Angus Maclean, of Team Southampton, was the only runner to beat 30 minutes in winning the men's race.

And Winchester's Lucy Elliott, who lives at Chandler's Ford, was the first woman home.

For Maclean, the race was a final warm-up before heading off to Fukuoka in Japan for the World Cross Country Championships.

The 22nd Eastleigh 10K had the biggest field so far - the organisers accepted 1,500 entries and more than 1,100 runners crossed the finish line on a sunny but windy afternoon.

The race also doubled as the Inter Counties 10K Championship, which was being staged in Hampshire for the first time, and teams came from as far as Lancashire and North Wales to take part. The host county did well with victory in the women's race ahead of Surrey and Lancashire, while Surrey took revenge in the men's race, leaving Hampshire second and Lancashire again third.

But leading times were well outside the course record. Race director, Malcolm Price, said: "We were lucky that the weather turned milder. But a chill wind was blowing - and you never get back what you lose going into the wind."

By halfway, the race was dominated by four runners and Maclean broke away in the last two kilometres to storm home with a 13-second lead over the second man, Jermayne Mays, of Kent AC. Maclean recorded 29min 47sec and Mays 30min exactly - just two seconds ahead of the third man, Phil Wicks of Belgrave Harriers.

Lucy Elliott clocked 33min 36sec to take the women's race, comfortably ahead of Olympic hopeful, Jade Wright, of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, who is also a member of race sponsors Team B&Q.

Winchester and District AC - Lucy Elliott, Karen Hazlitt, Georgia Benson and Carol Francis - also claimed the women's team prize. They finished ahead of Southampton RC - Erica Sheldon, Amy Campbell, Karen Rushton and Siobhan Mitchell. The men's team prize went to Belgrave Harriers with Team Southampton - Angus Maclean, John Beattie, Owain Jones and Neil Phillips - second.

Winchester and District AC - Nick Anderson, Duncan Wightman, Matthew King and Jason Perry - took fourth team place in the men's race.

Earlier in the afternoon, around 700 juniors pounded round Fleming Park in the 2K Fun Runs. A special prize of £100 was awarded to Berrywood Primary School, Hedge End, which entered more than 210 runners.

For the first time, a health fair was held at Fleming Park Leisure Centre in conjunction with the race. Organiser Steve Collins said the aim was to bring home to youngsters the importance of exercise and healthy eating. The junior runners all received T-shirts and "gold medals" for their efforts.

Fot the full main race results and times see this week's edition of the Hampshire Chronicle.