New Forest Marathon
LAUREN Coates led home a trio of Stubby ladies who took on the New Forest Half Marathon.
The 25th running of the race started and finished in New Milton, taking runners on an undulating route to Wotton and through the villages of Birchy Hill, Sway and Tiptoe.
A total of 1504 runners completed the race in hot conditions which prompted medical crews to attend to at least one runner who collapsed a mile from the finish. Organisers also used chip timing for the first time.
Lauren finished 875th in a time of 2hrs 1min 11sec, followed by Julie Woodman in 2:06.58 and 993rd, with Liz Hall clocking 2:14.54 and 1166th.
Former New Forest Runner, Lee Rodriguez, but competing as an unattached runner, won the race in 1:10.48, and the ladies race was won by Winchester & District AC's Kathy Bailey in 1:18.39 for sixth overall.
The marathon, which counted towards the Hampshire and Dorset Championships, was won by Mark Hargreaves from Bournemouth AC in 2hrs 38min 30sec. No Stubbies were among the 439-strong field where the leading lady was Lynda Faulkner from Dorset Doddlers who was 35th overall in 3:16.36.