SWINDON Harriers finished second in the recent Wiltshire Road Relays at Castle Combe race circuit, losing out to a strong Team Bath side.

Harriers took control of the 46-team event early on, with Chris Reade ending the first 6k leg in 19:00, some 50 seconds ahead of Team Bath’s Dave Coales and Avon Valley Runners’ Joby Hobbs.

However, a 19:58 second leg by Max Hazell allowed Team Bath to take the lead and solid performances by Alex Jones and Alex Hill secured victory in a total time of 1:21:18.

That was more than a minute ahead of Swindon Harriers - for whom Simon Dill ran the fastest third leg - and despite the fastest overall leg by Michael Towler (18:58).

Avon Valley Runners were 34 seconds behind and had to settle for third place.

Harriers’ B team, comprising Luke Byrne, Barrie Brown, James Neale and Simon Byrne, finished fifth in 1:30:05.

In the women’s race, Avon Valley Runners were dominant with their senior, veteran and super-veteran teams taking a 1-2-3 ahead of local rivals Chippenham Harriers and Frome RC.

The Avon Valley Runners team of Rory Tucker, James Welbourn, Alex Tucker and Cameron Price finished ahead of Chippenham Youth and Team Bath in the junior race.

Meanwhile, two Swindon Harriers veterans had medal success for their respective nations in the British & Irish Masters XC Championships in Belfast recently.

Swindon-born Molloy, 63, who was making his debut for England, was third in the male vet 60 category and the second English finisher in 30:04 over the 8km distance.

Therefore he picked up a bronze medal and he also scooped team gold courtesy of his and England’s efforts.

Gardner, from Airdrie, was representing Scotland for the 13th year and clocked 28:49.

The 56-year-old finished fifth in the male vet 55 category and was the second Scottish runner across the line.

The Scottish team finished second in the male vet 55 category, giving Gardner a silver medal.