BEDFORD marathon ace Huw Lobb clipped one second off the course record as he scored a runaway victory in Sunday's Morpeth-Newcastle centenary road race.

The 27-year-old IT consultant collected a first prize of £1,250 after dropping defending champion David Norman at eight miles of the prestigious half marathon - the oldest road race in Britain and probably the world - before going on to win by almost a minute in 67 mins 23 secs.

His time was one second better than the record set by Shaftsbury Barnet's Dominic Bannister when the race switched from its traditional New Year's Day slot and was reduced in distance to 13.1 miles.

Lobb, who was the second Briton to finish when he placed 18th in last year's London Marathon in 2 hours 18 mins, is now looking to bring down his half marathon times as he bids to obtain the Olympic qualifying mark of 2:15 for the classic distance.

And he believes that yesterday's performance was a step in the right direction, even though his time was 2 1/2 minutes outside his personal best, achieved on a faster course in Bath.

"I am pleased to have broken the course record because it was hilly and windy - it was hard work," said Lobb.

"I wasn't worried about the record - went I got clear after eight miles I just wanted to run hard.

"But it was a great atmosphere along the course - a lot of people were cheering us on and I was grateful for their support."

Lobb added: "David Norman is a tough runner and we were trying each other out for three miles before I managed to pull away from him after we covered the eighth mile in 4 mins 44 secs.

"I'm trying to improve my half marathon time and this was a good run for me - I will trying to run faster on a flatter course before London."

Aberdeen's Simon Pride took the bronze medal, finishing four seconds ahead of the fancied Newham and Essex Beagle, Dave Mitchinson. Ivan Hollingsworth was the first North-East runner in fifth place, spearheading host-club Morpeth to victory in the team race with Terry Wall (7th) and David Swinburne (9th).

The veteran's prize went to Durham City's Rob Hand, who finished eighth overall, beating over-40 rival Dave Robertson (Sunderland) by over a minute.

There was an upset for defending women's champion Andrea Green, who always trailed former world triathlon bronze medallist Annie Emmerson, of Bridgend.

Green, who set a course record of 75.33 last year, winning by over six minutes, was never able to get to grips with 33-year-old Emmerson, and the Great Britain half marathon international, despite suffering from a cold, won by 42 seconds in 76.35 to collect the £1,250 prize.

Results - Men: 1 H Lobb (Bedford & County) 67 mins 23 secs; 2 D Norman (Altrincham) 68.22; 3 S Pride (Aberdeen) 68.55; 4 D Mitchinson (Newham & Essex) 68.59; 5 I Hollingsworth (Morpeth) 69.19; 6 A Swearman (Birchfield) 70.48; 7 T Wall (Morp) 71.19; 8 R Hand (Durham City M40) 72.07; 9 D Swinburne (Morp) 72.23; 10 A Shepherd (Morp) 73.13; 11 D Robertson (Sunderland M40) 73.32; 12 I Crampton (Dur City M40) 73.47; 13 A Tatham (Quakers) 74.27; 14 I Ellis (Elswick M40) 74.38; 15 I Twaddle (North Shields Poly) 74.45.

Veterans: M45 L Atkinson (Morp) 75.23; M50 I Scott (Quakers) 79.48; M55 J Bell (Elswick) 76.47; M60 T O'Gara (Wallsend) 89.06.

Teams: 1 Morpeth A 21 pts; 2 Morpeth B 45; 3 Elswick 76.

Women: 1 A Emmerson (Bridgend) 76.35; 2 A Green (Shaftsbury Barnet) 77.17; 3 H Wooton (Dark Peak) 81.17; 4 T Thompson (Pitreavie W40) 83.10; 5 J Nutt (Elswick) 84.33.

Veterans: W35 S Morton (Elswick) 88.40; W45 S Laws (Derwentside) 95.04; W50 B Ingham (NSP) 99.18; W55 P Gold (Heaton) 107.10; W65 E Armstrong (Tynedale) 103.00.

Teams: 1 Elwick 23; 2 Claremont 65; 3 Sunderland 108.