Body, a former member of Stamford and Deeping as well as Peterborough Athletic Club, now lives in Leeds but was back in the area to visit his parents, and he fitted in the race while he was here.

He pulled clear during the fourth kilometre and went on to win by two minutes, but he didn't realise how close to the record he was.

He said: "It was only afterwards that I was told I'd missed the course record by a couple of seconds (Matt Blunden ran 32.41 in 2006) which was a bit frustrating as I had plenty left in the tank.

"When you're out on your own in front you don't go flat out but I enjoyed the race and I may come back another year to try and break the record.

"It was a very flat and fast course and a fantastic race so I'm glad I came back to do it.

"I just wanted to have a good run-out and I was very pleased with the way I pulled clear. The kilometre before I pulled clear we ran a 3.34 kilometre but I threw in a 2.52 split to go ahead."

Body's last race in the area was two years ago when he won the Grimsthorpe 10k.

Stamford's Philippa Taylor was second woman with Nene Valley's Amelia Susulowsky in third.

BUSHFIELD Jogger David Mould was the leading local in the Breckland 10k at Thetford.

Local results: 65 David Mould (Bushfield) 44.44; 171 Alan Miles (Bushfield) 54.16; 271 Janice Baker (Eastern Vets, LV55) 85.30.

THERE were two local winners at the Hertfordshire Open Meeting at Stevenage.

Dan Grant of Nene Valley Harriers won the 800m while clubmate Lloyd Kempson took the Under 15 boys race over the same distance.

Local results

Men

800m - 1 Dan Grant (Nene V) 2.25.6.

Under 15 boys

800m - 1 Lloyd Kempson (Nene V) 2.28.2.

Under 20 women

400m hurdles - 2 Emily Moss (P'boro AC) 69.5.

Under 17 women

Javelin - 2 Emma Woodroffe (Hunts AC) 30.49.