SIMON Byrne had no hesitation in delivering his verdict on his performance at the Tri-Counties Cross Country Championships – “my best yet.”

The 30-year-old Swindon Harrier continued his fine form, as the year draws to a close, with his first Wiltshire medal as he secured the silver behind two-time champion, Simon Nott.

Byrne said: “I have only run the Tri-Counties once before and I think I was down around 15th to 20th, so that is definitely my best cross country run yet.

“It is also my first Wiltshire county medal, so that is very pleasing. I am well chuffed with my run and everything seems to be working for me at the moment – and long may it continue.”

It was a sign of Byrne’s improving confidence that he attempted to stick with Nott when the Calne Running Club athlete moved up a gear on the first of the three big laps.

“I tried to stay on his shoulder, which I did for a while as I felt strong,” added Byrne.

“But as Simon pushed on with another runner from Taunton, I dropped off a bit and found myself pretty safe in third overall as there was quite a big gap to the next guy behind me.”

Nott surged clear to retain his title and confirm his status as Wiltshire’s premier distance runner, with Byrne a minute behind in third overall and second in the Wiltshire championships, with the bronze going to his fellow Harrier Sergio Martinez.

“I’m not used to beating Sergio but that is twice in a week, so he is either a bit below-par at the moment or I am racing a lot better – or maybe both,” added Byrne.

A year after her superb breakthrough victory in this event, Lakeside’s Catie O’Donoghue had to settle for third place overall and a silver medal in the Avon Championships.

The former Swindon Shin Splints runner, who is now racing for Bristol & West AC, made it clear she was not going to relinquish her senior women’s title without a fight as she surged clear with Taunton AC’s Kate Drew.

The pair quickly opened a big gap on the chasing group, and while Drew sustained her effort to finish well clear of the field, O’Donoghue paid for her efforts as she was caught by club-mate Izzy Talbot Price in the closing stages.

O’Donoghue said: “I set off way too fast with the girl that won – I loved it, though.”

In the young athletes’ races, there were a further two Wiltshire medals for Harriers runners, with bronzes for Jack Gunning in the U15 boys’ event and Lavinia Rai amongst the U15 girls.

In addition, Ella Spencer just missed out on a place on the podium with fourth position in the U13 girls’ race, while Samuel Rai was the fifth Wiltshire runner in the U13 boys’ age group.