It may be cross-country season but road races are also back with the hugely popular Fred Hughes 10-mile event at St Albans attracting hundreds of athletes.

The Comet: Eight of the Fairlands Valley Spartans finishers at the Fred Hughes 10: John Harris, Mark Goodwin, Tracy Pez, Abi Pez, Yuko Gordon, Marie Colucci, Pete Smith and Ashley Johnson.Eight of the Fairlands Valley Spartans finishers at the Fred Hughes 10: John Harris, Mark Goodwin, Tracy Pez, Abi Pez, Yuko Gordon, Marie Colucci, Pete Smith and Ashley Johnson. (Image: Fairlands Valley Spartans)

In total 825 took part with Adam Bowller of North Herts Road Runners finishing a fantastic eighth in what was his first road race for more than two years.

His time of 56 minutes 30 seconds was also a personal best by just shy of a minute.

Tash Pitman joined him with a PB and added a club record, clocking 1:07:40 as the first female Squirrel and the quickest ever in the V45 age group.

At the other end of the scale Melanie Flynn competed in her first race for the club.

The Comet: Abi Pez of Fairlands Valley Spartans set a new PB at the Fred Hughes 10.Abi Pez of Fairlands Valley Spartans set a new PB at the Fred Hughes 10. (Image: Tony Randfield/FVS)

There was a PB too for Fairlands Valley Spartans, Abigail Pez the first U20 female in the race with a time of 1:18:53, a whopping seven and a half minutes quicker than before.

The Comet: Ashley Johnson of Fairlands Valley Spartans at the Fred Hughes 10.Ashley Johnson of Fairlands Valley Spartans at the Fred Hughes 10. (Image: Tony Randfield/FVS)

The fastest Spartan was Adrian Donnelly, who crept inside the top 100 overall in 99th while Yuko Gordon (54th), Ashley Johnson (62nd), Marie Colucci (83rd) and Tracy Pez (90th) were all inside the top-100 for women.

The Comet: Marie Colucci of Fairlands Valley Spartans at the Fred Hughes 10.Marie Colucci of Fairlands Valley Spartans at the Fred Hughes 10. (Image: Tony Randfield/FVS)