It is an idyllic location for living, working, and visiting, according to the Chippenham Town Council. This ancient market town in northwest Wiltshire was established on a crossing of the River Avon and the river featured in the course for the Chippenham Spring 10-Miler by DB Max Events on Sunday 11 March 2023.

Race HQ is in Monkton Park with a large bend in the River Avon on its southern flank. The single-lap course follows the river, then crosses it to become truly rural through Tytherton Lucas, Tytherton Kellaways, and Langley Burrell before returning to Chippenham and a final stretch beside the River Avon and back to Monkton Park.

Nothing is left to chance by the DB Max Pace Team with pacers provided for every 5-minute interval from 65 – 120 minutes. Not requiring the services of the pacers were the top 28 finishers who were home within 65 minutes – including the leading woman, W45 Lucy Richens (Westbury Harriers, 1:04:35).

Not far behind in an all-masters rostrum were W55 Fee Mayock (Western Tempo, 1:06:13) and W45 Aine Halton-Hanley (Chippenham Harriers, 1:07:06) whose last outing seems to have been a 19:59 outright first finish at Downsview parkrun in Toronto in August 2022!

Twelve men were inside 60 minutes and the top three were Max Davis (Bristol & West AC, 51:25), Simon Nott (Calne Running Club, 53:48) and Alex Bampton (Highgate Harriers, 54:29).

Chippenham Lions Club helped out with the marshalling and although the event had sold out there were on-the-day entries available without a race medal. There were 327 finishers in 2:19:54 and you can see them all setting off in this short video from DB Max Facebook.

Results are available at runABC South race listing here.

Image courtesy DB Max/Chippenham Spring 10 Miler website