Athletics: Ramsey speeds in for a hat-trick

British Masters international Kate Ramsey made it three wins out of three in the Leicestershire Winter Road-Running League in the women's race at the Kibworth 6 on Sunday.

Leicester Half-Marathon champion Mark Couldwell claimed his first league success by leading home the 439-strong field.

The 40-year-old Ramsey crossed the line in 36min 52sec, holding off the challenge of Clare McKittrick by 14 seconds.

Ramsey said: "Clare's absolutely flying – we had a training session the other night and she was about 10 seconds faster than me on each rep.

"So I knew I was in for a tough race. But I thought that, if I could just stick with her up the hills, I might have a chance."

Birstall newcomer Gemma Smith was just over a minute further back in third, with World Masters half-marathon champion Nicki Nealon, returning to race after two minor operations, fourth.

In the men's race, Couldwell, of Charnwood, took the top honours in 32.46, 61 seconds ahead of runner-up Sean Fenwick, of Harborough, with Gareth Deacon heading a strong veterans' contingent from Leicester Coritanians in third spot in 34.04.

Fleckney & Kibworth's Karl Beardall, Coritanian Rob Sheen and Hermitage's Paul Gregory filled the next three places.

Men (293 finishers): 1 Mark Couldwell (Ch) 32.46, 2 Sean Fenwick (Harb) 33.47, 3 Gareth Deacon (M40 LC) 34.04, 4 Karl Beardall (F&K) 34.14, 5 Rob Sheen (M45 LC) 34.19, 6 Paul Gregory (Herm) 34.23, 7 Richard Brown (Ch) 34.29, 8 Jonathan Burch (M40 Owls) 34.47, 9 Tim McDowell (Leic Tri) 34.56, 10 Brian Stout (Iv) 35.18, 11 Andy Hart (M40 LC) 35.29, 12 Simon Cotton (M40 LC) 35.34, 13 Shaun Coulton (M40 Herm) 35.39, 14 Dave Pearce (M40 LC) 35.40, 15 Richard Bettsworth (M40 Wrk) 35.41, 16 Dave Eggington (M45 Hunc) 35.43, 17 David Pell (WE) 35.44, 18 Jake Harrison (Bar) 35.45, 19 Rob Pullen (Owls) 35.49, 20 Neil Wright (Birst) 35.59, 21 Phil Pell (Bar) 36.03, 22 Derek Guess (M45 LC) 36.13, 23 Alex Webster (M40 WE) 36.25, 24 Emanuele Schiavon (WE) 36.31, 25 Mark Chamberlain (M40 RH) 36.33.

Teams - Div 1: 1 Barrow 429, 2 Wreake 491, 3 Owls 636, 4 Stilton 669, 5 Birstall 677, 6 Ivanhoe 695, 7 Hermitage 818. Overall: 1 Barrow 57pts, 2 Owls 52, 3 Wreake 44, 4 Hermitage 40, 5 Stilton 39, 6 Ivanhoe 39, 7 Birstall 35. Div 2 leaders: 1 Fleckney 359, 2 Huncote 479, 3 Roadhoggs 790. Overall: 1 Huncote 57, 2 Fleckney 54, 3 Roadhoggs 43. Div 3 leaders: 1 Leicester Coritanians 181, 2 Harborough 597, 3 West End 643. Overall: 1 Leicester Coritanians 60, 2 Leicester Tri 48, 3 Charnwood 41. Veterans' Div 1 leaders: 1 Huncote 80, 2 Barrow 101, 3 Wreake 123. Overall: 1 Huncote 57, 2 Barrow 52, 3 Wreake 47. Veterans' Div 2 leaders: 1 Leicester Coritanians 12, 2 Fleckney 180, 3 Nuneaton 187. Overall: 1 Leicester Coritanians 60, 2 Nuneaton 49, 3 West End 43. Veterans' Div 3 leaders: 1 Harborough 152, 2 Sth Derbys 264, 3 Birstall 289. Overall: 1= Sth Derbys, Harborough 52, 3 Birstall 47.

Women (146 finishers): 1 Kate Ramsey (F40 Bar) 36.52, 2 Clare McKittrick (Ch) 37.06, 3 Gemma Smith (Birst) 38.08, 4 Nicki Nealon (F40 Hunc) 38.21, 5 Catherine Draper (Bar) 38.39, 6 Eleanor Greenfield (Nun) 39.53, 7 Nicola Roder (Leic Tri) 40.05, 8 Janine Roper (Bar) 40.18, 9 Laura Johnson (Ch) 40.34, 10 Clare Mensley (Ch) 41.17, 11 Charlotte Hardy (Birst) 41.20, 12 Kate Dormer (F&K) 41.41.

Teams - Div 1 leaders: 1 Barrow 35pts, 2 Birstall 45, 3 Fleckney 83, 4 Huncote 129. Overall: 1 Barrow 57, 2 Birstall 54, 3 Huncote 43, 4 Fleckney 42. Div 2 leaders: 1 Charnwood 36, 2 Leicester Tri 116, 3 Stilton 192. Overall: 1 Charnwood 75, 2 Leicester Tri 66 3= Stilton, West End 58. Veterans' Div 1: 1 Barrow 22, 2 Huncote 52, 3 Fleckney 53. Overall: 1 Barrow 75, 2 Huncote 63, 3 Birstall 59.