New Forest athlete Lee Rodriguez laid down the gaunlet in the opening event of the Road Runners Ten series which looks like being even more popular this season.

More than 250 runners flocked to the Royal Victoria Country Park start line on one of the warmest days of the year as the long-awaited summer series got underway.

Rodriguez, pictured right, who was individual series winner in 2001 and won the same race last year, led the top-class runners and club joggers home ahead of Jon Grainger of Wessex Road Runners.

With a clear sky and temperatures still in the 20s Rodriguez got off to a slow start but confidently worked his way through the field for victory. His New Forest teammates were not far behind to give them victory in the men's team section.

In the women's race Team Solent's Helen Zenner put in one of her occasional RR10 appearances to score a comfortable victory over Karen Rushton of Southampton City. Winchester AC, after a very poor showing last year in the women's races, put out a stronger squad and came home first in the team race.

The friendly mid-week races take place fortnightly on Wednesdays and all of the 13 clubs involved take a turn in organising a race.

Totton Running Club will be staging the next event at Deer Leap, Ashurst on April 30 and will be unable to score in that race.