JAKE Smith, of Axe Valley Runners, was the winner of the 31st Wellington Monument Race which was staged on Sunday.

He finished the gruelling 6.27 mile course, which took runners around the monument and back to Hemyock, in a time of 33.14 minutes.

Second was Irvine Henry, of Total Tri Training, in 34.36 and third Jamie Barnett of Teignbridge Trotters in 35.54.

First woman was Hannah Taunton, of Taunton AC, who finished in 39.17 and was 16th overall. Second woman home was Lucy MacAlister of Wellington School who was only four seconds behind Hannah while Caroline Norris of Pembrokeshire Harriers was third in 44.06.

The first local male was Carl Ward, of Taunton AC, who came home in 44.26 and was 58th overall while the first local female to finish was Chris Hewett of Somerset RC Tri in 50.28.

Nearly 260 fun and serious runners completed the race.

Jake Smith was also a member of Axe Valley Runners which won the John Cooksley Team Shield. They had four runners in the top 12. Wellington School were second and Taunton Athletic Club third.