JACK Bancroft defended his title at Exmouth Harriers' Fulfords Five road race on Sunday.

However, unlike last year, this time he wore the colours of Wells City Harriers rather than Exeter Harriers.

Bancroft trimmed 10 seconds off his time of 2011 to win in 25mins 54secs.

Torbay's Lee Turner was second in 26.36, three seconds ahead of Tamar Trotter Chris Sabine.

Exmouth's Dave Stone was fourth overall and second in the male over-40 category and Exeter-based Steve Goss sixth and third man over-40 in 28.01.

South West Road Runner (SWRR) Ian Pang was eighth overall in 28.58 and second man over-45, Tiverton's Kerry Roberts, celebrated moving into the men's over-50 ranks with a category win in 29.44 and was 10th overall.

A rare outing for Exeter Harrier Gordon Seward saw him come 13th overall in 30.30 to take the over-55 section.

The first three women came in one after the other in 15th, 16th and 17th positions. Ami Yetton from Plymouth was first in 30.37, Serane Stone from Tiverton second in 30.51 and Alison Mcewing from Erme Valley third in 31.00.

SWRR's Karen Cook had one of the best runs of the day, finishing 27th overall, fourth woman and first in her over-50 category in 32.35.

Exmouth Harrier Roger Rowe was 47th in 34.16 and a comfortable winner of the over-65 section, while Newton Abbot's Kieran Dore won the over-60s category in 34.29.

Local athletes took the first three places in the over-70 men's section, with Sidmouth's John Perratt first in 37.03, Exmouth's Ray Elston second in 37.53 and Mick Allen, also from Exmouth, third in 40.34.

Newton Abbot's Ann Darby was 76th and first woman over-55 in a time of 36.03.

Other Exmouth Harriers finishers were: Denis Gildea 23rd in 32.15, Marc Cox 37th in 33.41, Caroline Pleasence 48th in 34.19, Michael Moreton finished in 43.46, Alison Wilkinson in 44.47, Lisa Broad in 45.04, Sally Atherton in 48.53, Lin Western in 1:04.09 and Sandra Bate in 1:04.10

Other Sidmouth Running Club finishers were: Aaron Smith was 30th in 32.43, Adrian Organ 78th in 36.11, Colin Flood 91st in 37.46, Sarah Brown 103rd in 39.10, Brian Gosling 127th in 41.25 and John Doherty 129th in 41.53

Other South West Road Runners finishers were: Matt Bellemy 11th in 29.57, Simon Tucker 21st in 31.45, Barry Frost 33rd and third over-50 in 32.56, Graham Reynolds 34th in 32.59, John Caswell 39th and third over-55 in 33.49, Amanda Perry 42nd and second over-45 in 34.01, Alistair Ferguson 43rd in 34.04, Jim Durston 49th in 34.22, with Samantha Beare finishing in 34.34, Ayse Vahiboglu in 34.47, Jo Pearce in 35.12, Neil Lawson in 35.32, Kathryn Hough in 35.46, Neil Popham 36.16, Paul Madge in 38.07, Dave Pressley in 39.04, James Ferguson in 45.33, Alixandra Reynolds in 46.09 and Anne Devlin in 47.44

Other Newton Abbot AC finishers were: Carl Bennett 46th in 34.13, Ken Tinkler in 34.44, Claire Gillard in 38.41, Amanda Rowlings in 38.55 and Jeanne Smith in 40.26

Teignbridge Trotters finishers were: Carie-Annne Hewings 45th in 34.10, Gary Watson in 35.44, Sue Hewings in 36.21, Stephen Walllace in 40.57, Chris Rogers in 41.09 and Steve Rawlinson in 44.08

Dawlish Coasters finishers were: Simon Bundy in 36.41 and Sarah Watson in 49.28

Other local finishers were: Michelle Ellis (Exeter Harriers) 28th in 32:37, Nicki Ashworth (Haldon Trail Runners) in 38.22, Brian Garner (Michelmores) in 39.58 and Phil Stansfield (Okehampton Running Club) in 48.24.

Axe valley runners

Alex Todd was leading the 17-mile Four Trigs at half-way but then he began to struggle and finally finished seventh in 2:31.18, 10 minutes behind the winner.

Other AVR finishers were: Birthday boy Chris Keeffe 13th in 2:48.34, Guy Lavender 20th in 3:08.48, Graham Newton 28th in 3:14.32, Eleanor Wood 30th in 3:14.33, Garry Perratt 31st in 3:14.34, Andy Bowman 36th in 3:21.50, Sue Tubbs 56th in 3:47.08, Jess Tubbs helped Alison Gould, Claire Moles, Tracey Stone, Kelly Dack and Sam Tooze finish in 3:43.56 with Jon Day 76th in 4:24.17.

Three AVRs travelled to Bishops Caundle to take part in the Blackmoor Vale half marathon.

Geoff Woodward finished in 1:41.16, Steve Reynolds in 1:42.06 and Mike Giles in 1:56.40 in his first half marathon.

Haldon Trail Runners

Matthew Atkins completed the Bristol Park Run at Ashton Court in a blisteringly fast time of 18.42.