Dominic Jones warms to winter task with a flying start

Jones was a comfortable winner of the 11 kilometre Breidden Hills race, the first of the competition which is sponsored by High Sports from Shrewsbury.

The Mercia Fell Runners athlete led throughout as he won the race for the first time in his fastest ever time on the course, coming home in 58 minutes six seconds.

Following Jones home in second place was Shrewsbury AC's Scott Hall in 60.26.

Mark Palmer, of Mynydd du, completed the top three in a time of 61.31.

Mercia's Rachel Parker took the honours in the women's race, finishing sixth overall in 62.02.

Mel Price, who was this year's overall silver medallist in the British Championships, was runner-up in 66.24.

Kate Beecher, from the South Wales team Les Croupiers, took third in 69.29 with a total of 103 runners finishing the race.

Other winners: Men Over-50 Ian Grindley (Mercia) 61.52; Over-45 Darren Fishwick (Chorley) 65.07; Over-40 Roland Stafford (Mercia) 65.29; Over-60 Stephen Moran (Northern Masters) 69.47; Over-55 Nicholas Holmes (Tattenhall) 73.23; Over-65 Andrew Davies (Bridgnorth RC) 67.32; Over-70, Guy Whitmarsh (Croft Ambrey) 85.02

Women: Over-45, Val Swingler (Shropshire Shufflers) 72.19; Over-40 Kirsty Briggs (Mercia); Over-55 Gill Evans (Shrewsbury AC) 86.48; Over-60 Lesley Pymm (Bournville Harriers) 122.59.

Winter Series race dates: Sunday, December 4 – The Cardington Cracker 14.5km; Sunday, December 18 – The Corndon Classic 3 Peaks 9.3km; Sunday, February 5 – The Long Mynd Valleys 18.5km; Sunday, March 4 – The Cardingmill Canter 7.8km; Sunday, March 19 – The Wrekin Fell Race 8.8km.

Having started the Winter Series on a high, Jones and Parker will be looking to emulate Duncan Birtwistle and Emma Gould who came out on top in the Summer Series.

Birtwistle, from Telford Athletics Club, retained his men's title while Gould (Mercia Fell Runners) won the women's equivalent.

The Series involved seven short midweek races with Birtwistle triumphing three times in The Wrekin Streak, The Batch Bash and the Pontesbury Hill races while finishing second at Rodneys Pillar.

Gould, who was second in the Series last year, went one better to turn the tables on her Mercia team-mate Mel Price. She ran in all seven races and finished in the top 10 overall four time, winning the women's section in all the events except the Batch Bash.

Gould also found time to finish sixth overall in the British Fell Running Championships and seventh in the England Championships.

Summer winners: Men - Under-18 William Kay (Telford AC); Under-20 Harry Duffy (Shrewsbury AC); Under- 23 Matthew Yapp (Ludlow RC); Over-40 Matt Harrison (Mercia FR); Over-45 Andy Davies (Mercia FR); Over-50 Andy Yapp (Mercia FR; Over-55 Duncan Davies (Wolverhampton and Bilston AC); Over-60 Graham Jones (Shrewsbury AC; Over-65 Andrew Davies (Bridgnorth RC); Over-70 Gary Gunner (Croft Ambrey).

Women – Under-18 Bethany Walker (Tipton H; Under-23 Jenny Minshull (Shropshire Shufflers); Over-40 Mel Price (Mercia); Over-45 Anna Bartlett (Mercia FR); Over-50 Maggie Morris (Ludlow R; Over-55 Gill Evans (Shrewsbury AC); Over 60 Lesley Pymm (Bournville H).