THE 29TH Stroud Half Marathon provided a thrilling finish as Kenyan Edwin Kipkorir pipped rival Tewodros Shiferaw by just two seconds.

Earlier, the field of more than 1,600 runners were set on their way by Dermot Mullen the newly installed Stroud Athletic Club chairman.

The early stages saw race leader Zak Kihara set the pace. From Stonehouse the runners headed out towards Standish Church into Standish Lane to emerge on to the A38, by this stage the lead group had been reduced to five runners as they powered up the slight incline to the Whitminster Hotel before a left turn took them through Nupend to emerge at the Oldbury Services on the A419. Kihara had given way to new race leaders Kipkorir and Shiferaw, they were closely followed by Anuradha Cooray, Kihara and Stroud’s British international Tom Russell.

After a swift mile loop of Oldends Lane Industrial Estate the runners were back onto the main A419 for the final three miles.

Shiferaw and Kipkorir vied for the lead with the chasing pack eight seconds behind. Cainscross roundabout was reached with the two leaders locked together as they entered the final 250 metres in thrilling fashion. Kipkorir finally prevailed crossing the line just two seconds ahead of Shiferaw.

They were followed eight seconds behind by Cooray with both Kihara and Russell completing only 17 seconds behind the winners time of one hour, six minutes and 51 seconds.

In the women’s race Kenyan Hellen Jemutaiwon came home in one hour, 14 minutes and 14 seconds. She was followed home by fellow Kenyan athlete Mirrian Makewa. Slad-based athlete Kate Goodhead finished third in one hour, 16 minutes and 16 seconds.

Stroud AC were led home by Ander Russell in eighth in a time of one hour, 12 minutes and 36 seconds. Gwen Kinsey finished ninth in the women’s race in one hour, 22 minutes and 54 seconds.

STROUD AC would like to thank race sponsor Stroud & Swindon Building Society and Griffiths Marshall, Chartered Accountants of Gloucester and Lydney, Dairy Crest (Severnside) and Trailblazer PR.