THE largest ever entry for the British Masters Road Relays Championships at Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham saw Southampton Running Club take themselves to new levels in the face of fierce competition.

The Over-50 men's team competed over six legs of approximately 5km and started in a solid 30th position after the first leg and progressively worked their way foward to 16th place at the end.

They just lost out on 15th place to south coast neighbours Poole Runners - this out of a total entry of 60 teams.

The event was won by Oxford AC with Brighton AC second some five minutes ahead of SRC.

Team times in leg order: Mike Smith 18 mins 05 seconds, Peter Staunton 18.30, Ian Richardson 17.37, Neil Hotson 17.28, Dave Carter 18.20, Richie Pearson 19.21.

Later in the afternoon the veteran 40 men competed over eight legs of the same course in a field of 86 teams.

Having suffered from two squad members withdrawing late through injury, it was always going to prove tough to emulate the earlier team result.

However, a combination of gritty runs and a couple of inspired legs saw SRC pull through from 52nd after leg one to 37th at the end of the afternoon.

This relay was won by Ron Hill Cambuslaing (the Scottish National Team) for the third time in four years from Telford AC.

SRC times in leg order: Rob Thompson 17 mins 18 seconds, Jon Grainger 16.11, Ian Richardson 18.12, John O'Shea 17.01, Malcolm Riddle 17.15, Alan Tulip 18.39, Charlie Cooper 18.26; Martin Rosell 19.23.

The next major race on the road calendar will now be taking place at Brading on the Isle of Wight at their 10K on Sunday, June 20.

The race incorporates and will decide the outcome of the Hampshire Road Race League. A shuttle bus is arranged for all runners to take them from the ferry at Ryde (via Portsmouth) to Smallbrook Stadium at Brading.