ENTRIES have been flooding in with several weeks to go before the 21st running of the B&Q Eastleigh 10k Road Race on Sunday, March 13.

Already interest has steamed past the 700 mark and, with a race limit of 1,200, it seems unlikely that runners will be able to register beyond mid-February.

The Eastleigh 10k first saw the light of day in 1984 with Draper Tools as the key sponsor.

B&Q took over the backing 13 years ago and, from 1985 right through to 2004, the event has maintained its status in the top 100 UK races, as voted by readers of Runners World magazine, who placed it 73rd last year behind some of the top televised events.

The Eastleigh 10k forms the seventh round of the Hampshire Road Race League, which this year is being dominated by the men of Denmead Striders and Winchester & District's ladies.

Entry forms can be accessed through the race web site at www.eastleigh10k.org, from local sports and leisure centres or by on-line entry though the Runners World entry system.

l Dean Miller led the way for Eastleigh & District Junior AC in the Wessex Cross-Country League at Devizes.

The under-15 athlete ran strongly in wet and muddy conditions to finish a best ever seventh ahead of clubmates Adam Hicks (13th), Chris Goller (17th) and Anthony Padilla (22nd).It carries Eastleigh's team to third in the league.

The under-13 boys also sit third overall thanks to good runs from Fred Young (13th), Alex Millen (15th) and Calum Bresington (16th), who also clinched third team place on the day.

Other results

Under-13 girls: Bethany Woodhouse (10th), Emily Varcoe (31st).

Under-15 girls: Laura Harvey (13th), Claire Varcoe (21st).

Under-11 mixed: Chad Mansergh (8th), Aaron Ballinger (9th), Alice Blackman (10th).

Apologies to Stubbington Green Runners' men for depriving them of victory in the Stubbington 10k last week!

Deanmead Striders were in fact beaten into second place by the home club, who scooped the team prize for the third year running.

Stubbington scored 45 points thanks to Mark Le Gassick (6th), Tony Allen (8th), Zippy Grice (9th) and Chris Hall (22nd).

Denmead were right behind with 49 through Steven Bishop (7th), Julian Manning (13th), Nick Baker (14th) and Pete Turrell (15th).

"Our home race could be the only time we manage to beat the Striders in the Hampshire Road Race League this season, so we would like people to know about it," said Le Gassick.