By Owen Morgan

Matt Clowes extended his lead in the Welsh Athletics 10K Road Series by winning the second race of the season at Chepstow on Sunday.

The Cardiff Athletics runner, who won the series opener at Caerphilly last month, followed up that success up by finishing first at the Speedway 10K.

Clowes led the field home in 29:55 ahead of Swansea Harrier Josh Griffiths, who led for much of the race before finishing second in 30:12.

The two men are likely to do battle again next Sunday at the Swansea Half Marathon, where the Cardiff-based Englishman edged out Welsh Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championship marathon runner Griffiths in hot conditions last year.

Clowes’ Cardiff team-mate James Hunt was third in Chepstow in a time of 30:44, a result which strengthens his second place in the overall 10K Series standings.

In the women’s race, in-form Parc Bryn Bach runner Lauren Cooper took the win in a big new personal best time of 34:54.

Second in 36:14 was Swansea Harrier Alaw Beynon-Thomas, who will now join Lucy Marland at the top of the women’s 10K series standings.

Cardiff Athletics runner Marland, who finished third in a time of 36:21, had topped the rankings after having won the Caerphilly 10K ahead of Beynon-Thomas.

The next race is the Cardiff 10K on September 1, while the West Wales event in the five fixture series has now been confirmed as the Swansea Bay 10K on September 22.

The final race of the series will be the Flintshire 10K in Mold on October 20th. The overall male and female winners will each win £300, with second receiving £200 and third £100.