JOHN ASHCROFT celebrated his 19th birthday by winning a thrilling Sodbury Slog by just three seconds ahead of David Green on Remembrance Sunday.

The Bristol University runner finished in a time of 55 minutes, 50 seconds as he pipped pal Green of Bristol University Old Boys and Girls, with Chris Dodd (BU) finishing third in 57.31.

The 8.7-mile course started at Chipping Sodbury School and runners enter Sodbury Common before heading through Little Sodbury and Old Sodbury and glorious sunny conditions did not stop competitors getting muddy in this unique race.

Race organiser Gordon Robbins said: “It was a very successful day and the conditions were perfect.”

The race raised £2,000 for Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club, who will donate the money to local charities.

The first Hogweed home in the race was Jaroslaw Motyka in 66.30, closely followed by Richard King, John Curtis, Richard Powell, James Tyack and Craig Pritchard, while Pat Curtis (1st LV50) was the club’s first lady.

Other Hogweed finishers: Nigel Burford, Mark Clements, Jason Walsh, Anthony Febry, Ian Rowland, David Dutton, Lee Masters, Jo Wilson, Bruce Sellers, Stuart Bennett, Chris Lewis, Laura Buet, Rachel Bennett, Mark Stephenson, Paul Buckley, Ronan Conlon, Ian Dickson, Stephen Golding and Gary Bircher, Tristan Coles, Katie Pinnington, Ed Stevens, Zoe Harley, Ben Bonnick, Nic Paice, Bill Smith, Anne Draper, Sandra Killen, Robert Smith, Andy Cleave, Darhyl Davies, Ian Freestone, Hayley Brock, Andrew Russell, Niall Stewart, Sean Palmer, Lorraine Palmer, Stuart Base, Martin Cook, Michael Plows, Annabelle Pugh, Jeremy Cross, Claire Searle, Julie Froggatt, Rebecca Dainton, Sue Hutchinson, Alison King, Mark Hill, Jaide Toogood, Michelle Hodges, Kim Freestone, Sharon Wilkie, Donna Conlon, Emma French, Stuart Wilkie, Dawn Riden, Bob Bell, Julie Boynes, Barbera Denton, Bob Bell, David Morgan, Tracey Skuse, Sue Hammond, Shelley Armorgie and Christine Stephenson.

At another off road race, the Over the hills 12k, Jason Bidwell was the first Hogweed home in 61.16, closely followed by Mandy Spedding 63.33 (1st FV45) and Geoff Partridge in 70.40.