It was a fine weekend for Patrick Mochan as he propelled himself up the South West rankings after a fine performance in the Rome marathon.

Mochan travelled to the Italian capital to complete the 26.2-mile race on Sunday, and he produced a great time to lead a group of very fast finishers from Swindon Harriers around the streets of the Eternal City.

A rapid time of 2:41.45 made him the third Briton to finish the race and has moved him up to third place in South West Rankings on his debut on this course, finishing in 31st place overall.

He was not the only Swindon runner to perform well as Harry Woods set a personal best for a marathon as he ran 2:44.13, Ben McIntyre also ran quicker than he ever had before for a time of 2:56.30, and Dan Patel completed the distance in a very impressive 3:09.14 on his debut.

Coach Kevin Buttle said: “These guys first started training together as kids and it is great that they are still friends.

“I’m particularly pleased for Harry who has been more thoughtful about his training and is enjoying the benefits of training with the senior men.”

Closer to home, Simon Byrne attempted half that distance for the first time in six years at the Bath half marathon.

He ran a personal best time as he ran around the streets of Bath in 68 minutes and 46 seconds to finish 19th out of the entire field.

Byrne said after the race: “It was okay but honestly it was a bit far for me. It was a bit of fun to see what I could do but now it is all about the road relays for the club and then the track.”

There was also the climax of the junior cross-country season this weekend as many Swindon runners headed to Pontefract in Yorkshire for the England Schools Cross Country Championships.

Representing both Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, three Swindon Harriers finished in the top 100 of the field, Ella Spencer being the highest finisher for Gloucestershire in 55th place in the inter girls’ race, Anubis Molina-Zekri came home 70th in the inter boys’ age group, and Harry Burdekin finished 91st in the junior boys’ race.

Finley Byrne, Jesse Bryant, and Alex Leak were all in the top 200 in the junior boys’ race and Elsie Scrase and Ellie Charlesworth on their debuts in the junior girls’ race.