Avon Valley Running Club secretary Darren Wrintmore praised his team’s work ethic after they picked up a spectacular medal haul in Corsham on Sunday.

The side were competing in the annual St George’s Day 10k race and took first place in the team event.

Veteran coach Alan Hayes was hired by the club at the end of 2008 and Wrintmore feel he has been instrumental in the upturn in form.

“That’s the first time we’ve won the team prize on St George’s Day,” he said.

“We brought in Alan as a new head coach and he has changed training to include a lot of drills such as 200m interval sessions.

“His philosophy is if you put the effort in then you will get the results. Our team has certainly put some hard work in.”

Avon Valley’s Steve Newcastle was victorious in the male veteran category in a time of 35 minutes 44 seconds and was the fifth person home overall.

The male squad also claimed the team prize with Newcastle leading the way alongside Kevin Sparing, Robert Ayling and Alistair Bartlett.

Sparing’s time of 37:06 was also enough to earn him first place in the male supervet division.

The outright winner was Peter Grist from Cardiff Athletics Club in a time of 33:36 and the leading lady was Hannah Lankenal-Devey from Chippenham Harriers in a time of 40:55.

Zina Marchant from Team Bath won the female supervet category in 43:41 while Corsham Running Club’s Ellie Vincent was the premier female veteran in 43:40.

Simon Nott in 35:34 and Hannah Simmons in 44:28 took the junior prizes.

The womens team prize was won by the Chippenham Harriers’ team of Lankenav-Devey, Sarah Strange, Sue Stewart-Tanner and Edwina Shirazian.