WESTBURY Harriers’ Emma D’Alton raced to a supereb victory in the 18th Blackmore Vale half marathon, in Sherborne.
D’Alton not only finished over three minutes ahead of Devon ultra distance international Heather Foundling-Hawker but set a new course record of 1hr 21mins 58secs, just 26 seconds off her personal best set in Stroud last year.
On a course that isn’t regarded the fastest that suggests D’Alton will dip well under 81 minutes when she lines up on a faster course.
Clubmate John Terry finished 12th in the men’s race that saw over 600 finishers.
18th Blackmore Vale half marathon, Sherborne, Dorset – men: 1 Steve Way (BM) 69:28; 2 John Sharkey (BM) 73:07; 3 Tristan Cooper (Wells) 74:23
WEST: 7 Mark Pittaway (RMP, M40 1st) 78:11; 8 Paul Rose (YTRR, M40) 78:42; 12 John Terry (WH) 80:11; 21 Jacob Hayes (BRR) 82:52; 24 Simon Hancock (Clev) 83:23; 35 Richard Ponsford (Clev) 85:59; 36 Richard Smith (Clev, M40) 86:00; 43 mark Templer (Clev, M40) 87;33; 47 Joe Pickles (GWR) 88:32;
Women: 1 Emma D’Alton (WH) 1:21.58 (record) ; 2 Heather Foundling-Hawker (HRC, W40) 85:26; 3 Michelle Parsons (Evesham, W35) 86:57; 4 Chloe Felton (Tiv) 89:09. 609 finishers