Winchester'S women chalked up one of the finest performances in the club's history with second place at the National Women's Six-Stage Road Relay Championship.

At one point of the prestigious race, held at Sutton Coldfield, Winchester & District AC were leading.

But in a dramatic finale, the Hampshire club's Jo Kelsey anchored the star-studded squad into second place, just 30 seconds behind Chester-Le-Street.

Winchester had come into the race on the back of a stunning performance at the South of England championships in Milton Keynes a fortnight ago, when they won by nearly two minutes.

With a blend of youth and experience, the squad's ages ranged from 17 to 40, the team reached the halfway stage in sixth after sterling runs from Emma Patel (18min 06sec), Karen Hazlitt (16.35) and India Lee (18.13).

Hazlitt's run had propelled the team through the field and her time was the seventh fastest on the day.

Lucy Elliot was the next to run and her time of 16.18 was the joint second fastest of the day, propelling Winchester to the front with a ten-second advantage.

McCallum maintained the lead, handing over to Kelsey who was chased hard by northern champions, Chester-Le-Street.

They took the lead, and with 2005 champions Bristol & West closing rapidly, it was nailbiting stuff at the finish.

Kelsey clocked 17.45 for her leg, the same as McCallum, to bring Winchester home in an aggregate time of 1hr 44min 42sec, seven seconds ahead of Bristol & West.

Southampton RC also took part and finished 28th.

Amy Campbell ran the club's fastest leg with 17.58.

Other legs: Claire Forbes 18.38, Bethan Harris 18.15, Siobhan Mitchell 20.25, Christine Currie 20.29, Alice Neal 24.15.

A total of 45 women's teams took part.

In the men's 12-stage event, Southampton Running Club came 25th with a time of 4hrs 35min 58sec.

They had qualified for the Birmingham event after finishing 16th in the Southern 12-Stage Relay last month.

The city club were led off by Andy Morgan-Lee, winner of last weekend's Totton 10km, who clocked 26min 49sec.

Other legs: Joe Maskell 16.28, Dave Branfoot 28.13, John Grainger 16.16, Mark Campbell 29.02, Peter Costley 16.43, Matt West 30.41, Ryan McGovern 16.26, Pete Davis 29.57, Paul Fotherby 16.28, Steve Axon 31.35, Simon Ridley 17.20.

A total of 62 men's teams competed.