MORE than 200 runners took part in this year's anual Worcestershire Beacon Race on Saturday in good conditions, although the mild weather made it a little warm for some.

A new name was first through the tape with Stroud Athletic Club's Andrew Gardiner's winning time of 41mins 35secs pushing last year's winner Bill Knock of Halesowen AC into second place with 41.59.

Third was Stuart Mills of the Worcester Tri Club in 45.82.

The first lady to finish was 17-year-old Kate Goodhead of Stroud AC in 52.18, and the first local man home was David Wilcox (Worcester AC) in 47.03.

One runner found the conditions a little too warm and collapsed half way round the course, being taken to hospital suffering from dehydration, but he was released the same day with no harm done.

RESULTS:

WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON RACE (Sponsored by Brookhire)

1 Andrew Gardiner (Stroud AC) 41.35, 2 Bill Knock (Halesowen AC) 41.59, 3 Stuart Mills (Worcester Tri) 45.82.

MALE VETS: O/40 - G J Summers (Pershore) 46.57, O/50 - Duncan Overton (Kendal) 47.14, O/60 - Brian Thorne (Stratford AC) 51.26.

LOCAL MALE - David Wilcox (Worcester AC) 47.03.

TEAM PRIZE: Halesowen (Bill Nock, Stuart Geggie & Carl Harris.

LADIES: 1 Kate Goodhead (Stroud) 52.18, 2 Celia Mills (Kenilworth AC) 1.01.29, 3 Jane Anderton (Bromsgrove & Redditch) 1.04.0.

LADIES VETS: O/35 - Joan Clarke (Stourbridge) 57.35. O/45 - Lynn Sherren (Stratford) 54.01.

LOCAL LADY: Natalie Watson (Malvern) 57.55.