The Lightning Bolt Fast 10K by DBMax Events does exactly what it says on the tin – fast, flat 10K racing for allcomers and all abilities, with the added spice of competition for Wiltshire Championships and South West Inter Counties Championships awards.

The latest Lightning Bolt 10K race, with help from the legendary DBMax Pace Team (pictured above) was held on Sunday 13 August and it certainly lived up to its billing with the first two women going below the previous course record and a near miss for the men's record at the front of a field of just over 400 runners.

Ben Cole (Tonbridge AC, 30:14) had set the men's record last year on one of the fastest 10K courses in the UK, with an elevation of just 15 metres. The women's record stood at 35:54 since April this year to Amber Gascoigne (W40, Team Bath) in an earlier edition of this race.

With Ben Cole absent it was Harry Smith (City of Salisbury AC, 30:37) who was on a mission in damp conditions on the frying pan and handle-shaped course that runs from Langley Burrell Village Hall to a loop comprising Kellaways, East Tytherton, West End and Avon before returning past St Giles Church and crossing the River Avon for the finish at Langley Burrell.

Smith missed the course record by 23 seconds with his new PB by 44 seconds as he cruised home in isolation ahead of Josh Benford (Bideford AAC, 31:14 PB) and Jacob Landers (Tamar Trotters, 32:07). Smith added the Wiltshire title to his collection of awards on the day.

Lightning struck twice in the women's race as W40 Anna Harrold (Truro RC, 34:46.3 PB) and W40 Kate Reed (Bristol & West AC, 34:46.9) pushed each other to take more than a minute off the course record. Both times will be rounded to 34:47, so they would seem to be the new joint record holders and joint fastest W40 athletes in the UK rankings for 2023!

Third place fell to W35 Vicki Ingham (Poole Runners) in 35:54, which equalled the previous record. The Wiltshire champion was W45 Aine Halton-Hanley (Chippenham Harriers, 37:14) – who shaved two seconds from her 2021 PB.

Entries for this terrific race are stripped back to £14/£16 for competitors who opt not to receive a medal as DBMax Events are trying to reduce the amount of waste they create, reduce their carbon footprint and make their events affordable for all.

Event details and results are at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo of DBMax Pace Team from DBMax Events on Facebook