Smart Alec on podium after an uphill battle

Multi-terrain specialist Alec Woods was back on the podium whenthe 17th Stickler ten-mile race was staged by Dorset Doddlers nearBlandford Forum.

The Larkhall-based runner finished third in a big field of 414runners, completing a tough challenge which included more than1,500ft of vicious climbing over the peaks of Okeford Beacon, HodHill and Hambledon Hill in a time of 66mins 21secs.

Woods was also the first veteran home, the 47-year-old showingterrific form to finish just over two minutes behind winner andformer TeamBath Buccaneers hockey player Tom Fisher.

"It was okay but I think I over-did the training beforehand andblew up after the first big hill," said Woods.

"I was with Tom until three miles, then lost it downhill but heldit together for the rest of the race."

The result continues Woods' good form in off-road events, whichhas seen him finish third in the Black Mountain race in Wales andrecord some good results on the Welsh fell running circuit.

TeamBath club-mate John Kerley crept inside the top 100 in 93rdspot, while Margaret Thompson finished 232nd. David Vaudin was theleading TeamBath runner in the Calne Leisure Centre 10k road race onSunday.

Vaudin finished eighth in 38mins 07secs, while club-mate GaryHughes also made the top 20 of the 155 finishers in 41:04.

Overall victory went to Bristol & West AC junior Zak Tobias in33:45, while the top woman was Wiltshire marathon international AmyChalk, who was seventh overall in 37:15.

Andy Boyce clocked 85mins 16secs in the Bupa Great South Run ten-mile road race in Portsmouth on Sunday.

Helen Pettemerides (85:17) and Jan Rambridge (1:49.02) also tookpart.

Just three weeks after running the Amsterdam Marathon, DaveCoales lines up for the 26.2 miles challenge again - only this timein the Big Apple. The TeamBath AC chairman is running the New Yorkmarathon on Sunday for the third time in what will be his 16thmarathon in total.

"I'm running the New York Marathon to raise money for theNightingales Children's Project," said Coales.

"I'm not looking for a marathon personal best but for a time ofaround 2hrs 45mins, which would be a PB by five minutes for me inNew York."

Nightingales is a charity based in Romania to help disadvantagedchildren and anyone who wants to sponsor Coales should email him atdave_coales@hotmail.com. Loren Bleaken is included in a strongTeamBath under-20 women's squad heading to Mansfield on Saturday forthe English Cross Country Relays. TeamBath should also be wellrepresented at the second Gloucester Cross Country fixture atBlackridge, Gloucester, on the same day.

The inaugural Bath Hilly half marathon multi-terrain event willbe held on Sunday, November 27 from Bath Racecourse.

The two-lap off-road race will incorporate 1,650ft of climbingand entries have been restricted to 250.

The event is being organised by Trionium on behalf of Bath WestRotary Club and for further details see www.trioni-um.com/bathhillyhalf.

Entries for the very popular Bromham Xmas Pud 10k race on Sunday,December 4 are open. For further details, see www.bro mhampuddin-grun.co.uk.