GARY Dunstone has been crowned the new Wiltshire half marathon champion, writes Kevin Fahey.

The 42-year-old Chipp-enham Harrier, from Colerne, was an emphatic winner of the Wadworth Devizes event, which incorporated the county championships this year.

Dunstone surged clear of Avon Valley Runners’ Rich Ayling just after three miles to quickly open a winning gap and was then never challenged as he crossed the line in a new course record time of 77mins 12secs.

Victory continues a good month for Dunstone as two weeks previously he finished fourth overall and first veteran in the Cricklade half marathon setting a new personal best of 76:37.

For good measure he led Chippenham Harriers to the men’s team title with support from Bart Thomas and Michael Bright.

“I came third in the 10k at Castle Combe earlier this year (also a county championships) but this is my first Wiltshire title so I am really pleased with that,” said Dunstone, who only took up running when he left the Army in 2011 and has been making steady progress culminating in a highly successful 2014 with personal bests from 10k to the half.

"It has been a very good year for me.’’

He will be in action again on Sunday in the Calne Clock Challenge 10k, the final race in the Wiltshire Road Race League.

Top woman was won by Natalie Plummer, who romped over the finish line in 1hr 29mins 11secs well clear of Romsey’s Tamatha Ryan.

In third and claiming the Wiltshire title was Calne Running Club’s Denise Grech in 1:35.07, despite only starting the race as a pacer.

It was her second county title of the year having also won the Wiltshire 5000m on the track in the summer.

She said: “I was actually asked to pace 1:35 and wasn't actually racing on Sunday so it was a pleasant surprise to me when I found out that evening that I came third.’’ Grech was also first female vet 35.

Dominique Oughton was Wiltshire runner-up and led Marlborough Running Club to the women’s team title with support from Jennifer Macmaster, who was also third in the county championships, and Henrietta Mackinnon.

Former AVR member and now Team Bath AC runner Karen Butler, who lives in Atworth near Melksham, took the over 55s prize.

More than 400 took part in the event organised by Events Logic UK and sponsored by DSSmith Ltd and Care UK, with prizes supplied by Push active Devizes running store.

Next year, the date of the race will be brought forward to March 8 .

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