HEREFORD Triathlon Club started the year well with a clutch of successes in the 29th running of the Wye Valley Runners 10-kilometre road race.

Luke Moseley was the overall winner of the men’s race while the club’s trio of Sarah Holton, Claire Hebblethwaite and Kylie Mansfield claimed the women’s team prize.

A field of 211 runners braved the flood waters to take part with water on the tow-path and in Belvedere Lane requiring a start and finish on the cycle path on Great Western Way for the first time.

This meant that the course was slightly longer than the advertised 10km.

But dry conditions overhead saw Moseley come home first in 35.45, just 10 seconds ahead of James Richards, of Wye Valley Runners, with James Rose, of Severn AC, third in 36.45.

Richards’ fine run helped the Wye Valley trio, which also included John Pullen and Greg Wood, to the men’s team prize.

Pullen was also the winner of the Alex Moore Memorial Trophy.

Myshola Kirkham, of Coventry Godiva Harriers, was a convincing winner of the women’s race, completing the course in a time of 40.52. Satu Haikala, of Brecon AC, and Niki Morgan, of Chepstow, finished second and third respectively. The course was completed in under an hour by 173 of the runners with £57.09 collected for Hereford Haven Breast Cancer, the Wye Valley Runners charity of the year.

“Wye Valley Runners wish to thank all of the runners for supporting this event and also to the pedestrians and cyclists on the Great Western Way for their tolerance and understanding,” said club spokesman Mike Shaw.

Results: Men: Overall: 1 Luke Moseley (Hereford Triathlon Club) 35.45; 2 James Richards (Wye Valley Runners) 35.55; 3 James Rose (Severn AC) 36.45. V/40: Matthew Scriven (Mercia) 38.53. V/45: John Pullen (Wye Valley Runners) 37.35. V/50: Ian Smith (Severn AC) 39.06. V/55: Kevin Burke (Stourbridge RC) 39.30. V/60: Steve Herington (Hereford Couriers) 44.14. V/65: Andy Houghton (Tavistock AC) 48.58. V/70: Brian Symonds (Wye Valley Runners) 51.34. Women: Overall: 1 Myshola Kirkham (Coventry Godiva Harriers) 40.52; 2 Satu Haikala (Brecon AC) 42.38; 3 Niki Morgan (Chepstow AC) 43.47. V/35: Becki Ansfield (Wye Valley Runners) 46.21. V/40: Satu Haikala (Brecon AC) 42.38. V/45: Niki Morgan (Chepstow AC) 43.47. V/50: Julie Caseley (Malvern Joggers) 52.27. V/55: Gillian McCann (Malvern Joggers) 49.47. V/60: Margaret Monk (Parc Bryn Bach) 52.54.