A WINDOW in the weather allowed an improvement in many participants' times in the second round of Minehead Seafront Races.

The Under 10s' 0.8 mile course from the Seafront amusements to the Red Lion and back saw Michael Hutchinson, confident after last months' win, aggressively hit the front, but not for long.

New boy from Minehead Middle School James Greatorex, was soon in contention and he and the Danesfield boy were locked together until, in the last dash, Greatorex managed to put two seconds between them.

Despite being beaten, Hutchinson improved his time by eight seconds over last month.

Similar improvements were clocked by third-placed Ryan Strong and Calum and Iain Buchanan.

Newcomer Patrick Reed, from Minehead First School, is one to watch — finishing in 5-35, he only needs a little improvement to be in contention.

Starting their race with the Under 14s, the Under 12s can be sucked into an initial speed faster than they would normally race at.

So Danesfield's Peter Baker should not be disappointed with his slower time than last month when he beat all under 12s and under 14s.

In trying to keep pace with a newcomer in the U14s, he lost ground in the latter stages, but the gap between himself and second-placed Callum Knight was much greater than last month. Callum just managed to fend off a late surge by Seb Cardoso from Queen's, Taunton.

In the girls' race, Lydia Rosling again put nearly a minute between herself and Taunton's Fiona Pascall.

Danesfield's Rosie Wilson may have been disappointed in only equalling her third place of last month, but an improvement of half a minute on her time should encourage her.

With so many new faces from Tiverton and Taunton in the Under 14s race, it was easy to overlook first timer Jamie Quenault from West Somerset Community College at the start.

Julian Morrish, last month's winner from Tiverton, although fitter and faster than four weeks ago, was no match for Jamie, who finished 100 metres ahead.

In the girls' event, Dulverton's Joanne Leighton ran very well but again missed out by 15 seconds to Tiverton's Melanie Moore.

RESULTS

(in 1, 2, 3 order)

0.8m Under 10s: Boys, James Greatorex (Minehead Middle) 5-12, Michael Hutchinson (Danesfield) 5-40, Ryan Strong (Danesfield) 5-33; Girls, Zoe Round (King's) 5-46, Tanya Batten (Taunton Prep) 5-51, Alice Round (King's) 6-05.

1.6m Under 12s: Boys, Peter Baker (Danesfield) 10-07, Callum Knight (Danesfield) 10-14, Seb Cardoso (Queen's) 10-16; Girls, Lydia Rosling (Danesfield) 10-43, Fiona Pascall (Taunton) 11-33, Laura Parker (Minehead Middle) 11-42.

1.6m Under 14s: Boys, Jamie Quenault (WSCC) 9-51, Julian Morrish (THS) 10-04, Peter Baker (Danesfield) 10-07; Girls, Melanie Moore (Tiverton) 10-19, Joanne Leighton (Dulverton) 10-34, Megan Thomas (King's) 11.14.

The 47 runners who lined up for the main 3-mile senior race included three recent winners from three rival clubs meeting for the first time.

From the start, last month's winner Royston Green, Robert Smyth, last season's unbeaten champion from Taunton, and local Paul Govier, the previous season's undisputed winner, set a fast pace.

Inseparable in the first mile, a chink started to develop between the front two and Govier, and half way the gap was 15 seconds, with Green and Smyth still locked together.

Further down the field, local youngsters Mathew Sully and Mike Auton were fighting to bridge the 15 second split between themselves and the flagging Govier.

At the final turn at Culvercliffe Green surged and, with no reaction from Smyth, realised he was home and dry.

Knocking 13 seconds off his last month's time, he finished in a personal best of 15-24.

Notable local performances with big improvements on their previous month's times were recorded by Allan Dyer, Clive Goulty, Mike Till, Anne Coles, Laura White and Janet Marshall.

RESULTS

(in 1, 2, 3 order)

Senior men, Royston Green (Exeter) 15-24, Robert Smyth (Taunton) 15-40, Paul Govier (Minehead) 16-17; Veteran O40, Ricky Lewis (Minehead), Clive Goulty (Minehead) 19-04, John Round (King's) 19-36; Veteran O50, Graham Sizer (Minehead) 18-08, Allan Dyer (Minehead) 18-38, Roger Clark (Minehead) 23-23; Veteran O60, John Lethaby (Minehead) 21-19, Mike Till (Minehead) 22-17; Under 17s, Mathew Sully (WSCC) 16-58, Mike Auton (WSCC) 17-04, Andrew Baker (WSCC) 17-41.

Senior ladies, Caroline Lewis (Queen's) 20-47, Charlotte Fisher (Taunton) 21-03, Lisa Hindley (King's) 21-30; Ladies veteran O45, Anne Coles (Minehead) 22-50, Janet Marshall (Minehead) 24-48.