The clocks may have gone back at the weekend but very much going forward is the running career of Lee Stopford.

The Stroud Athletic Club runner won the Stroud Half Marathon for the third year in a row yesterday and he did it in impressive style too, completing the 13.1-mile course in one hour, 10 minutes, 59 seconds.

That was 10 seconds clear of second-placed Matthew Rees, of Swansea Harriers, and 42 seconds faster than Benjamin Gregory, who crossed the line in third.

Gregory was one of four runners from Stroud AC who finished inside the top six, with Matt Hudd and Alister Liscott fifth and sixth, respectively, in 1.14.17 and 1.15.16.

Stopford, who joined Stroud AC some seven years ago at the age of 31, went around the ever-popular course 24 seconds faster than last year and Jim Adams, who is chairman of Stroud AC, said: “To win the race three times in a row is very, very impressive.

“He ran a very smart race because he was pushed all the way by Matthew Rees. They were neck and neck for a long time before Lee got away just before the finish.”

Adams was also delighted to see Stroud AC’s colours so prominent among the top six.

“It was like a tide of green,” he said. “It was fantastic to see. We’d hoped that they’d run well and they certainly did.”

Elsewhere, Rob Barnett of CLC Striders, finished ninth in 1.17.57, while Rachel Felton, of Stroud AC, was the first female home in 1.20.18, a time that earned her an 18th-placed finish in the 800-plus field.

Jeff Waters, who has taken part in all 41 runnings of the Stroud Half Marathon despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the mid-1990s, completed in 2.54.03.  

And Dursley Running Club’s Kevin Jackson, the only runner apart from Waters to have taken part in every Stroud Half, went round in 1.37.10.

That was well over two hours faster than Rachael Goatman-Thomas who recorded a time of 3.54.23.

But there was a very good reason for that time because Goatman-Thomas, who was running to raise funds for Longfield Hospice, was dressed as an inflatable flamingo!