RUNNERS faced the highest temperatures of the year on Sunday for the Newmarket 10km race.

The event attracted 246 competitors, was organised by Newmarket Joggers and started from Stetchworth, a village just south of Newmarket. The route followed country roads and bridleways and included a gruelling incline from 7km.

The event was the second road race in Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners’ (GFDR) championship series.

The race was won by Tristan Windley of Springfield Striders in 34mins 17secs. Fastest for GFDR, in 24th position, was men’s captain Dan Reynolds in 41mins 10secs. Ashwin Shah finished in 41mins 53secs, just seven seconds ahead of Paul McKenna.

Geoff Maidment (44mins 4secs) was followed by David Andrews (45mins 32secs) and Ian Lawson (46mins 28secs). Natalie Herbert (48mins 14secs) the fastest GFDR’s woman, finishing just ahead of Gillian Robertson (48mins 47secs).

John Hardy finished in 51min 20secs, followed by Lee Prowse (57mins 9secs) and Gavin Foster (58mins 29secs).

GFDR will be hosting the Essex County Championship 10 km road race at Felsted on Sunday (July 14).