THERE was a record entry for the second successive year for the Worcestershire Beacon Race held on Saturday, despite the dour conditions.

Out of 336 entrants, 306 started the seven mile race and 300 finished at Rose Bank Gardens.

One of the organisers, John Brook, of race sponsors Brookhire, said: "Although the weather was the worst for some 15 years, there was a record entry and it all went very well."

With last year's champion Bill Nock at a different meeting, there was a new race winner when Kevin Spilman, of Cheltenham Harriers, was first through the tape in 45.23.

In second place was Lee Rankin (unattached) and in third spot Jon Newey (Malvern Joggers) in 46.18.

First lady home was Sue Howarth (unattached) in 56.42, second was Emily Beacham (Kenilworth Runners) in 58.33 and third was Lucy Prosser (Malvern Joggers) in 59.37. The winning team was Kenilworth Runners (Martin Dorrill, Patrick Noonan and Michael Williams).

The first local male was Tom Horton (Malvern Hash) in 48.06 and the first local lady Alison Merley (Malvern Joggers) in 1.06.04.

The first male over 70 was also a local man, David Hayward of Croft Bank, West Malvern, in 1.13.31.

Its was a good day for fast growing local running club Malvern Joggers, who this year fielded 23 runners, compared to last year's 12.

There were fine performances by all club members, especially prize winners Jon Newey, Lucy Prosser and Alison Merley.

Richard Walsh also enjoyed a good run to finish in 49.49, giving him 14th place.