Alyson Dixon from Sunderland Strollers set her new year off with a fine chip-timed 34min 5sec run in Sunday’s Dewsbury 10k, finishing 22nd overall.

Her personal best of 32min 53sec in November’s Abbey Dash in Leeds ranked her second in the country at the distance for last year.

In 2009, she first represented Britain in the half-marathon in the IAAF World Championships in Birmingham where she finished 45th.

In 2011 at Daegu in Korea, she was 42nd in the world marathon championships.

The next two ladies on Sunday were Wakefield pairing Julie Briscoe (35.31; 47th) and Helen Singleton (35.57; 52nd).

Wetherby’s Pauline Munro was sixth and first over-40, maintaining her old form, in 36min 25sec, and just being pipped by Thirsk’s Charlotte Sanderson.

Fifteen women of the total 807 finishers broke 40 minutes, including Keighley and Craven's Amy Green.

Together with clubmates Amanda Sterling and Clare Stevens, Keighley & Craven were good for fourth in the women’s team category, behind Wakefield, Barnsley and Wetherby.

The fast, straight out-and-back Dewsbury course still attracts runners from across the country, seeking an early-year fast time.

However, it is no longer the fastest race in the country, as a decade ago when its sponsors could attract top Africans.

Among the men, a group of four had a clear lead, with last year’s fourth, Dan Garbutt (Durham City) winning in 30min 27sec, just ahead of Holmfirth’s Mark Buckingham.

Leeds City’s Alan Buckley was first of a team-winning trio in third (30.43), followed by team-mates Mike Burrett (31.47; fifth) and James Smith (32.05; 18th).

Skyrac’s Chris Thornton continued his good form from November’s Abbey Dash personal best and cross-countries, to record 34min 31sec in 27th.

Thornton just beat Bingley’s John Convery, who was the first over-50.

Clubmate Waheed Khan bettered his recent 10k times to finish in 40min 34sec to help Convery and Jamie Robinson (34.52) to eighth men’s team.

A total of 250 entries have been notched up for Bradford’s own top-class road 10k, through Little Germany and out-and-back along Canal Road - the Epilepsy Action Bradford 10k.

Further details of the race on Sunday, March 24, at 9am from Centenary Square, are on the Epilepsy Action website.

The website link is: http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/fundraise-events/running/10km-5km-runs/bradford10k .