WENDY Nicholls warmed up for Sunday's Reading half marathon by smashing her personal best in the Bourton 10k road race.

The British international from Fairford carved 23 seconds off her previous best time with 33mins 15secs over the flat, fast course in the Cotswolds.

It was Nichols' second PB in a week having run 26mins 56secs for five miles in Gloucester the weekend previously.

"My best before was 33:38 in Gloucester last year so I was really pleased with that," said Nicholls.

"Obviously you are always disappointed not to win but to come away with a time like that is a big consolation.

"Strangely I did not feel that great at the start but was strong in the last kilometre. I was only third then behind Michelle (Ross-Cope) and Emily Pidgeon but I managed to catch Emily."

But Nicholls could not get close to Ross-Cope as the City of Stoke runner set a new course record and personal best of 32:24 to underline the excellent conditions on the day.

"That run has given me a lot of confidence," added Nicholls.

"Now I am really looking forward to the Reading half marathon and I'll give that a real crack and see if I can beat my personal best of 72:38 there as well."

Also impressing at Bourton was Nicholls' training partner Chris Illman. The 20-year-old from Whelford had a stunning run to slash his personal best by 1mins 33secs with a time of 31:11 to finish third overall.

"It was also a new Cirencester AC club record and Chris was absolutely delighted," said Nicholls.

Stroud international marathon runner Dan Robinson dominated the men's race from the start to cross the line in a course record of 29mins 21secs.

RESULTS

Bourton 10k - Men: 1 Dan Robinson (Stroud) 29:21 (course record); 2 Steve Kimber (WSEH) 31:04; 3 Chris Illman (Ciren) 31:11; 4 Dan Merckel (Ox) 31:28; 5 Steve Millward (Gloucs) 31:29.

M40: 1 Steve Male (Ox) 31:03; 2 Mike Smith (BRR) 32:48; 3 Alistair Lockey (BRR) 32:56.

M45: 1 Steve Overton (Ox) 32:38. M50: Trevor Dixon (Oxon) 34:22. M55: Mick Taylor (Les Croups) 35:54. M60: Dave Parsons (Oxon) 37:10. M65: Ken Buckle (Chelt) 41:41. U18: Tom Jess (BRR) 37:27. Teams: Cheltenham & County Harriers (Dave Roper, Andy Prophet, Darren Jordan, John Norris).

Women:1 Michelle Ross-Cope (Stoke, W35) 32:24 (record/PB); 2 Wendy Nicholls (Ciren, W35) 33:15 (PB); 3 Emily Pidgeon (Gloucs, U20) 33:26 (PB); 4 Jo Brewer (Chelt) 35:11; 5 Nicky Nealon (Huncote) 35:25.

W35; 2 Sharon Sheppard (Woodstock) 38:45; 3 Michelle Bartlett (Banbury) 39;44. W40: Michelle Parsons (unatt) 36:25.W45: Zaraha Hyde-Peters (Cov God) 37:36. W50: Liz Clegg. (Tri Team Glos) 41:38. W55: Carol Cowley (Tewkesbury) 43:36. W60: Kate Williamson (unatt) 43:26. U18: Steph Lane (BRR) 38:10. Teams; Cirencester AC (Nicholls, Jane Wassell, Sarah Cooper).