The fifth annual Exbury 10k once again lived up to its reputation.

With a start and last-kilometre finish through the grounds of Exbury Gardens (race sponsors) and the shrubs coming into bloom, praise heaped on it from previous runners on the Runners World website was not misplaced.

Runners from as far as Teignbridge, Belper, Newbury and Keswick made a weekend of it in the New Forest.

Nearly 400 runners turned up at Exbury for the early morning race start – round the gardens then downhill towards Lepe Foreshore for a classic view across the wetlands and The Solent on a reasonably still and sunny morning. Their return uphill to Exbury had the incentive of the final finish surroundings to encourage flagging spirits around eight kilometres.

Full story and results in today's Daily Echo