UNKNOWN Kenyan Simon Kasimili took the 25th anniversary Stroud half marathon title to scoop the £500 first prize, in a time of one hour four minutes and 49 seconds, but it was Stroud brothers Tom and Ander Russell who shone on the local front on Sunday.

Earlier, Tonui, who won Bath Half last year and came second this year, looked good for 12 miles with Kasimili running alongside, but was unable to match Kasimili's last mile as he finished strongly along the Cainscross Road to Marling sports field.

Three more Africans made up the top five, Poole Harrier Williard Chinchanu third in 1.05.38, the better known Eric Kiplagat fourth in 1.07.54 and Malacki Byansi fifth in 1.10.50.

Just one minute behind in sixth place, Mike Burrett of Leeds City AC was chased home by 20-year-old Tom Russell of Stroud AC, taking the local plaudits with an excellent seventh place in 1.12.45, in his second half marathon.

Meanwhile, eighth position was well deserved by V50 Tim Hughes of White Horse Harriers, home in 1.12.58, three minutes ahead of first V40 Alister Lockey of Bourton RR in 14th position.

Another 20-year-old, Garry Hughes of Dursley AC, finished ninth in 1.13.12, followed by Gary Harriss of Headington AC in 1.13.47.

Stroud AC's 18-year-old Ander Russell, younger brother of Tom, came in an excellent 11th position in 1.13.51. Ander finished 14th in last year's race and was the highest placed of any of last year's runners this year.

Stroud AC maintained the men's team trophy for the third year in a row, thanks to the Russell brothers, Lee Rankin 15th in 1.15.20 and V40 Alan Pitt 34th in 1.20.07. Cheltenham finished runners-up for the second year, with Cirencester keeping local clubs dominant in third place.

The ladies' prize became a one-horse race with Kenyan Jane Kangara finishing 19th overall in 1.16.54, with an excellent run from Cheltenham's Jo Brewer, 37th in 1.20.20, securing second place and £350 prize money.

Severn AC's Sian Lewis took home £200 as third lady in 45th place with 1.21.49, helping Severn AC retain the ladies' title, along with Johanna Fletcher, fifth lady in 1.22.57, and Lucy Woodyatt ninth lady in 1.27.43.

Bitton Road Runners finished runner-up ladies' team.Stroud men's veterans put on a good performance, headed as usual by Alan Pitt, third V40 in 1.20.07, supported by Lee Christmas third V45 in 1.20.31 and new member Dave Burton in 1.22.49, to retain the vets' team prize ahead of a strong team from Gwent Western Runners.

Other notable local performances were Cirencester's 19-year-old Chris Illman 12th in 1.14.44 and Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz 13th in 1.14.37 and Bourton's Mike Smith 18th in 1.16.52.

A real battle for Stroud AC's first lady trophy saw Sally Frapwell cross the line first in 1.38.14 (as seventh V35 lady), only to see Mandy James declared winner on a faster chip time of 1.38.11 (as fifth V40 lady).

Other veteran category winners were Dave Randall of Cheltenham Harriers (V45 23rd), Reg Morris (V55 103rd), Geoff Eden of Cheltenham (V60 115th) and clubmate Richard Phillips V70.

In the ladies' vet categories, Bath AC's Sarah Urwinn-Mann took first LV35 (188th), Michelle Parsons LV40 (79th), Daveena Tweed of Poole Runners LV45 (174th), Cirencester's Sue Brown LV50, Carol Cowley of Tewkesbury LV55 (466th) and Carole Bishop LV60.

The majority of the 1,600 runners on the day were as usual fun runners, most of whom were sponsored for various good causes.

Among them were 90 walkers from the Williams Syndrome charity who started the course at 9am, one hour before the race.

Meanwhile, Stroud Athletic Club fielded 80 runners for the race, which is a club record, on this 25th staging of the event, one of whom being Jeff Waters who has run all 25 races, along with Kevin Jackson of Dursley who finished a creditable 87th in 1.25.20.

For the first time a junior one mile race for 11 to 16 year olds was staged whilst the Half Marathon took place and was, not surprisingly, won by Stroud's international youngster Matt Withey of Marling School in 5m 05s (see separate report for full junior results next week)