REIGNING road running men’s team champions City of Salisbury put up a real fight to retain their Hampshire League title in the scorching hot D-Day 10k deciding fixture at Portsmouth.

And, after a strong showing at the front of the field, they held their strongest challengers Stubbington Green AC at bay.

Ben Brewster led the Salisbury charge, taking sixth place with 33min 44sec; Tom Cummings was seventh with 33.55, Stuart Holloway eighth in 34.07 and Mike Brewster 15th in 35.42. Stubbington could muster only one finisher in the top ten. Final league placings are subject to confirmation by the league.

Salisbury ladies too performed with distinction, Faye Parker setting yet another personal best with 38.28, Sally Greenslade completing her 12th league run in 42.33 and Ruth Thom also setting a new mark with 43.27. The ladies’ team is expected to be declared second overall.

Other Salisbury finishers were Kevin Tilley with 36.40, Aaron Wilson 37.11, Kevin Daniels 41.41, Mike White 44.08, Nick Willetts 44.19, Sarah Brewster 44.55, Craig Murphy 46.08, Melenie Murphy 50.15, Rod Smith 50.30, Andy Robbins 51.07, Liz Roberts 52.44 and Will Witt 58.08.

The City of Salisbury club also dominated the annual Wiltshire athletics awards in a prize presentation at Devizes, where they took three of the six main athletic titles and were nominated in a fourth.

Lizzie Clifford was voted the county’s female athlete of the year, Jake Ness the year’s young athlete, Skye Allen the young female athlete and Gordon Wiltshire was shortlisted as male veteran of the year. Ali Sloane was named official of the year and Dave Amey was shortlisted in the same category.

  • A record number of 83 young athletes pulled on their Salisbury vests and travelled to Wessex League rivals Andover to face tough opposition from clubs across the south.

Athletes aged between nine and 18 featured, gaining personal bests in events including long jump, throws, middle distance running, hurdling and more.

Jacob Collins beat the club’s under 15 shot put record with a massive throw of 11m 85 and talented U17 sprinter Austen Lane rewrote the league record book for the U17 100m, which he ran in a rapid 11.1 seconds following a clear win in the 200m.

There were also good displays from Alice Smith, managing the double in the 200 and 300m.