CATCH-me-if-you-can king James Baker led from the front once again as he took the Hampshire Chronicle Winchester 10k Road Race title.

Freezing conditions and snow flurries failed to put runners off the popular race and more than 550 of them managed to complete the course and cross the finish line.

Finish times were never going to be super fast on the undulating course that includes notorious Nations Hill near Worthy Down - a steep incline that saps leg strength in the middle of the course.

Baker used his well-drilled tactics and went off like a rocket from the start line and had put plenty of road space between himself and the following pack by the 2k mark.

But veteran runner Mark Hargreaves of Bournemouth AC slowly reeled in the leading Chichester AC runner and crossed the finish line just nine seconds adrift with Winchester & District AC's Matthew King a further six seconds off the pace.

Army runner Erica Sheldon recorded a comfortable win in the women's section - coming home almost a minute ahead of second-placed unattached runner Georgia Benson.

Home club Winchester fared better in the team events, securing both the men's and women's titles.