TERRY Conway beat off competition from more than 230 fellow athletes to win the Worcestershire Beacon Race in Malvern.

Conway, from Worcester, crossed in first place in a time of 46 minutes 33 seconds after completing the gruelling seven-mile course.

Representing Cumbrian club, Ambleside, Conway finished 41 seconds ahead of Ben Danvers, of Kidderminster and Stourport Athletics Club.

Emma Gooderham was the first woman home in 48.36, was the first Malvern Joggers member to cross. Her next team-mate home was John Bristow in 12th in 50.59.

Malvern Joggers lined up 30 members for the testing course, out of a field of 232 finishers.

Fellow town club, Malvern Hash, also submitted a number of entries to the event.

Competitors came from as far afield as Cumbria, Cambridge and Wimbledon to participate. Lining up at the start in Rosebank Gardens in West Malvern, the tricky terrain of the Malvern Hills awaited runners.

The test included a run across the Hills and a race up the 1,395 feet-high Worcestershire Beacon.

The route crossed Foley Terrace, followed a track upfield through the woods to St Anne’s Well, on to Happy Valley, then onto the bottom of North Hill.

The pinnacle of the race is the Beacon track, a climb of approximately three quarters of a mile, descending over grass to a wide track and to West Malvern.

It concluded via North Hill, a steep descent to St Anne’s Well and then returned for the finish at Rose Bank Gardens.

The Beacon Race has been held every year from 1954, but competitors have competed on the current course since 1998.

Results: The Worcestershire Beacon Race (Top 20 finishers): 1 Conway (Ambleside) 46 minutes 33 seconds; 2 Danvers (Kidderminster and Stourport Athletics Club) 47.14; 3 Darren Salisbury (Black Pear Joggers) 48.03; 4 Gooderham (Malvern Joggers) 48.36; 5 James Smith (Unattached, U/A) 49.33; 6 Howard Bush (Tamworth AC) 49.49; 7 Steve Webb (Valley Striders) 49.57; 8 Alex Garwood-Gower (Absolute Triathlon) 50.18; 9 Dave Williams (Tamworth AC) 50.19; 10 10 Jack Holder (Wharfedale Harriers) 50.37; 11 Adam Anstey (U/A) 50.51; 12 Bristow (Malvern Joggers) 50.59; 13 Mark Russell (U/A) 51.20; 14 Tom Norton (Malvern Hash) 51.53; 15 Richard Dixon (Knowle and Dorridge RC) 52.07; 16 Brett Flook (Avon Valley Runners) 52.09; 17 Gavin Davies (Centurion RC) 52.15; 18 Andy Pye (Cocks Moors Woods) 52.27; 19 Ruth Johnstone (Malvern Joggers) 52.48; 20 Gregg Edwards (U/A) 53.08.