Winchester & District AC's women are going from strength to strength.

Yet more medals came their way at the South of England Six-Stage Road Relays at Milton Keynes, where they finished third behind Shaftesbury Barnet and Belgrave Harriers.

The team of Michaela McCallum, Jo Kelsey, Karen Hazlitt, Natalie Coveney, Sara Bishop and Harriet Bush ran excellently, with Bush stepping in only at the last moment after another runner had dropped out.

Team positions varied throughout the 6x5.5k race and, by leg four, GB marathon runner McCallum had lifted Winchester to fifth by clocking the fourth fastest time of the day.

With other teams now weakening, the strength of the Winchester team was maintained and, in a thrilling finish, they beat Bedford & County to third by just three seconds.

In a glittering season for Winchester's ladies, they have become county and Southern cross-country champions, AAA and Southern half-marathon champions and now Southern relay bronze medallists .

The triumphant team now plan to go to the National Relay Championships in three weeks' time.

The 22nd Alton ten-mile Road Race takes place at 10.30am on Sunday, May 8.

Setting off from Lord Mayor Treloars College in Holybourne, the race - run entirely on country and village lanes - takes an exciting route through the rural villages of north-east Hampshire.

Organised under UKA rules by the Alton Joggers and Alton Lions, the event is supported by Charters of Alton, who are providing the lead car, and forms part of the Hampshire Road Race League.

The first male and female runner to cross the finishing line will be awarded a trophy as will the first veteran man and veteran lady.

All finishers will receive a medal while the first three home in the categories of senior men, vet-40 men, vet-50 men, vet-60 men, senior women, vet-35 women, vet-45 women and vet-55 women will be awarded medals.

The cost of entering is £7 for UKA-affiliated runners or £9 for unattached runners if entries are received by the April 23 closing date.

Entry forms are available from the Alton Sports Centre, Alton Sports Shop, or by writing to Alton 10, 8 Vaughans, Ashdell Park, Alton, Hants, GU34 2SQ.