JOHNNY GILBY produced a storming run to claim victory in the tough Plym Valley Challenge race on Sunday.
The Devon-based Derby AC athlete (pictured) finished the multi-terrain course, measured at just over seven miles, nearly three minutes ahead of anyone else.
It was Gilby’s second victory in five days, having been the first runner home in Wednesday’s Armada 5k Series race at Saltram Park.
Gilby clocked 42 minutes and 37 seconds for the Plym Valley Challenge, with Tavistock’s Neil Barkell second in 45.20.
Erme Valley’s Alistair Bristow came third in 47.25, with his team-mate Neil Holmes just behind in 47.48. Plymouth Harriers’ Ross Farrer was fifth in 48.18.
There was a good race in the women’s event between Erme Valley Harrier Alison McEwing and Tamar Trotters’ Rebecca Ezra.
There was hardly anything between the pair until the long final hill, where McEwing pulled away to finish in 51.47, with Ezra coming home in 52.33.
Erme Valley veteran Cleo Perry was third women to finish in 55.27.
The event attracted around 180 runners, with 164 completing the difficult course.
The race started and finished at Tor Bridge High School in Estover and took runners down into the Plym Valley and along the old tram and logging tracks to Hatshill Woods below Bickleigh Village and then back along the river to Plym Bridge. The last mile from Plym Bridge to Estover was all up hill.
The event was organised by Instinctive Sports and helped raise money for St Luke’s Hospice.
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