TWO Swindon Harriers dipped under the hour mark at the third running of the Wiltshire 10 road race in Melksham on Sunday.

Male vet 40 winner Gary O’Brien finished sixth overall in 57:57 and John Lewis was seventh in 59:16, while their clubmate Tom Hunton was 11th in 1:02:54.

Swindon Striders’ James Padfield also threatened the top 10, crossing the line in 12th in 1:03:09.

More than 200 runners took part and two-time winner Simon Plummer (Salisbury A&RC) led from the start.

Despite battling a strong headwind in the closing stages, he managed to set a new course record of 52:14.

That time saw him finish more than two minutes ahead of Calne RC’s Simon Nott of Calne Running Club (54:24), while Matt Young of Team Bath was third (56:57).

Young, Paul Synott, David Vaudin and Malcolm Treby scooped the men’s team prize for Team Bath.

Jenny Carter of Team Bath won the women’s race in 63:15, more than five minutes ahead of Avon Valley Runners duo Diane Hier (1:08.23) and Jo Mumford (1:09.47).

Hier and Mumford, along with Suzann Large and Linda Ladner, claimed the women’s team title for Avon Valley.

The highest-placed local female finisher was Swindon Harriers’ Sue Green, who clocked 1:28:56 to finish 129th.

Top three plus local runner results 1, Simon Plummer (Salisbury A&RC) 52:14; 2, Simon Nott (Calne Running Club) 54:24; 3, Matthew Young (Team Bath AC) 56:57; 6, Gary O'Brien (Swindon Harriers) 57:57; 7, John Lewis (Swindon Harriers) 59:16; 11, Tom Hunton (Swindon Harriers) 1:02:54; 12, James Padfield (Swindon Striders) 1:03:09; 58, Michael Bryant (Highworth Running Club) 1:13:21; 76, Darren Pettit (Swindon Striders) 1:15:54; 80, Andrew Richardson (Marlborough Running Club) 1:17:01; 129, Sue Green (Swindon Harriers) 1:28:56; 130, Rob Green (Swindon Harriers) 1:28:56; 133 Jane Watkins (Marlborough Running Club) 1:29:03; 156, Kirsty Newland (Marlborough Running Club) 1:33:51; 189, Luanda Barnham (Highworth Running Club) 1:48:14.