ELIOT Taylor claimed the crown at the Forest of Dean Autumn Trails Half Marathon on Sunday, finished ahead of a field of nearly 700.

Taylor, of Cheltenham & County Harriers, took first place after completing the 13.2-mile course in a time of 1:16:21 hours.

He finished over half-a-minute ahead of Swansea Harrier Matthew Rees who completed the race in 1:16:57, while Gloucester AC’s Steve Kenyon came third in 1:17:43.

Molly Browne, of Birmingham Running, Athletics and Triathlon Club, was the fastest female participant, coming 10th out of the 683-strong field in 1:25:21.

Jo Gallagher, of Clevedon AC, was the second fastest woman and topped the FV35 category in 1:28:30, with Eyri Harriers’ Faye Johnson in third in 1:29:34.

Just under 100 locals turned out to tackle the Dean trails, as the ever-impressive Marcus Bennetto finished top of the Forest participants in 1:19:03, finishing sixth overall.

Bennetto’s Forest of Dean AC colleague Wayne Bevan was the next fastest Forester in 1:26:59, with another clubmate, Cory Sherwin, third in 1:27:28.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER