Fisher smashes record for Avebury success
The landscape gardener from Westwood, near Bradford on Avon, showed he relishes the off-road terrain as he edged out Swindon's Heath Bampton after a tough duel.
"We ran together for the first few miles and then I managed to open a gap and kept that distance steady until the finish," said Fisher.
"It was a very muddy course and knee-deep in the stuff in parts but I enjoyed it."
Fisher, an ex-hockey captain of TeamBath Buccaneers, clearly prefers that sort of terrain on contrast to the road.
Sunday's win followed his triumph in the recent Over The Hills 12k in Bradford on Avon, whereas the previous week he finished sixth in the Victoria Park four-mile road race.
"I definitely prefer off-road races," added Fisher.
"The Victoria Park event was so quick but it was interesting to do."
Bath-based international duathlete Phil Wylie had one of his best cross- country runs at the McCain Challenge in Gateshead.
Wylie, who works as a part-time sports co-ordinator at John O'Gaunt School in Trowbridge, finished 11th in a good quality race to suggest a top-20 position at the European Championships trials on Saturday week is within his grasp.
"It was a proper cross-country course, ankle-deep in mud in places and two big, long hills every lap, and we had to go up them five times in total," said Wyle.
"But I really enjoyed it! It is the first time I have done a big race like that as an individual because normally I run with the team (Bristol & West AC). I'm also from Newcastle so it was nice to go back home and do well."
Olympic modern pentathlon silver medallist Heather Fell, who trains with the British elite squad based at University of Bath, finished 10th in the senior women's race at the second Brooks Westward Cross Country League race in St Austell.
Avon Valley Runners' Michael Towler finished 11th (58:37) in the Wimborne 10-mile road race, while TeamBath's Margaret Thompson was third in the veteran over 55s age group.
TeamBath AC will take a strong men's team to the second Gloucestershire Cross Country league fixture at Blackbridge, Gloucester, on Saturday.
Steve Rose, Dan Jones, Dave Coales, Alex Samspon, Iain Cade, Guy Landon, Alan Buckingham, Nick Bower and Brian Penny form the squad.
Jo Thompson is unavailable for the senior women's race so Rebecca Pierce will head the squad with Sarah Langridge and Katy Livingston in support.
Nine-year-old Howorth twins, Robert and John, will be hoping to repeat their one-two in the under-11 boys' race from the opening fixture, while in-form Imogen Wolsey will also be chasing her second successive win in the under-17s women's race.
Entries are still being taken for the British Milers' Club Cross-Country Championships on the Bristol Downs on Sunday.
A full programme of races, from veterans to under-11s, is being staged on the multi-lap, spectator-friendly course and TeamBath AC coach Adrian Clover will be taking some of his young athletes to race.
To enter any of the open races visit either www.britishmilersclub.com or www.bristolandwestac.org.
The next Bridge Inn 5k road race in Shortwood, east Bristol, will be held on Tuesday with entries taken on the night. For further information see www.bristolandwestac.org.
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