JOHN Ashcroft stormed to victory in the popular Sodbury Slog on Remembrance Sunday.

The University of Bristol Athletics and Cross Country Club runner finished the mud-filled nine-mile course in a time of one hour, one minute and 44 seconds, over two minutes ahead of second-planner runner Anthony Glover of Westbury Harriers in 01:03:58.

Bristol Old Boys & Girls runner Dave Green completed the top three in 01:04:51, while Annabel Granger of Bristol & West was the first lady runner home in 01:09:28.

The event, organised by Bitton Road Runners, attracted over 1,000 runners to the start line on St John’s Way in Chipping Sodbury with the multi-terrain race getting underway at 11.05am following the two-minute silence.

Race director Pete Clark said: “After two days of pouring rain whilst the organisers marked out the course and got things ready for the race, we were blessed with sunshine on the day of the race.

“For some strange reason, it's the promised mixture of bog, ditches, mud and mirth that brings runners back to Sodbury, year upon year, with the race itself selling out within three weeks of entries going on sale in early March.”

Steven Stretton was the first runner from Chipping Sodbury-based club Hogweed Trotters to complete the race, finishing 16th overall in 01:10:28.