TIM Iveson continues to set the pace in the Herefordshire Cross Country League series.

The Builth Wells runner maintained his unbeaten record with his third victory of the season as the series entered the Queenswood 10k.

More than 200 runners competed over a hilly and testing woodland course in ideal racing conditions.

Wye Valley were able to celebrate the occasion with a commanding women’s team triumph and a first ever league victory for Jodie Newell.

Newell sat off the pace for the first part of the two lap race as the lead in the women’s race changed frequently before Newell glided to an outstanding victory by a clear 46 seconds from Jo Rees of Rhayader Running Club.

Ludlow Runners’ Alice Godding just pipped Hay Hotfooters’ Bethan Logan in a sprint finish for third place.

Newell’s impressive win, the third different winner of the series so far, was well supported by the previous race winner Becky Davies in fifth place and returning former league champion Laura Tootell in 11th to give Wye Valley successive team victories as they battle to regain the title from Croft Ambrey R.C.

Hay Hotfooters, enjoying their most successful season ever, finished second thanks to solid performances from Logan in fourth and Sarah Christensen in eighth with youngster Aderyn Carter in 13th.

Iveson played the waiting game as the early pace was set by his team mate and former league champion Jonny Pugh in the men’s race before storming ahead and winning the race by 41 seconds.

53 year old Mike Pfeiffer snatched third from Croft Ambrey’s Andy Salt on the final climb to complete Builth’s sweep of the podium.

Ben Bowen completed the Builth team in 26th place but this was not quite enough to hold off the Newtown based Maldwyn Harriers, who won the men’s team event by a single point.

The two Welsh clubs are well clear of the opposition as they battle for team supremacy with Builth just 11 points clear of Maldwyn with Croft Ambrey a distant third.

The penultimate race in the five event series will be held at Fforest Fields near Builth Wells on Sunday, February 3.