tetbury Royals. The course was fantastic, there were nice little twists and turns through the woodland, the weather was lovely and the marshalling excellent."

Top results. First male: Nick Armitage 37m 10s (unattached), 2 Peter Holmes 37m 29s (Tetbury Royals), 3 Joe Barrowclough 38m 05s (Cirencester AC).

First female: Wendy Jones 39m 03s (Cirencester AC), 2 Jane Wassell 39m 54s (Cirencester AC), 3 Nicola Denning 42m 39s (unattached).

First male vet 40: Nick Holliday 39m 58s (Stroud & District AC); vet 50, Trevor De Havilland 42.36 (Stroud & District AC); vet 60, Patrick Slavi 43.42 (Bitton Road Runners).

First female vet 35: Wendy Jones 39.3 (Cirencester AC); vet 45, Kathryn Morton 45.11 (Stroud & District AC); vet 55, Shirley Brockenshaw 49-7 (Hogweed Trotters).

First male team: Stroud & District AC (Michael Duxbury, David Askew, Nick Holliday); 2 Cirencester AC (Joe Barrowclough, Bill Leggate, Jamie Cameron); 3 Swindon Harriers (Justin Montague, Alex Fisher, Ian Reade).

First female team: Cirencester AC (Wendy Jones, Jane Wassell, Kim Withycombe); 2 Stroud & District AC (Kathryn Morton, Lorraine Huggett, Sharon Askew); 3 Hogweed Trotters (Tracey Booth, Shirley Brokenshaw, Jenny McCullum.

Every competitor was given a unique finishing prize of an oak sapling with the first man and first woman each receiving a beautiful hand-turned wooden bowl.

Anyone who would like to join the Tetbury Royals RC is asked to phone Tim Willson on 01666 502733 for more details.