Athletics Felix in fine form as he secures fourth Clevedon victory

FELIX McGrath lined up for the South West Cross Country Championships on Saturday with his confidence sky-high after a superb finish to 2025.

- Kevin FAHEY

The Bristol & West AC GB mountain international runner followed up his victory at the Avon Championships just before Christmas with a stunning triumph at the popular Boxing Day 4 miles road race expertly organised by Clevedon AC.

While it was McGrath's fourth victory in recent times - he was first in 2019, 2021 and 2024 - it was his winning time that underlined the quality of his performance.

McGrath's time of 18mins 33secs, which left him 33 seconds clear of North Somerset's Ben Hamblin after surging clear up the long hill, was only five seconds off Ian Gillespie's outstanding course record set back in the 1990s.

"Someone sent me a complete list of all the winners and it looks like I now have the equal second fastest time ever on that course which is very pleasing," said McGrath.

"It means I have to find six seconds to break the record, so that is something to aim for next year.

"Also, the overall record number of wins seems to be six by Ben Noad (former B&W international runner himself in 1999, 2001,02, 03, 05, and 06), so I'm going to have keep going for a few more years yet!"