HONITON Running Club's Jill Harrison won the veterans' over-50 prize in the Bristol half marathon.

The 52-year-old former British international clocked a time of 1hr 27mins 06secs to finish 25th woman overall and pick up a £100 sports voucher.

Harrison revealed she wasn't going to run on Sunday after a sore foot but her decision to go ahead looks like being amply rewarded.

The leading local woman was Lucy Commander, of South West Road Runners, who was a below-par 20th (1:23.22) after a recent cold.

"I'm gutted with that," said Commander. "I came down with a cold last Sunday and while I felt okay in training on Friday I knew at halfway that there was nothing in my legs."

Exeter Harriers' Lee Salter clocked 1:23.38 on his half marathon debut despite spending the summer running the 400m hurdles, the 4x400m relay, tackling the steeplechase and even clearing the odd pole vault to gain points in the British League campaign.

"I'm building up for the New York marathon so I'm pretty pleased with that," said Salter, who is hoping to break three hours on his debut in the Big Apple.

SWRR's Simon Tucker was the first local man home in 1:23.02.

Results, Bristol half marathon, local women: 20 Lucy Commander (SWRR) 1:23.22, 25 Jill Harrison (HRC, 1 W50) 1:27.06, 68 Davina Blanchard (SWRR, W40) 1:34.22, 71 Frances Bond (HRC, W45) 1:35.03, 100 Jennifer Burton (SWRR, W35) 1:37.37, Judy Davey (HRC, W45) 1:41.30. Local men (SWRR unless stated): 185 Simon Tucker 1:23.02, 313 Mark Payne 1:26.43, 652 Andrew Haydon (M45) 1:31.54, 691 Chris Dupain (Exm) 1:32.23, 695 Julian Gigg (HRC, M40) 1:32.25, 753 Stephen King (M40) 1:33.03, 1112 Richard Harris (HRC, M50) 1:36.09, 2073 David Simpson (M40) 1:42.38, 2181 Phil Chivers (M45) 1:43.13, 2362 Robert Scovell 1:44.11, 2846 Graham Partridge (M55) 1:46.51

Mark Cowen had a day to forget in the World Duathlon Age-Group Championships in Edinburgh.

The Exeter Harrier, who works for Ironbridge Runner in the events team, travelled north with high hopes but suffered and finished outside the top 30 in the 30-35 age category.

"I had a shocker to be honest," said Cowen. "I think I probably over-cooked my training a tad and left my best form back in Exeter."

South West Road Runners' Stephen Sincock was sixth overall and first veteran over-50 in the Saltram 5k, with Kathleen Sincock third woman home.

Seaton-based runner Naomi Speake led from start to finish for a thumping victory in the under-17 women's race at the Bristol road mile on Saturday.

Speake clocked 5mins 31secs to finish 29 seconds clear of the field. Brother Adam was fourth in the under-17 men's race (4.59).

Local athletes should note that the Last Chance Saloon Open meeting on Sunday at Braunton has been cancelled due to a lack of entries.