A SIZEABLE contingent of 35 City of Salisbury runners opened the new season in the Hampshire road race league, contested by athletes from across the south, at a warm and humid Overton 5mile where they took four notable fourths, writes JOHN RUSKIN.

Stuart Holloway showed he has lost none of his zest during the summer month, crossing the line in fourth place in a good 26min 41sec to lead the club home.

Supervet Mike Brewster was fourth in his 50 plus age group and fourth counter in the club’s men’s A team with a speedy 30.55, the other top team spots going to Richard Davidson (29.48) and Lee Syrett (30.52).

In the women’s race, Ruth Thom took a well-earned fourth place overall and second place in her 35 plus age group with 31.30.

She was supported in the A team by Sarah Brewster’s 37.27 and Marie Shone’s 40.36.

The men’s B team were given a strong start by James Hassan with 31.32, and he was followed by the close-packing trio of James Mills 32.17, Angus Paton 32.32 and Craig Weatherburn 33.35.

The women’s B team comprised Alison Scott 41.26, Rebecca Lockwood 43.38 and Rachel Bala 43.55.

Other Salisbury finishers were: Joe Cornwall 34.07, Mike White 34.24, Richard Larcombe 34.26, John Duffy 34.49, Phil Perry 35.29, Jon Kershaw 35.33, Marc Hankins 36.15, Craig Murphy 36.22, Nick Hudson 36.25, Steve Mitchell 37.02, Stuart Robertson 37.21 and Barry Vincent 41.13, Colin Warrington 42.08, Jane Whiteley 43.46, David Smith 45.23, Jackie Hassan 48.14, Richard Bidmead 50.21, Helen Carlton 51.08, Lesley Brown 52.05, Denise von Roretz 52.19 and Colin Martin 57.47.

The next fixture in the series is the Solent half marathon on September 23.