VIDEO: Lambert laps up Chichester 10k glory

Conditions were just about ideal as 1,655 runners tackled the challenging course after setting off from College Lane.

Cheered on by crowds dotted along the route and gathered in large numbers at the finish line in Northgate car park, Lambert was out on his own almost from the word go and crossed the line in 30.03.

The Winchester-based runner, a previous winner of the event, said he enjoyed the race but was disappointed to go so close to breaking the magic 30-minute mark.

Paolo Natali was second in 30.37, just a second ahead of Tonbridge’s Ben Cole. Fourth was Dan Thorne (Reading) in 30.40.

The first lady home was making her debut at the event – Swansea’s Elinor Kirk, a student at Southampton uni, crossed in 33.56, taking the women’s honours ahead of Worthing’s Emma Macready, whose time was 34.39.

The event, organised by the Rotary Club of Chichester Priory, was a big success as the large field – slightly up on the number who ran last year – enjoyed sunshine and very little wind.

See our video, above, of all the starters – and look out on this website in the coming days for more video coverage plus a picture gallery.

Get the Observer on Thursday for reports, pictures and a full list of finishers and their times.