WENDY Nicholls broke her personal best in the Gloucester five-mile road race at the weekend.

The Fairford international tore around the flat, fast course along the banks of the River Severn in a time of 26mins 56secs to clip seven seconds off her previous fastest time.

"My best time before was 27:03 in the Highworth 5 a few years ago so I am really pleased with that," said Nicholls.

"I am running well at the moment and it is a big confidence boost to run a personal best, especially to break 27 minutes.

"Also at the end I felt I had something left and I could have kept going at that pace for another mile or two."

Nicholls can put that belief to the test this Sunday when she lines up for the Bourton 10k road race.

"I ran Bourton a few years ago and it is also a fast course," added Nicholls. "If the weather is kind and there is a good field then I will have a go at breaking my 10k best time of 33mins 38secs. It would be great to get under 33:30."

Training partner Chris Illman, from Whelford, will also be running at Bourton.

Gloucester 5 miles - Men: 1 Dan Robinson (Stroud) 23.40 (course record); 2 Phil Parry (B&W, M45) 25.13; 3 Jeremy Bradley (Chelt) 25.24.

Women: 1 Wendy Nicholls (Cirencester, WV35) 26.56; 2 Sian Monahan (B&W, W45) 30:03; 3 Jo Fletcher (Sev) 30:31.

  • SWINDON Harriers' Rob Warensjo finished second in the Under 20 men's pole vault at the Birmingham Indoor meeting.

The 17-year-old Ridgeway school student from Wanborough, who was third in the South of England Championships last month, cleared 4.40m to equal his indoor best.

Also competing at Birmingham was Swindon sprinter Patrick North.

In his first indoor competition of the winter the 18-year-old, who concentrates on 400m outdoors, ran a personal best of 22.84secs in the Under 20 men's 200m and also clocked 7.34secs in his first attempt at 60m.

Birmingham Indoor meeting - Under 20 men, 60 hts: Patrick North (Swin) 7.34; 200 hts: North (Swin) 22.84; PV: 2 Robert Warensjo (Swin) 4.40.