FLETCHER Hart and Kiya Dee are both celebrating successful starts to their 2020 racing programmes, writes Kevin Fahey.

Dee, who is a member of Highworth Running Club, notched up back-to-back wins last weekend as she extended her amazing unbeaten run this winter.

Firstly, on Saturday the 14-year-old cruised to victory in the under 15 girls’ title at the Gloucestershire Cross Country Championships and then the following day added the South West title at Yeovil.

“Saturday was a much easier race and I had to work a lot harder on Sunday on a tough course but I enjoyed both races,” said Dee.

Indeed, on Saturday Dee finished a staggering 1min 11secs clear of her rivals as she led from gun to tape but on Sunday, facing some of the best girls in the West Country, she had to work a lot harder before pulling clear of Devon’s Scarlett Livingstone by 17 seconds to add a gold to the silver she won a year ago.

Hart, who is a member of Swindon Harriers where he is coached by John Dill, was also a winner at the Gloucestershire Championships with the 13-year-old securing the under 15 boys’ title by 14 seconds having last year finished runner-up.

Hart couldn’t repeat Dee’s feat at Yeovil the following day but in a strong field he again performed well to place eighth.

“I’m pretty pleased with that,” said Hart.

As a bonus both runners are in line to represent the South West at the London Mini Marathon at the end of April. Dee, who ran the race last year, guaranteed her selection with Sunday’s victory while Hart will have to wait before his selection is confirmed.

Kiya’s sister Taya, who finished fifth on Sunday, is also in line to get a place on the London start line.

Swindon Harriers’ Kelly-Marie Marsh also ran in the under 15s race at Yeovil and finished 11th, a massive improvement on the 32nd position she achieved 12 months ago while Lavinia Rai was 27th in the under 17 women’s event.

In the under 13 girls’ race the Harriers pair of Ella Spencer and Maisie McCalla placed 19th and 22nd respectively of the 73 finishers.

Jack Gunning and Joseph Knibb were 40th and 53rd in the under 17 men’s race and Josh Burns was 11th in the under 15s, just 20 seconds behind Hart. Samuel Rai and Thomas Nicholls placed 26th and 55th respectively in the under 13s age group.

In the senior women’s race former Slinn All Stars runner Catie O’Donoghue finished 18th to help her club Bristol & West retain their team title.