The British duo star in Frankfurt, Callum Hawkins returns to his best in Valencia, while runners impress at the Snowdonia Marathon, Accrington 10k and British Masters Cross Country Relays.

Lincoln Wellington’s Aaron Scott was the best of the British contingent at the Frankfurt Marathon on Sunday (October 28).

Representing England, Scott clocked a new personal best 2:16:57 to finish in 23rd place and second European male.

Inverclyde AC’s Craig Ruddy clocked a big PB of 2:17:44 – running his fastest 5km split between 35km and 40km – to finish 25th overall. It was Ruddy’s first time under 2:20 and is the fastest marathon this year by a Scottish athlete.

The next British athlete across the line was England’s Matt Sharp in 28th place in a time of 2:19:17, with marathon debutant Ryan Burling of Guernsey AC 29th in 2:20:10.

Hallamshire / Sheffield Uni’s Steven Bayton was just one minute off his PB with a 2:20:41 clocking in 30th place.

London club Serpentine’s Tony Payne took almost three minutes off his PB with a superb 2:16:56 run. New Zealand born Payne lives in the UK and represents Thailand.

Representing England, Dani Nimmock was the best of the British women finishing 23rd overall in a time of 2:38:54. The City of Norwich athlete was followed home by Kent AC’s Amy Clements in 2:39:50 (25th) and Garscube Harriers’ Katie White in a PB of 2:40:31 (27th).

Stockport Harriers’ Kelly Crickmore secured the V40 women’s title running a PB of 2:42:34 to finish 29th.

Valencia Half Marathon

Callum Hawkins moved to number two on the 2018 UK rankings after a 61:00 run at the Medio Maratón de Valencia Trinidad Alfonso on Sunday (October 28).

The British international finished 16th overall and first European as Kenyan athlete Abraham Kiptum stormed to a 58:18 win to break the world record. A full report can be found here.

Snowdonia Marathon

Russell Bentley and Anna Bracegirdle won the 36th edition of the Snowdonia Marathon in Llanberis on Saturday (October 27).

Bentley, who won the title in 2016, returned to claim the men’s title in 2:38:21 almost five minutes ahead of second placed Martin Green.

It was the Kent AC athlete’s fourth marathon this year after a second place finish at the Chester Marathon at the beginning of October, following on from runs in London and Berlin.

Robert Weekes clocked 2:45:51 to finish third in the renowned race that starts and finishes at the bottom of Snowdon and includes 2750ft of climbing.

Anna Bracegirdle won the women’s race in 3:06:02 ahead of Emma Wookey in 3:08:53 with Andrea Rowlands completing the podium in 3:12:37.

British Masters Cross Country Relays

Notts AC and Vale Royal won the M35 and W35 races in course record times at the British Masters Cross Country Relays at Long Eaton on Saturday (October 27).

Notts AC’s Alastair Watson ran 9:32 to record the fastest leg of the day in the men’s race, while Derby’s Lisa Palmer-Blount posted the women’s fastest leg in a time of 10:38.

Photo: Stephen Lee

RELATED: Age is no barrier to success for Alastair Watson

In the W45 race, Clare Elms and Michelle Lennon helped Dulwich secure the win ahead defending champions Bristol and West.

Leeds’ Andrew Grant ran the fastest leg in the M45 race helping the club claim a convincing win.

Sheffield won the M55 race, while Bingley eased to the W55 crown.

Oxford City were crowned winners in the M65 race ahead of Barnet, while Westbury won the W65 race and Bingley took the honours in M75 race.

Scottish National XC Relays

Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds completed a superb hat-trick as they won the senior women’s golds at the Lindsays National XC Relays for the third successive year at Cumbernauld on Saturday (October 27).

Photo: Bobby Gavin

In the men’s senior race, Central AC returned to their familiar position on top of the podium as they won the race for the fourth time in seven years – with silver medals secured in the intervening seasons.

Fife AC won the junior females race for the first time in their history, with sisters Isla and Anna Hedley in the team, while Giffnock North AC took the junior males race with a successful defence of the title they won 12 months ago.

A full report can be found here.

Accrington 10k

Ben Fish ran 31:32 to win the men’s race at the Accrington 10k in Lancashire on Sunday (October 28).

Blackburn’s Fish, who has been sharing his running journey this year on Fast Running, finished over two minutes ahead of clubmates Jack Hindle in 33:41 and Ben Costello in 33:48.

Blackburn Harriers dominated the men’s race with seven of the top eight places.

Rossendale Harriers’ Anne-Marie Hindle was the first woman home in 42:32 ahead of Trawden AC’s Helen Buchan and Horwich RMI Harriers’ Maria McMyler.

River Thames Half Marathon

Steph Twell won the women’s race and finished third overall at the River Thames Half Marathon on Sunday (October 28).

The British international clocked 74:01 a week after finishing second at the Great South Run 10 miler in Portsmouth.

Belgrave Harriers Andrius Jaksevicius was the overall winner in 71:36.

Dublin Marathon

Great Britain’s Josh Griffiths finished seventh at the Dublin Marathon on Sunday (October 28). Welshman Griffthis clocked 2:16:09 on his second visit to Dublin this year after running 49:41 at the Frank Duffy 10 mile road race in September.

Fellow Welsh athlete Natasha Cockram finished an impressive fourth in the women’s race clocking a personal best 2:35:47.

A full report can be found here.

Antonine Trail Race

This 13.8 mile mixed terrain race in Croy, Scotland is organised by James Stewart, from the Fast 10: class of 2018, and straight from the off Brian Sharp was being tracked by Adam Park, with Martin Gray keeping in touch all the way.

The top three remained that way until the last two miles, when Park took a wrong turn and was gazumped by Connell Drummond for third, with Sharp winning in a time of 86:18 from Gray.

In the ladies race, Rachel Normand and Lynne Allen had another epic battle and while Allen took the honours in May’s 10km ATRX, Normand edged her out here to win in fine style and to take seventh overall in 1:36 flat. Allen came in 1:39:07 with Mary McCutcheon taking third place, also under 1:40.

parkrun

Irish international Paul Pollock and Highgate Harriers Hannah Viner ran the fastest times at UK parkruns this week.

Pollock recorded 14:56 at the Belfast Victoria event, while Viner clocked 16:45 at the Hackney Marshes parkrun on Saturday morning. This week’s parkrun top 10 can be found here.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.