WILTSHIRE track international Dave Bishop ended 2012 with a flourish as he raced to a superb victory in the Ribble Valley 10k road race, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The Chippenham-based 1500m athlete opted for the long trip north to Clitheroe on Sunday rather than the local four-mile race in Clevedon on Boxing Day in order to find better competition.

The switch was made after Bishop learned that the 3000m event in the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross International this Saturday had been cut from the programme so he decided that a workout over 10k, his first attempt at the distance on the road, was better suited to his plans.

“I felt the Ribble Valley race was the better of the two for me although when I was driving up in horrendous conditions I did wonder whether I had made the right decision,” said Bishop.

“From my training I felt I was in shape to run a time in the low 29 minutes but on the day it was raining, hailing and there was a 25mph wind, so I have to be pleased to win in 30 minutes, two seconds.”

“At one stage I felt myself drifting clear at the front so I put on the brakes because I didn’t want the other guys to sit on me into the wind,” he said.

“But when we got to the last 200 metres I just went for it.

“I am now looking at running a 3000m indoors in Cardiff in two weeks’ time and I would be happy to open up with a sub eight minutes.’’

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